Viggo Hørup
Encyclopedia
Viggo Lauritz Bentheim Hørup (Hoerup), (22 May 1841 – 15 February 1902) was a Danish
politician, journalist and agitator
.
He was the father to Ellen Hørup (1871-1953).
One of the most influential politicians of the Danish non-Socialist left wing.
He was the son of a North Zealandian schoolteacher but belonged to the relatively well-to-do middle class. Already as a student Hørup took interest in politics, early joining the party Venstre
after a short conservative intermezzo. From the start he opposed both the bourgeoisie of the capital and the National Liberal
academic circles. After some failing attempts he was 1876 elected to the Danish parliament’s first chamber (the Folketing
) and kept his seat until 1892. Hørup soon had a leading position in Left and is regarded as one of ”the five Left leaders” with only the leader of the more traditional farmer wing Christen Berg
as his equal. During the constitutional struggle against the prime minister Estrup from Højre
he became one of the central figures.
First of all Hørup is the social liberal pioneer and the anti-militarist
in Danish parliamentarian history. He rejected the military defence as an unrealistic, dangerous and expensive protection of Denmark and he founded a long-standing scepticism against the army that has affected many Danes. Besides he sharply turned against all chauvinist
and nationalist points of view (and against all that he regarded as such). His domestic political views seem to have been a parliamentarian
rule but first of all the recognition of the peasants and the smallholders as socially equal persons. Though not a socialist himself he also co-operated with the Social Democrats
and his uncompromising political view about equality impressed workers and socialists.
Perhaps his greatest direct influence is due to his work as a journalist. After some years of working for the more traditional liberal press he 1884 founded the radical liberal newspaper Politiken
(Eng. The Policy) whose owner he was. Here he both ironically, angrily and well formulated attacked the conservative forces and their thoughts. He also connected radical authors to his case, for instance Georg Brandes
, whose brother Edvard was Hørups co-editor and party colleague. This created a long standing connection between liberal radical forces and the men of literature. In fact he himself both worked as a poet and a translator.
However Hørup's political influence and power were limited because of the “eternal opposition” of Left. As the leader of the most radical part of Left he was often at the odds with the more national and moderate wings of his party who disapproved of many of his opinions. He condemned the attempts of compromise with the Right and his relationship to his fighting companion and opponent Christen Berg was switching between co-operation and obstruction. An attempt of making a compromise himself 1887 failed and after his loss of his parliament seat he had to leave most of the daily leadership of his political fraction to others. However he went on fighting as an editor and also supported the attempt of Left unit after the resignation of Estrup cabinet.
July 1901 Hørup dying from cancer was made Minister of Public Works
in the first Left cabinet, the Cabinet of Deuntzer
. Because of his disease he did not complete much. However in 1905 his supporters founded the political party Det Radikale Venstre
as whose mental inspiration he has since been awknowledged. His daughter Ellen Hørup (1871-1953) played some role as a pacifist and a feminist.
The long distance influence of Hørup has been immense. Left liberals and socialists as well as communists have referred to him and quoted his apothegms regarding him as the ideal unselfish and consequent progressive politician. In return his harsh criticism of national ideals also created many bitter enemies. In fact some parts of Hørup’s person and thoughts are still not fully cleared up. Perhaps his legacy is first of all his wish of the creation of a political culture based upon regular political differences, upon an equal social evaluation and upon sense of realities.
He was the cousin of the poet Holger Drachmann
.
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
politician, journalist and agitator
Agitator
An agitator is a person who actively supports some ideology or movement with speeches and especially actions. The Agitators were a political movement as well as elected representatives of soldiers, including the New Model Army of Oliver Cromwell, during the English Civil War. They were also known...
.
He was the father to Ellen Hørup (1871-1953).
One of the most influential politicians of the Danish non-Socialist left wing.
He was the son of a North Zealandian schoolteacher but belonged to the relatively well-to-do middle class. Already as a student Hørup took interest in politics, early joining the party Venstre
Venstre (Denmark)
VenstreThe party name is officially not translated into any other language, but is in English often referred to as the Liberal Party. Similar rules apply for the name of the party's youth wing Venstres Ungdom. , full name Venstre, Danmarks Liberale Parti , is the largest political party in Denmark...
after a short conservative intermezzo. From the start he opposed both the bourgeoisie of the capital and the National Liberal
National Liberal Party (Denmark)
The National Liberal Party , was a Danish political party or political movement from the 1830s until about 1880.Often considered "the first Danish political party" the National Liberals were gradually founded as the opposition against the Danish absolute monarchy...
academic circles. After some failing attempts he was 1876 elected to the Danish parliament’s first chamber (the Folketing
Folketing
The Folketing , is the national parliament of Denmark. The name literally means "People's thing"—that is, the people's governing assembly. It is located in Christiansborg Palace, on the islet of Slotsholmen in central Copenhagen....
) and kept his seat until 1892. Hørup soon had a leading position in Left and is regarded as one of ”the five Left leaders” with only the leader of the more traditional farmer wing Christen Berg
Christen Berg
Christen Poulsen Berg was a Danish liberal politician and editor. Often just referred to as “C. Berg”....
as his equal. During the constitutional struggle against the prime minister Estrup from Højre
Højre
Højre was the name of two Danish political parties of Conservative persuasion.The first Højre party existed from 1848 to 1866....
he became one of the central figures.
