Page:The World's Famous Orations Volume 5.djvu/179

 JAMES BRYCE

��the rest of the Danish monarchy ; but the Danes said: "No, we are and will be one nation; we will not make in your favor those exceptions and special arrangements which you desire. You are Danish subjects; Danes you shall be." The Danish language was to be taught in all the schools of Schleswig, and every means was to be taken of replacing German by Danish sentiment. "What was the consequence? The discontent of Schleswig and Holstein found sympathy in Ger- many, and the Germanic Powers intervened.

You will say that there is no great Power to interfere between us and Ireland. That is quite true. It is not always in the same way that these problems are solved. But they find their solution nevertheless, and it is a solution which usually punishes the pride and obstinacy of a dominant race. Schleswig and Holstein kept up their discontent so long, that at last the hour arrived for Which they had been waiting, and Denmark saw herself deprived of those Prov- inces which a policy of moderate conciliation would have enabled her to retain. We have also the case of Russia in her dealings with Poland and Finland. Russia allowed Finland autonomy ; and it is at this day a peaceful, prosperous, and contented Province of the Czar's dominions, in- spiring him with no fear of conspiracies or re- volts, altho the frontier of Finland comes almost to the gates of St. Petersburg. Russia refused to deal in the same spirit with Poland, and what were the consequences ? She has, indeed, or she 153

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