THE DANES IN PRUSSIA.
It was in the name of Pangermanism, a theory bred of cupidity and wanton greed, that Prussia charged the Parliament of Frankfort to claim as German lands the Eastern Provinces, where in reality the Slavs predominate to such an extent, that they still contain a population of about four million Poles.
It was in the name of Pangermanism that in 1864 Prussia seized that part of Schleswig which was entirely Danish.
THE GERMANS AND THE NON-GERMANS IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY.
It is in the name of Pangermanism that Austria-Hungary has been for long the object of German covetousness, although the Germans in that country are in a very small minority. Statistics show 12 millions of Germans against 38 millions of non-Germans, and that must be above the mark, for we have to remember that German statistics systematically exaggerate the number of Germans dwelling in the Hapsburg Monarchy.
Already in 1859 the Augsburg Gazette avowed the object of Germany’s designs on Austria with absolute cynicism:
“We loudly declare that if Austria[1] were not a member of the Confederation; if it were not Austria who happened to be the legitimate owner of these non-German regions, it would be the duty of the German nation to conquer them at all costs, because they are absolutely necessary for her development and for her position as a great power.”