New-York tribune., 1908-01-01
OSCAR MIGHT HAVE HAD DANISH THRONE.

OSCAR MIGHT HAVE HAD DANISH THRONE.
AproPos OF King Oscar. it is not generally known
that if King Frederick is to-day the throne of
Denmark it is in great measure - to King
oscar. In lsS2, when the great powers act in
gross to determine the succession the throne If
Denmark Oscar was the Danish favorite; that is to
say. he vas the prince whom King Frederick VII
wished to have for his heir. choice universally
approved by the Danish people. His candidature to
the crown of Denmark strongly supported by
Napoleon III. who regarded him near relative
Oscars mother Beauharnais md niece
of Queen HortenseD. and who also realized the ad-
vantage which there would be TO France in having
a Gascon dynasty not only on the thrones Of
Sweden and Norway but also upon that of Den
mark Oscar the time a third son. His
father, Oscar I. of that Field Marshal Berna-
dotte who became King of Sweden. was still alive
and on tho throne. The elder of his two brothers.
Crown Prince Charles. who afterward TO sue
Ceed the crown Cf Sweden and Norway as
Charles XIV. had just married. and there was no
reason believe that he would not have a large
family OF children. The other brother. Gustave,
who Nss subsequently killed by a fall from his
horse dashIng and handsome cavalry Officer
Oscars prospects OF becoming ruler of Sweden and
cf Norway were therefore somewhat remote, and
the temptation accept the proffered place OF
Crown Prince Denmark therefore very
great
II was 4 sense OF chiva!ry more than anything
else that led him. much TO the disgust Of King
Frederick of Denmark and of Napoleon III, TO
withdraw the last moment his candidature in
Of Prince Christian OF SchlesWig- Holstein
Cilucksburs. a German prince. one Of the younger
sons OF Duke William OF Scheswig- Holstein
Clucksburg and who. with large family. had
little beyond his pay cavalry captain OF
cours from the point of heredity, the rights
OF Christian as a member OF the house Of Schles-
wig Holstein to the throne OF Denmark were su-
perior to those CT Oscar But the latter was the
choice of the Danish people. OF the then Danish
King and hsd the backing Of Napoleon III. then
enc Of most powerful monarchs In Europe
Consideration for tie rights. such as they were
and above all for the necessities Of Prince Chris
tian. caused Oscar to step aside. and 1t was The
remembrance Of this forbeaTance his part that
caused him resent bitterly the action OF
Christian three years ago I'm permitting his grand
SON Prince Charles of Denmark TO accept the
crown OF Norway, which had just been "rested
from his head Oscar even charged the late King
Christian with having played an active role IN en-
gjnecriuE the circumstances which brought ABOUT
the. separation OF Norway from Sweden and the
election OF Danish prince to the Norwegian
throne and regarded j but sorry return on
the part of Christian for his own generosity toward
him in lS52.
This is a forgotten bit Of history. which was
we'll known hfty years ago. but which. though
recalled by the late King Oscar in private con-
versations during III" last two years of his reign
aud which known 10 a number OF Scandinavian
statesmen and writer's notably old Biornsterne
F5ornsun twhp discussed the matter "lth oscAi
on NOR. Than OCCASION. has been iost slSh'
Of I'm the descriptions Of tho career % 1e late
king of Sweden and in the discussions abroad
Of the situation created since 1896 in Scandinavia
hv the DEVELOPMENT of Norway into an independent
kingdom Let Ire add that Oscar inquired IN MS
tory under the pen name OF Oscar FrcderlE'
and that ore of his most important and earliest
works Was that on the influence of sea power on
- a,a International politics. subject subse-
quentIy brilliantly developed by Captain Mahan'
L. "