The Danish Slesvigers appear to be in a bad way.
The bitterest complaints are made of the grievances to which they are subjected by the German Government in Slesvig, by which Danes appear to be ordered into exile without even a pretext assigned or assignable ; and when Denmark complains, she is calmly told by the semi-official Spener Gazette of Berlin that "the time is passed when small States can pretend to follow, an independent policy- of their own ; Denmark will be obliged to submit herself to the changes which have supervened." A pleasant hearing this for Holland and Belgium, or even for Switzerland ! Further they are told that the Treaty of Prague, by which it was agreed that a portion of North- Slesvig should be ceded to Den- mark, is a dead-letter, and that they have more to gain from the generosity of Germany than from appeal to any treaty on the score of contract. But if they remain silent and do not com- plain, the Germans point to their silence as a proof that they are satisfied. If thus, either way, they get nothing but cuffs, they may as well have the satisfaction of letting Europe know how badly they are treated. Certainly, in the one region where Prussia had a chance of showing the magnanimity of true power, without risk to its solidity, she has seemed to oars only to convince the world that her heel is heavy and her temper hard.
Previous page
