More Salisbury 

More Salisbury

Just indulging myself:

From "The Danish Duchies": the Germans claim that in some parishes, church services alternate between Danish language and German, whereas the local population is such that they should be all German.

"But even if any mistakes have been made in the allotment, of which there is no proof, the consequences at any rate are not overwhelming. The only effect is that the aggrieved peasant hears one sermon a fortnight instead of two. We very much doubt if a great popular agitation could be got up in England upon this basis. The grievance, indeed, did make its appearance in the House of Commons this very last session. The English nationality are 'oppressed' in Wales, by being forced in some parishes to take their choice between a Welsh service and none at all; and one or two sufferers did invoke the aid of Parliament, not to abolish the Welsh service, but to allow the English to have a service of their own. But so dead are we English people to the sacred rights of our nationality and our Fatherland, that it was very difficult to keep forty members together to discuss the subject. They do not take privation in the matter of sermons so easily in Slesvig."

The Great Powers at one point decided who would succeed to the throne of Denmark. The man they chose "stood high in the male succession; and most of those who stood before him had been guilty of treason in 1848, and had rendered themselves liable to the forfeiture of all their rights. Accordingly, renunciations were obtained from [among others] the Duke of Augustenburg himself, who of course had fled the country. For this, and for the cession of all claim to his estates, which was of small value to him as he had forfeited them by rebellion, he received a sum of rather more than $400,000 [can't find a pound sign quickly]." [He signed a solemn promise, for himself and his family, never to make any claim on the Danish throne].

"In the vocabulary of the Duke of Augustenburg it is to be presumed that the word 'family' does not include sons; for it is his son who is now revolutionizing Holstein under the wing of the Federal army. It is right to say that the Duke's son has protested against the above renunciation. It is also right to add that he kept his protest to himself till six years after the deed had been signed and the money paid."

[Finally Prussia and Austria moved to repudiate the London Treaty, to which they were signatories, altogether. They were led by the "mass" of "radicals," "with that curious indifference to morality which is characteristic of sentimental politicians."]

""This habit of political repudiation appears to be ingrained in Prussian politicians. Along with his conquests and his glory, Frederick the Great has left them also the disastrous legacy of his treachery. Like most mere imitators, they follow chiefly the defects of their model, and overlook its beauties. There is little enough in their recent history of his military prowess, or his political sagacity; but of his unblushing perfidy, of his cynical contempt for pledges given and treaties signed, they are admirable copyists."

UPDATE: How was Salisbury as a prophet? His essay on the Danish Duchies appeared in January 1864. He warns that the bigger German states, especially Prussia and Austria, have a lot to lose; that Prussia has no friendly neighbours; and that the French Emperor is looking for an excuse to attack, perhaps to take Bavaria ane even Prussia itself. Then, more cautiously, he admits that quite different outcomes are possible.

...one of two alternatives may be safely predicted of the destiny of Germany as a European Power. Either the present subdivision which neutralizes her natural resources will cease, and she will become one of the most powerful Empires in the world; or else--a far likelier issue--the present enthusiasm will exhaust the energies of a people so unpractical, without leading to any definite result, and Germany will fall back into her old condition, more divided, more stagnant, more impotent than before, and more helplessly the slave of Russia.


Fortunately, he says, Germany's actions show that she only intends to attack her weakest enemies; so a real demonstration of force will make her back down. The last lines of the essay are again less optimistic.

But promptitude and courage are above all things necessary. In every portion of Europe the combustible materials lie scattered ready for the match. If they are kindled into war, no human power can set bounds to the conflagration, or predict the limits of its rage. Upon the action of England, who alone desires peace, the continuance of peace depends.


The Austro-Prussian War or Seven Weeks War took place in the summer of 1866. If Austria had won, there probably would have been a larger German-speaking Empire, in which Prussia had a subordinate role, leaning towards the old balance-of-powers, more or less peace-loving approach. Instead Prussia won; cleverly left Austria with its existing territory, added to its own territory and began establishing a new, more warlike German Empire.

The Franco-Prussian War lasted slightly longer: July 19, 1870 - May 10, 1871. The results were also much more dramatic. The Germans beseiged and took Paris. "The French emperor was captured in battle, resulting in a bloodless revolution and France becoming the only republican Great Power in Europe. During the final stages of the war, the German states proclaimed their union under the Prussian King, founding the German Empire."

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