Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 8.djvu/305

 THE NORTH SLESWIC QUESTION 293

civilization in general, and as such the business of the whole civilized world, which it cannot afford to ignore.

With the dawning of the twentieth century, and with the revival of the national principle everywhere, is it not time that steps be taken toward the cultivation of a conscious sense of solidarity among the best in every land, with the practical object in view of insisting upon the application to dealings of nations one with another of the common rules of fairness and justice governing the relations of man with man ? International courts of arbitration may serve a useful purpose ; undoubtedly they are a step in the right direction. But back of them, and above them, as the court of last resort from whose final decision there is no appeal, and whose dicta no ruler in the world dares to defy, must be this mighty fellow-feeling the calm, watchful, unbribable sense of righteousness of the common people, led by those to whom they are wont to look for guidance.

I. CONDITIONS IN SLESWIC. I. PRUSSIAN METHODS OF ASSIMILATION.

The causes leading up to the war of 1864, in which Denmark lost one-third of her territory, are ancient history and need not be rehearsed here. Allegedly a question of succession, when Prussia and her ally, Austria-Hungary, deemed it expedient to repudiate the London protocol of 1852, by the terms of which the present king of Denmark was made lawful heir to the whole Danish monarchy, the little kingdom found itself involved in a cruel struggle against two great powers and, abandoned by the other signatory governments, foredoomed to crushing defeat. After a six-months' campaign peace was concluded at Vienna. The three duchies of Sleswic, Holstein, and Lauenburg were the price exacted. Two years later, in 1866, the victors fell to quarreling over the booty, and by the peace of Prague Austria was forced to deed over her share to Prussia.

Of the conquered provinces, Holstein and Lauenburg were wholly German. No one in Denmark at the present day regrets their loss. In Sleswic the case was different. Out of a total population of 400,000, approximately three-fifths, inhabiting the