First of all Hørup is the social liberal pioneer and the anti-militarist
Pacifism
Pacifism is the opposition to war and violence. The term "pacifism" was coined by the French peace campaignerÉmile Arnaud and adopted by other peace activists at the tenth Universal Peace Congress inGlasgow in 1901.- Definition :...
in Danish parliamentarian history. He rejected the military defence as an unrealistic, dangerous and expensive protection of Denmark and he founded a long-standing scepticism against the army that has affected many Danes. Besides he sharply turned against all chauvinist
Chauvinism
Chauvinism, in its original and primary meaning, is an exaggerated, bellicose patriotism and a belief in national superiority and glory. It is an eponym of a possibly fictional French soldier Nicolas Chauvin who was credited with many superhuman feats in the Napoleonic wars.By extension it has come...
and nationalist points of view (and against all that he regarded as such). His domestic political views seem to have been a parliamentarian
Parliamentary system
A parliamentary system is a system of government in which the ministers of the executive branch get their democratic legitimacy from the legislature and are accountable to that body, such that the executive and legislative branches are intertwined....
rule but first of all the recognition of the peasants and the smallholders as socially equal persons. Though not a socialist himself he also co-operated with the Social Democrats
Social democracy
Social democracy is a political ideology of the center-left on the political spectrum. Social democracy is officially a form of evolutionary reformist socialism. It supports class collaboration as the course to achieve socialism...
and his uncompromising political view about equality impressed workers and socialists.
Perhaps his greatest direct influence is due to his work as a journalist. After some years of working for the more traditional liberal press he 1884 founded the radical liberal newspaper Politiken
Politiken
Politiken is a Danish daily broadsheet newspaper, published by JP/Politikens Hus.The newspaper comes third among Danish newspapers in terms of both number of readers and circulated copies ....
(Eng. The Policy) whose owner he was. Here he both ironically, angrily and well formulated attacked the conservative forces and their thoughts. He also connected radical authors to his case, for instance Georg Brandes
Georg Brandes
Georg Morris Cohen Brandes was a Danish critic and scholar who had great influence on Scandinavian and European literature from the 1870s through the turn of the 20th century. He is seen as the theorist behind the "Modern Breakthrough" of Scandinavian culture...
, whose brother Edvard was Hørups co-editor and party colleague. This created a long standing connection between liberal radical forces and the men of literature. In fact he himself both worked as a poet and a translator.
However Hørup's political influence and power were limited because of the “eternal opposition” of Left. As the leader of the most radical part of Left he was often at the odds with the more national and moderate wings of his party who disapproved of many of his opinions. He condemned the attempts of compromise with the Right and his relationship to his fighting companion and opponent Christen Berg was switching between co-operation and obstruction. An attempt of making a compromise himself 1887 failed and after his loss of his parliament seat he had to leave most of the daily leadership of his political fraction to others. However he went on fighting as an editor and also supported the attempt of Left unit after the resignation of Estrup cabinet.
July 1901 Hørup dying from cancer was made Minister of Public Works
Ministry of Transport and Energy of Denmark
The Danish Ministry of Transport in the Danish ministry in charge of coordinating and realizing the transport politics of Denmark.The Ministry of Transport was founded in 1900 under the name Ministry for Public Works...
in the first Left cabinet, the Cabinet of Deuntzer
Cabinet of Deuntzer
After the 1901 Danish Folketing election, the Council President Johan Henrik Deuntzer of the Venstre Reform Party became the leader of Denmark's first liberal government. The resulting cabinet, which replaced the Cabinet of Sehested consisting of member of the conservative party Højre, was formed...
. Because of his disease he did not complete much. However in 1905 his supporters founded the political party Det Radikale Venstre
Det Radikale Venstre
The Danish Social Liberal Party is a social liberal political party in Denmark. The party is a member of Liberal International and the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party.-Origin:...
as whose mental inspiration he has since been awknowledged. His daughter Ellen Hørup (1871-1953) played some role as a pacifist and a feminist.
The long distance influence of Hørup has been immense. Left liberals and socialists as well as communists have referred to him and quoted his apothegms regarding him as the ideal unselfish and consequent progressive politician. In return his harsh criticism of national ideals also created many bitter enemies. In fact some parts of Hørup’s person and thoughts are still not fully cleared up. Perhaps his legacy is first of all his wish of the creation of a political culture based upon regular political differences, upon an equal social evaluation and upon sense of realities.
He was the cousin of the poet Holger Drachmann
Holger Drachmann
Holger Henrik Herholdt Drachmann , was a Danish poet and dramatist. He is an outstanding figure of the Modern Break-Through....
.
Quotes
- Democracy is its own verdict, its own measure and its own weight! (1874)
- Nothing over and nothing besides the Folketing! (1878) (Of the relations between the houses of the Danish parliament, the Folketing elected by equal votes and the Landsting elected with the votes of the rich having more weight)
- What is the use? (of a proposed ring of fortification around Copenhagen, 1884)
- One must not light the fire under the pot of laws when the enemy’s soup is on.
- Divide yourselves according to your opinions! (1901)
Literature
- Dansk Biografisk Leksikon, vol. 7, Copenh. 1981.
- Politikens Danmarkshistorie, vol. 12 by Vagn Dybdahl, Copenh. 1964.
- Erik Arup: Viggo Hørup. Copenh. 1941.
- Torben Krogh: Viggo Hørup, Copenh. 1984.