concerned
chiefly with the introduction in the kingdom of a constitutional type
of government. Between 1848 and 1864, they related all but exclusively
to the status of the duchies of Schleswig, Holstein, and Lauenburg.
During the closing quarter of the past century they centered
principally in the titanic conflict which a growing and indomitable
majority in the Folkething, representing a no less determined majority
of the nation, waged with King Christian IX. and his advisers in
behalf of the enforcement of constitutional limitations upon the crown
and of ministerial responsibility to the national legislative body.

The prolonged struggle between the Government and the parliamentary
majority had its beginning in 1872, when the various radical groups in
the Folkething, drawing together under the designation of the United
Left, rejected a proposed budget and passed a vote of want of
confidence in the Conservative Government. The avowed purpose of the
disaffected elements was to force the ministry of Holstein of
Holsteinborg to retire, to compel the sovereign to select his
ministers from the parliamentary majority, and to enforce the
principle of ministerial responsibility to the lower legislative
chamber. Supported by the king and the Landsthing, however, the
ministry refused to resign. June 11, 1875, there was called to the
premiership an able and aggressive statesman, Jakob Estrup, who
through the next nineteen years continuously maintained the
Government's position against the most desperate of parliamentary
assaults. During the whole of this period Estrup commanded the support
of the Landsthing, but was opposed by large majorities in the
Folkething and throughout the country. The struggle raged principally
upon questions of finance. Estrup, who retained for himself the
portfolio of finance, was bent upon the strengthening of Danish
armaments, and over the protest of the Folkething huge budgets were
put into effect again and again by simple ordinance of the crown. From
1882 onwards ordinary legislation was at a standstill, and during (p. 566)
nine years after 1885 there was not one legal grant of supplies. The
constitution was reduced well nigh to waste paper.

*622. Later Conservative Governments: the Triumph of the Left.*--In 1886
the Radicals, despairing of overthrowing the Estrup government by
obstruction, resorted for the first time to negotiation. Not until
April 1, 1894, however, was the parliamentary majorit