New-York tribune., 1909-12-12
Important Role in international Politics Which
Was Played by the Late Princess
Marie of Denmark

,,.,--.rht. 1909. by the Brentwood Company
r.U women have played a more inn
...rt role in international politics dur
-. ,be last quarter Of century than
,,-s,osss Marie OF Denmark. who died
.,,s. a week ago at Copenhagen. after an
,r,ess so brief that her husband and
.,rs who had a short time previously
,.s, eor 2 tour in India, had not time TO
-.scb home before she breathed her last.
,,,houch the wife OF a mere younger
h-o,,er Of the ruler Of one OF the smallest
kingdoms in Europe, yet her influence
,,ss so farreaching that il extended even
..,oss the Atlantic. and IL is TO her more
-, 20 snv one else that may be at
,-ibuted the failure OF the project OF the
r,r,,ea states government TO secure by
.,,,rhase the Danish West Indies.
:, NAV he recalled that the ratification
.. the treaty for the sale was defeated
nv the L.andsthing. or upper chamber OF
~. Danish legislature. Neither the late
zinr nor the heir apparent. now Fred
.-ick VII, actively interfered in the mat
,e- although IL is no secret that they
,,sre from the outset much opposed to
,he transfer OF the islands 10 this coun-
.-v and that their agreement TO give
,hsir adhesion TO the treaty IL ratified
A., both houses Of the legislature was
secured only with the utmost difficulty
and given with much reluctance. But
,be Danish royal family is a large one.
xot al OF its members regard themselves
hound by the moral obligation imposed
~ fhe constitution 20 maintain an atti-
,u6e ~ strict impartiality toward the
-,,,sl political factions in questions re-
ouirinC parliamentary treatment, and
princess Marie. taking advantage Of this.
devoted all her activity and energy TO
securing the rejection Of the treaty.
She brought personal pressure 10 bear
on the wives and daughters OF almost
eyery member OF the Landsthing, 20
which she in a great measure restricted
her operations, realizing that they We're
nkely 10 prove more smenable TO the
wishes of royalty than the womankind
OF the lower house.
Economic considerations and plain
business sense dictated the disposal OF
To Danish indies 20 the United States
for a considerable sum in cash. and COM
mended itself as such 20 the business
men Of the kingdom. But patriotism and
sentiment stood IN the way. and II was 20
these that the princess appealed with so
much success that she succeeded IN set
Ing az naught the plans OF the Ameri-
can government. The princess was
prompted In the matter not by any dis
Ike Of this country. although she mani
Tested at the time a considerable degree
Of hostility toward II, but rather by
dynastic considerations. IL is danger
ous ti!ing for reigning house 10 identity
itsel,. no matter how reluctantly. with
the alienation OF any territory over
which Il rules.
Bonapartism has been rendered virtu-
ally impossible IN France, owing 10 the
responsibility ascribed by the people OF
the latter 10 Napoleon III for the loss OF
Aisace and Lorraine. Isabella III OF
spain would have sold Cuba 20 the
Omitted States not long after her mar
rage had she not been threatened with
the loss OF her throne IL the negotiations
we're carried 10 a successful conclusion.
while the late King Christian incurred
no end OF unpopularity in Denmark dur
ing the early part OF his reign through
The surrender OF the duchies OF Schles-
wig-Holstein 10 Prussia and Austria, al
though. crushed by overwhelming odds.
Il would have been insane folly for him
70 have continued any longer the war
Tor their defence.
To Princess Marie, q daughter OF Rob-