y able to agree
with the Government and the Landsthing upon a budget which, by being
made retroactive, legalized the irregular fiscal expedients of the
past two decades. In August of the same year Estrup was succeeded in
the premiership by Reedtz-Thott who, although a Conservative, and
hence a supporter of the Government's position, was more favorable to
conciliation than had been his predecessor. The struggle, however, was
by no means ended. The elections of 1895 and of 1898 resulted in
decisive victories for the Liberals and Radicals, and in the Chamber
the Government was confronted by an overwhelming majority comprising a
Moderate Left, a Reform or Radical Left, and a group of Social
Democrats. Even in the Landsthing the Government's hold was growing
less substantial. Reedtz-Thott, none the less, clung to office until
December, 1899, and after his retirement there followed two more
Conservative ministries--those of Hoerring (December, 1899, to April,
1900) and of Sehested (April, 1900, to July, 1901).

On July 16, 1901, occurred the most notable political event in a
half-century of Danish history. Confronted by a majority of 106 to 8
in the Folkething, besieged by widespread popular opinion, and
possessing no longer a dependable majority in the Landsthing, the aged
Christian IX. gave way, with such grace as he could muster, and
summoned to the premiership Professor Deuntzer, by whom was
constituted a pure Left Reform ministry. At the partial elections of
September 19, 1902, the Conservatives lost absolutely their majority
in the upper chamber, while in the Folkething party strength was so
redistributed that, while the Conservatives retained their eight
seats, the Social Democrats acquired fourteen and the Left Reform
party seventy-seven. The elections of June 16, 1903, wrought but
insignificant changes of status.

*623. The Christensen Ministry (1905-1908) and the Elections of
1906.*--As was to be expected of a party whose role had been regularly
one of mere opposition, the Left Reform, after gaining office,
developed a certain amount of internal discord. In January, 1905, the
Deuntzer ministry broke up and a more homogeneous and moderate cabinet
was organized under the Left Reform leader Christensen. This ministry
contrived to retain office until October, 1908. At the elections of
May 29, 1906, the Government took its stand upon manhood suffrage (p. 567)
in parliamentary elections, equal suffrage in municipal ele