D1.8.12: [Untitled]

D1.8.12: [Untitled]

Newspaper Clippings

Bleek explores the likelihood of a general war in Europe, stating that England is unlikely to involve itself without sufficient cause. He submits that even with the aid of other Scandinavian powers, Germany's larger population will always grant it military superiority. When exemplifying Salic law, he explains that the ducal Augustenburg line is equally as entitled to Schleswig-Holstein (claimed by Frederick in 1863) as the Duke of Cumberland is to the kingdom of Hanover. The duchies fought over were Schleswig, Holstein, and Lauenburg. The Germans of Schleswig and Holstein preferred the Augustenburgs to the more Danish Glücksburg branch. The November Constitution of 1863 tied Schleswig closer to Denmark, which Germans felt violated the London Protocol of 1852. Bleek views the Danish-German war is a German plaything, showcasing their superior resources (e.g., iron, coal, and personnel) and firearms (e.g., the 'Zündnadelgewehr', a needle gun). Bleek lastly comments on German unification and why South African settler colonies should similarly unify under a federalist system before achieving meaningful representation in the 'great parliament' of the 'Supreme Government' (of the British Empire).

Printed newsprint glued on paper

04 August 1864

Two cut-out columns of printed newsprint mounted on foolscap folio (warped).

War (a general war in Europe), Danish Isles (the likelihood of England's involvement there), Scandinavian Powers, duchies (Schleswig), insurrectionary movements, Fatherland (the common), Salic law (agnatic succession), Schleswig-Holstein (Duke of), Augustenburg (the more German branch)

Pressed clippings of Victorian current affairs opinion pieces by Wilhelm Bleek. Published in Het Volksblad on Thursday, August 4th, 1864. Here and elsewhere in Bleek's 'leaders' (e.g., when using the phrase 'Teutonic brothers'), he remarks on England's curious lack of interest in the politics of its Saxon homeland, despite its demography and Hanoverian elite (of Saxon descent). As a German émigré, Bleek was particularly attentive to German affairs. This article refers to the Second Schleswig War of 1864 (February 1st to October 30th), fought between the German Confederation (Prussia and Austria) and the Kingdom of Denmark. In this context, 'German' refers to the disparate population groups inhabiting the member states of the German Confederation.

Van de Sandt de Villiers & Co.