Mr. Yeaman to Mr. Seward.
Sir: There does not seem to be any increased confidence here in regard to the ultimate position to be assigned to north Schleswig; and it is possible that the disposition of the Prussian government in the matter has not been improved by the alleged representation or intercession of Sweden in behalf of the reunion of Danish Sehleswig to Denmark, in view of the agitation existing for some time past in favor of the union of all Scandinavia under one government.
The leaders of the Scandinavian scheme are active and bold, more so than formerly since the manifesto of the Emperor of the French, in which he favors in so marked a manner the union of peoples on the basis of nationality, and alludes, seemingly without regret, to the probable extinction of the small states. A prominent member of the party here, an active editorial writer, has been made the recipient of an “order” from the King of Sweden. It seems contrary to the laws of Denmark for a citizen to wear the badge of an order, conferred Upon him by a foreign sovereign or power, without the royal permission. The editor, who is said to have written very earnestly for some years against [Page 172] titles and orders, did not decline either to receive the order, or to ask the permission of his own sovereign to wear it, and the King, of course, did not refuse the request.
Considering that the advocates of Scandinavian union or consolidation are generally very hostile to the established dynasty in this kingdom, not stopping at mere political discussion, but often indulging in objections to the royal family, and to their title to the throne; that the party is in the main identical with the party of the most advanced liberalism, and which has the ascendancy in this capital, though not in the provinces and rural districts; and considering, further, the well-understood feature of the scheme of Scandinavian unity, that the welding of the three kingdoms under one government would involve the ascendency of the royal family of Sweden, to the exclusion of that of Denmark, this token of esteem and approval, otherwise so entirely unimportant in the eyes of a democratic observer, is not without interest in several respects that will suggest themselves and arrest attention without further allusion or comment.
There seems no doubt that this movement is favored by France and intensely opposed by Russia. At one time Russia was thought to favor it, but the apprehension now so prevalent here that late events have encouraged her to look forward to the dominion of the entire south and west coasts of the Baltic, gives rise to the belief that she would not now wish for a consolidation of Scandinavian power.
I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.