The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-12-10
DUTCH s|CHs GREET
NAME Of THE QUEEN
Question of Succession to Throne,
and Kaiser's Attitude, Turns
Thoughts to Republic.
Journal Special Service.

Journal Special Service.
The Hague, Dec. 9.-The belief,
everywhere growing, that the German
kaiser has cast longing eyes towards
the seaports of Holland, and that he
has inaugurated commercial and eco
nomic, If not political, conquest of the
nation, has given rise to all sorts of
speculation regarding the future of the
country. .~
It is only a few years ago that the
hopes of the people of Holland were
pinned on their queen. Much was ex-
pected from her marriage. It was sup
posed to be genuine love match, and
while not popular with those in high
authority at the court, the mere fact
that their Wilhelmintje, had mar,
ried the man of her choice, if anything,
only served to draw the hearts of the
people more closely to her.
Queen Has Faded
To those who have followed the
young queen from her childhood to the
present day the change in the "child
of the Dutch people, is painful in the
extreme. The bright, winsome charm
has faded and there fingers about her
mouth and over her brow an unmistak-
womar. The enthusiasm with which the
Hollanders once spoke of her has died
away and she is now seldom referred
to except with sigh. 1t seems but a
= few years ago that the walls Of the
gloomy palace rang with the laughter
of little children who came to play
with "Wilhelmintje. Now all is
changed and the queen hides the sor
row Of her unhappy marriage as many
months of the year as she can at Loo.
To Dissolve Union.
- Meanwhile a strange story is being
circulated to the effect that there is a
clause in the Dutch constitution provid
3 ing that If the queen has no issue
j within five years of her marriage-that
Is, before Feb. Of next year-the
Dutch parliament has the power to dis
solve the union. A further rumor has
gained ground that there is clause
- in the marriage contract permitting
this to be done.
So little does the Dutch constitution
interfere with a choice of a prince or
queen consort that Queen Wiheimina
is known to have married quite con-
trary to the opinions Of her govern
mont, and she also had her own way
in all Of the details connected with this
- momentous affair for Holland. Hol-
land is profoundly Christian country
and the mere suggestion of such pos
sibility as change in the prince con-
sort or queen consort is revolving
to it's principles and sentiments. At the
same time the marriage relation is said
to be considered by Queen Wilhelmina
herself as far too binding to allow for
any such solution of the question of
succession.
Question of Succession. s.-y.a d.
It is this very question of succession
that is understood to be absorbing the
attention of her government, which is
now busying itself with revision of
the constitution. Under present condi-
tions the matter is by no means clear,
but as the monarchy is constitutional
and hereditary one it is to be presumed
that apart from any special enactment
on the part of the Dutch people the
succession would follow the same law
of inheritance as that Of Great Britain
In this case the merest agnate line of
the House of Orange is now represented
by the Grand Duke Of Saxe-W eimar
grandson of Princess Sophie Of the
Netherlands, sister of the late King
William Ill, and second cousin to the
present queen.
The grand duke might choose between
the crowns Of Saxe-W eimar and Hol
land, but by the constitution Of the
German empire he could not carry
49, both. It is, therefore, to be assumed
that he would remain content with his
present sovereign position.
His rights Of succession would next
devolve upon his sister, Or on the chill
dren Of his aunt, who became a pr1n
cess of Reuss. Of this family there are
several princes who might legitimately
be called to the Orange throne.
49, More 1em,te still from them is an
other line Of agnates descended from
an uncle Of the late King William Ill
Prince Frederick of Orange, who mar
ried Princess Louise of Prussia anC
whose daughter married the Prince OF
Weld.
Shun Discussion.
Turnout Holland there exists today
An antipathy of all discussion of
possible succession to Wilhelmina Oh
course, the question Of a succession mus
come up when Queen Wilhelmina dies
but just at present the proposition, i
discussed, would probably be discussed
with disappointment and bitterness. I
will be remembered that at the tim'
of the queens wedding the wore
-~~" Republic was echoed on every hant
when the question "Who shall reig1
if there be no heir9' was raised. Dr.
Kuyper, the ex-prime minister, once sai'
that Holland would resort to arm
rather than sink to German rule.
Choice of Republic.
The succession to the throne is regu
49, ated by Articles 10 to 20 of the consti
tuition, but inasmuch as the constitution
is now being revised it appears to, b
more than likely that the presen
states general will entirely revis
these clauses and much may yet b
heard in favor of republic, for tn
loyalism of the Dutch people appear
to be entirely limited to their evil
- helmintje,' beyond whom they car
for no one, and in fact openly an
universally express opposition to an,
possible German prince occupying tn
throne. -