The Danes in Denmark. 
7 
of the fact that the two factions have a common origin, they are 
irreconcilably opposed to each other; and the antagonism between 
them is becoming more marked every year, furnishing any 
amount of material for quarrels within church circles, both in 
Denmark and among the Danes in this country. Indeed, the 
ideas held by the Grundtvigians and Inner Mission society have 
had a decisive influence on the destiny of the Danes in America 
as a separate nationality. No other questions, save those of an 
industrial nature, can lay any such claim to the attention of the 
Danish public as do these. Politically the Danes are all at sea. 
There is no strong party with any definite policy, and the senti¬ 
ment in favor of larger political liberty has become dormant 
among the common people through the long losing struggle they 
have carried on against the government. The sentiment of 
patriotism and national pride too is waning, except among the 
Grundtvigians, and a feeling of national helplessness is becoming 
dominant. “We are a small people, capable only of small 
things ” has come to be almost a national motto. * 1 
To summarize: The Danes of to-day are a good-natured, easy¬ 
going people, somewhat lacking in self-confidence and enterprise, 
and possessing no strong national ambition and no national insti¬ 
tution which can lay claim to their undivided homage; this leaves 
them without any strong bond of union when removed from the 
mother country. Though as a nation they have a fair propor¬ 
tion of hard-fisted, matter-of-fact individuals, they are never¬ 
theless largely influenced by sentiment and ideals. 
In dealing with the emigrant, however, a new factor enters 
in, for emigration is a sifting process, and the emigrant differs 
in many respects from the people of his class who remain at 
home, and he therefore cannot be judged by the general national 
characteristics. He is more enterprising, more of a matter-of- 
been thoroughly canvassed by the missionaries, public meetings are held 
at which some of the abler speakers are present. Then Sunday schools for 
children are organized, or religious clubs for the older people, through which 
the agitation is continued. The effect aimed at is identical with that of 
revivalists in this country, though the success attained in Denmark is more 
lasting. 
1 The disastrous war of 1864 with the Prussians and Austrians has done 
much to depress the national spirit. 
