The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1907-04-19

Germany's kaiser and EngIand's
king are engaged IN a var Of diplo-
macy for the dukedom Of Brulsvick
Each has a candidate for the place
OF ruler. Edward backs his brother-ln-
law, the duke Of Cumberland; the
kaiser is fighting for one Of his sons,
Prince Eitel Fitz
The prize is little strip Of land,
only 1,424 square miles. and its popuIa-
ton is less than half a Million In
fact, 1t is one Of the smallest states OF
those that make up the German em-
pire, yet SO keen is the contention that
it actually threatens the friendly rela-
tons Of the millions that make up the
population Of the two countries.
A few days ago, the duke OF Cumber-
land an officer in the British army,
who Is now far along in years, an
nounced his unalterable determination
to maintain his right to the throne Of
Hanover and Of Brunswick.
Once the two made one kingdom,
but later they were separated by the
German government, so that Hanover
Is now mere province. If the duke Of
Cumberland would disavow all claim
to Hanover 1t is barely possible that
he might succeed in becoming ruler Of
Brunswick. but he Is obdurate in hold
ing his right to both. and all Europe
knows that the power behind him tha.
sustains his courage is the august per-
sonality Of King Edward VII.
The diet Of Brunswick forced the is
sue last October by giving the duke
three months in which to resign his
claim to the Hanoverina crown, and
thus reconcile himself with Prussia.
The diet specified that unless he did
SO, be must expect to lose all claim to
Brunswick, and see another selected
to his dukedom. The duke declined,
and, as was expected, proposed to
leave the question to the imperial
courts to decide.
The king OF England. III making the
fight for Cumberland. and the duke, is
contending SO that his son, Ernest Au-
gust, may succeed to the title and in
| come.
To gain anlappreciation Of the seri-
/ BUSINESS Of the quarrel Of the royal
rivals for Brunswick it Is necessary to
| so back to the time Of George |.
When this King succeeded to the
English throne he was both duke OF
Brunswick and king of Hanover AT
that time the German empire had not
yet come into existence. The country
which the iron hand of Bismarck was
to weld into one of the mightiest oi
modern monarchies was number Of
detached and independent states, each
having Its own ruler.
King Edward is of the house o.
Brunswick Hanover. and had no wo
man ruler Of England come between
him and his ancestor, George l., Kinl
! Edward would now be the king Of Han
over and duke Of Brunswick, as his an
cestor was, and this would have pre-
vented the present controversy Blu
Just as women in humber walks Of lift
upset the plans OF men, SO do queens
change conditions for kings.
| The innocent Queen Victoria Is real
ly the cause Of the present trouble
Under the SaIic law she could not in
herit Hanover and Brunswick. Thi
made break in the succession. AM
they went to her uncle, the duke 0
Cumberland. eldest surviving son Q
George III The present duke Of Cum
berland and contender for the title
a grandson Of the duke, and SO far a
the validity of his title goes there ca
be no dissent It is undeniably col
rect.
The present duke might have bee
enjoying all the emoluments Of the o.
iice without question but for mis-
take made by his father in 1866. Thi
was when war broke out betwee
Prussia and Austria. The ruler G
Brunswick and Hanover, King George
took sides with Austria, and whe
Prussia won it took revenge on Georg
by depriying him Of his kingdom
After the death of Former Kin
George tho present duke of Cumbel
1and rnado claim IN fho Einrdosn r