Prince Bismarck and his Policy. 



99 



"War seemed imminent and war came ; not between 

 Prussia and Austria, but Prussia and Austria against 

 Denmark. The Scbleswig-Holstein question was managed 

 with ardor, audacity and incomparable acuteness. 



On the 29th of September, 1863, the council of the em- 

 pire of Denmark promulgated a decree of a common consti- 

 tution for the whole monarchy, which was nothing more nor 

 less than an incorporation, and aDananiziug of Schleswig- 

 Holstein. On iNTov. 13th, the Diet of Copenhagen sanctioned 

 this decree, and two days afterwards King Frederick YII., 

 of Denmark, was a corpse. In the meantime the heredi- 

 tary Prince Frederic of Augustenburg had proclaimed 

 himselfdukeof thetwo provinces, while the Danish ministry 

 at Copenhagen gave the crown to Christian IX. under the 

 condition, toDananize Schleswig-Holstein and incorporate 

 them into the monarchy. 



How Prussia succeeded in inducing Austria to draw the 

 sword for Prussia's interest in contradiction to her entire 

 previous policy, is impossible to tell, suffice it to say, that 

 Austria and Prussia did fight together; that Prince Frederick 

 Charles planted the Prussian standard on the walls of 

 Diippel in April, 1864 ; Bismarck renounced, on May 18th, 

 the conditions of the London protocol; on May 28th, 

 Austria and Prussia demanded in London the complete 

 separation of the Duchies from Denmark. June 25th, the 

 Loudon conference adjourned without reaching any result, 

 and on June 29th, Gen. Herworth took the island of 

 Alsen. The war was ended. ^ 



1 shall pass over the time from autumn 1S64, to May, 

 1866. '* It was in the midst of dark intrigues, and of nego- 



* " In 1865, Bismarck visited Xapoleon at Biaritz, wlien lie disclosed to 

 him some of his projects. Napoleon, restinor on the arm of the author 

 of " Colomba," whispered from time to time into the ear of the academician 

 senator these words : " He is crazv." Five years later the dreamer of Ham 

 gave up his sword to the crazy man of the Mark." 



