The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1901-06-21
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DANES IN scHLEswIa !.
Helene Reimer's Case Defines Theis
Position. i5S9i 3 "

0vAoAe AeA"er's Con0 Oe0neo Vhel1
Position. v 4 "
It now develops that the Prussian
gendearmerie and other officials, who
have been 80 Industrious in banishing
Danes from Schleswig. acted wholly
without authority, and that all the ex-
lies are at liberty to return whenever
they choose. The police and magis-
trates are almost paralyzed with con-
sternation, for, in the light Of the decis-
ion by the high court at Kiel, their
actions are revealed as tyrannical in the
highest degree.
A lone woman has thus brought re-
lief to her friends and triumphsd over
the brutal police. Little did they know
what hornets nest they stirred up
when they drove Miss Helene Reimers
across the border into Denmark from
Sandeborg last December. She returned
few days later, and was arrested and
sentenced to imprisonment by the local
court. The district court sustained the
sentence. but Miss Reimers appealed to
the higher court, where the order was
reversed.
BY the treaty Of Vienna. the inhabi-
tants of North Schleswig were allowed
zens, and many did so. Some went to
Denmark, but thousands remained. The
right Of option expired on Nov. 16. 1876.
Among those who declared for Danish
citizenship, was Miss Reimers' father;
but he remained in Sandeborg. The
police construed the law that he and all
others who had taken the same course
could, with their children and grand
children, be banished from the country,
and for many years past they have been
busy with their harsh work. Miss Rel
mecs was born after the option period
expired, and, having lived all her life
In Schleswig, contended that she had as
much right there as anyone. In this
contention she was sustained by the
court at ISiel. The court went even
further and declared that those who had
availed themselves of the option did not
cease to be Prussian subjects until they
left the country and acquired resi-
dence in a foreign country. Conse-
quently, these who had continued to re-
side in Schleswig were free to go any
where in Germany as subjects of EN-
peror William.
All honor to brave Helene Reimers!
North sch1eswigers can smile again,
thanks to her courage and steadfast
purpose. With the fear of exile and
less Of property and station always
hanging over them like a threatening
cloud, their daily life was one of sor-
sow and apprehension. For people to
hum the songs that cheered them in
their youth, to speak a kind word for
Denmark or the Danes, was equivalent
to Punishment if the police ever heard
Of it. They generally did. for spies
were everywhere. Not an arm was ev-
err raised against the servants or insti-
buttons Of Prussia; no thought of a rev.
olution was ever dreamed of in North
Schleswig. There is no more peaceful,
thrifty and Industrious people in the
whole German empire; but. like des-
perate felons and red-handed rebels.
they were bounded from the country.
The outrages attracted little or no at
tention. as the police were willy and
banished but few at time, one or
two. possibly, whose places were i'm
mediately filled by Germans, while the
higher officials and press of the empire
looked complacently on, or were, possi-
bly,, ignorant Of the work.