Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-04
RELATIONS WITH DENMARK.

Of the sovereign himself But those acts.
however binding on his own subjects, TX
they are not conformable to the public law
Of the world. cannot be considered as bind
ing on the subjects of other states.
wrong done to them forms equally Just
subject of complaint on the part of their
government. whether 1t proceed from the
direct agency of the sovereign himself or
tribunals
The claimant sent an agent to Copen-
hagen with power to agree upon a COM
promise sum In gross. The King OF Den
marx onered to pay half million marks
oanco OF Hamburg, equivalent to about
Nao.OW. Wheaton said that the United
States would consent to accept three mil
lions of marks-banco. The parties agreed at
length upon $50 90 Spanish milled dollars.
informing Mr.. Van Buren, OF the signature
of the treaty. Wheaton said: II have not
before me sufficient material from which
TO form Q. judgment as to the real amour,
or the losses unjustiy sustained by our
citizens from Danish captures. You viii
find that Mr.. Ewing in his correspondence,
estimates the actual loss at about S.7Jo,Uo.
reckoning about thirty-five condemnations
quite unjust, to use his own expression.
But supposing the real injury to have been
considerably greater. the sum now recos-
cred, considering the diminished resources
OF this exhausted country. VIII, trus,,
be considered as toierabie salvage from
this calamitous concern.
The convention OF April H. 1857, termi-
mated anicably the differences which hai
arisen between the two countries in re-
gard to the tolls levied by Denmark on
American vessels and their carsoes called
the Sound-dues. and this convention was
signed at Washington in April, 1857, by
Lewis Cass for the United States and III.
Torben Bile for Denmark.
On the Path of October. 1867 a treaty
was signed at Copenhagen for the cession
of the Island of st. Thomas TO the United
States, but the Senate after discussion 1e-
fused to sanction the treaty.
4
Denmark is divided into five provinces
Seeland Bornholm. Fionie Laaland and
Jutiand. The dependencies
Danish are the islands Feroe, Ice
Territory. land. Greenland. and the
Danish islands In the Anti;-
les. The Danes participated in the incur
sions Of the Mortimer and the Vikings, and
establishing themselves kingdom in the
tenth century, conquered Sweden and
part OF England. The union of Caimar. 1897
united under the same scepter the three
Scandinavian states. Sweden, Norway and
Denmark, but Sweden revolted and became
independent under Gustavus Vasa. Under
Frederik Nv Denmark seized the duchy OF
Schleswig (1I13), but during the remainder Of
the eighteenth century took no further
part in the war, and her exterior policy
was conducted with ability by Ministers
Bernstorff. under the reisns Of Chrtstiaa
VT Q73o-46), Frederik v Q745-G6), Chris
tan VII Q766-1SOs). There were marked
reforms inaugurated under such men as
Struensee, and the eighteenth century
closed in prosperity.
In the wars of the commencement OF the
nineteenth century (QS0D Denmark as
sur1ed to be neutral. The English. as an act
OF vengeance, attacked and bombarded
Copenhagen without declaration OF war
Denmark became thereafter the faithful
ally Of France and in 1914 signed the peace
of Kiel, by which Norway was taken from
her and given to Sweden. .
The accession in 1889 Of Christian VII,
who had defended Norwegian nationality
against Sweden, encouraged the hoeransts'
but the king turned his attention to the
struggle against his German subjects IN
Holstein- The liberal party. which was at
the same time a national party. favored the
unificatton of the duchies OF Schieswfg ana
Hofstein. and obtained that object under
Frederik VII QS4S-1S6S). The duchies re-
yoIted In 1913 and were subdued by Fred
erik VII The succession OF Denmark ana
the duchies was declared to belong to Chris
tian of Glucksburg by the conference OF
London. 1850
line lapsed, and at his death without issue
the question of the succession to the duch-
les acquired special Importance. Schfeswlg
and Holstein declared for Prince FREDERIC
of Augustenburg, a scion OF branch or
the Oldenburg line. and appealed to the
Germanic confederation for support The
army into Holstein. Prussia and Austria
agreed In the meantime upon united action
The allied forces advanced into Holstein
and into Schleswig in February. 1861
After a brave but futile resistance, Den
mark was forced to submit. and surren-
dered to the troops OF Prussia and Austria
by the treaty of Vienna October 80. 1860.
ceding not only Holstein aud Lauenburg,
but the ancient crown appanage OF Schles-
wig King Christian TX. abandoned by
the powers which had sanctioned and rali-
fed his rights, was unable to profit by SUBJ
sequent events which eliminated in diSaS-
ter to Austria at Sadowa in 1866.
After peace had been proclaimed the gov
eminent of Denmark adopted 1S66)
definite constitution which instituted two
houses of parliament-the folkething. elect
ed by almost universal suffrage; the land
thing, elected by limited suffrage. A period
OF dissensions followed, until 1884, which
ended finally by patriotic entente of both
parties and the acceptance OF program
of liberal democratic principles under the
constitution A conflict between the Dan
ish government and the parliament of Zee
land or althng, elected by virtue OF the
constitution was terminated in the same
year. and the althing was thenceforth
composed of two houses. and Iceland. which
heretofore was included in the government
budget was accorded an autonomous adj
miniStration.
ton to the reconstruction and perfection of
her army. law was voted
The Danish whereby all her subjects.
Army. without exception and with
out constitution, were held
10 perform military service. The Reming
ton rife was adopted, the electives of the