The Express.
London, England, 1867-05-23 00:00:00

OPENING OF THE AIIt3TRIAN
REICHSRATH.

SPEECH OF THE EMPEROR FRANCIS JOSEPH.

VIENNA, MAT 22.

The Emperor Francis Joseph formally opened
the Reichsrath to-day. His Majesty delivered the
following speech from the throne :

HONOURED GENTLEMEN or Born HOCAZI or TEE REICHS-
RATH—With joyful satisfaction I see the Reiohaath oece
more assembled around me. Responding to my appeal, the
royal and other countries milled upon have sent hither
their elected deputies, from whose patriotic co-operation
I confidently expect fresh guarantees for the welfare of the
empire, and of all the mantras which Providence has
placed under my sceptre. What I promised when I for the
first time saluted the Reicbsrutb in this place has remained
the unchangeable aim of all my efforts. The establishment,
of constitutional institutions upon a sure basis—this Is
what I have unwaveringly kept in view. But precisely
this object was not to be attained without first bringing
into accord the more ancient constitutional rights of my!
kingdom of Hungary with the fundamental laws granted
by my diploma of the 20th October, 1860, and my patent
of the 26th February, 1861. The sincere recognition of
this fact on the part of this portion of the empire could
alone secure to the other kingdoms and provinces.-1
equally full of devotion to, the empire—the until►
Curbed enjoyment of the rights end liberties granted
to them by the fundamental laws as well as a pro-
-greedy. development in accordance with the present age,
The heavy blows of fortune which have fallen upon the
empire were another earnest warning to act in conformity
with this necessity. My efforts were not in vain. A
satisfactory arrangement has been found for the countries
of my Hungarian Crown, which secures their coherent*
with the rest of the monarchy, the internal peace of the
empire, and its position as a great Power abroad. lem
animated by the hope that the Reicbsrath will not refuse
its consent to this arrangement, and that an impartial and
careful consideration of all the circutustsuaces in connexion
therewith will serve to bewail from this assembly appre-
hensions which would caul. mo serious anxiety were I
not firmly persuaded that the honest good-will of all
parties will bring the new organisat,on to a successful
issue. The past, the present, and the future
exhort us to vigorously apply ounelves to the
completion of the work which has been begun.
The Reichernth, upon whose patriotic devotion I rely,
will, in the present urgent state of things, iliadant to
shrink from the task of a prompt organisation of the
relations of the State on the basis now offered, and will
refuse to follow, instead, an object, the fruitless pursuit of
which could only offer fresh experiments, but no suc-
cessful results. The Reicher:4h, so much I expect from
its justice, will not underestimate the advantages which
have already become perceptible in Austria's position in
the European equilibrium through the course which I have
initiated. The Reichsrath—its tried discrimination is my
guarantee for it—will finally not ignore how the new
order of things mart have for consequence equal security
for the other kingdoms and provinces, inasmuch as it
surrounds with new and unshakeable guarantee. the con-
stitutional rights and liberties of the provinces of the
Hungarian crown. The realisation, however, of this pros-
pect is essentially dependent upon the consolidation of the
fundamental laws of the 20th of October, 1860, and the
26th of February, 1861, in the countries whose representa-
tives are now re-assembled here. The unconditional elec-
tion of deputies to the Reicharath was, therefore, also an
absolute necessity. But as the idea of curtailing the
existing rights of the different kingdoms and provinces has
been foreign to my mind, so also have I had in view
the granting to them in unisoa with the Reich.-
nth every extension of their autonomy that will
meet their wishes and can be accorded with-
eat enamoring the whole monarchy. Therdlbre,
in consideration of the arrangement arrived at with the
Hungarian Representative Assembly, in so far as it relates
to common affairs, there will be at once submitted to you
for adoption the amendments which have become neces-
smeary to my patent of the 26th of February, 1861,
together with a bill establishing ministerial responsibility,
and a modification of paragraph 12 of the constitution,
corresponding with the oinettitutional requirements. To
these will be added other bills, especially those announced
to the Provincial Diet by our resolution of the 4th Feb.
ruary last. The financial affairs of the empire will claim
your most especial attention and constitutional co-opera-
tion. You will receive full reports with regard to the
extraordinary measures which have been unavoidably
neceasitated since the last session of the Reicharath
by the outbreak of the late destructive war. Satisfactory
provision has already been made for the requirements
of the current year, so that the Reicharath, freed from all
demands and exigencies of the moment, can at once de-
vote itself to the solution of the important and permanent
financial questions now submitted to its deliberations in
consequence of the arrangement with Hungary. It will
be our urgent care that no portion of our empire shall have
cause to complain of being disproportionately taxed.
Honoured gentlemen of both Houses of the Reicherath,
to-day we are about to establish a work of peace and of
concord. Let us throw a veil of forgetfulness over the
immediate past, which has inflicted deep wounds upon the
empire. Let us lay to heart the lessons which it leaves
behind, but let us derive with unshaken courage new
strength, and the resolve to secure to the empire peace
and power. For this the fidelity of my people, which has
been manifested in times of the most argent need, is my beet
guarantee. Let not the secret thought of revenge guide our
steps: a more noble satisfaction is marred for us. The better
we succeed in our present effort to change the antagonistic
feelings and enmities at present existing into esteem and
respect, the sooner the peoples of Austria, whatever may be
their nationality or language, will rally around the impe-
rial standard, and will cheerfully trust to the word of my
ancestor, that Austria will endure and prosper under the
protection of the Almighty until the most distant time.

_
The speech of the Emperor was received with
frequent outbursts of cheering.

COUNT BISMARCK AND THZ RITORM LIAGUI.
The council of the Reform League met last evening at
their rooms, Adelphiterrace ; Mr. Edmond Hades, presi-
dent, in the chair. The following letter how Count
Bismarck was read :—" Berlin, May 17, 18b7.—Gentlemen,
—I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of a reso-
lution pissed at a meeting of metropolitan delegates from
trade, friendly, and temperance and other societies, and
from one hundred London branches of the Reform League,
congratulating the people of North Germany on the
achievemeat of full representation and vote by ballot, and
commenting very kindly on my conduct in advising and
defending that reform. lam glad to think that the origin
of the late Reichstag, and the proceedings of that efficient
and patriotic body, should have met with so much eym-1
pathy in a country the history and institutions of which
have always afforded, and will not cease to all ord, a highly
interesting object to the scrutiny and reflection of conti-
nental
politicians. May the time be not far when
all the nations of Europe would turn their attention to
each other for no other purpose than that of emulating
in good government and the arts of peace. You will,
oblige me by conveying to the members of the meeting
the expression of my sincere thanks for their flattering
appreciation of what I have been doing to serve the king
and my country, in confonnity with the individual cha-
racter of society, and political institutions in Germany.—l
am, gentlemen, your obedient servant, BISMARCK. To,
Edmond Beaks, Esq., and the other executive officers of
the Reform League.', The chairman referred to the in- I
tention of the government to proceed with the Royal Parks'
Bill after Whitsuntide, and said that it was worthy the
consideration of the council whether it was not their duty
to call s large meeting in Hyde-park to protest against the
bill. The demonstration should be made as effec- I
tive as possible, because it was quite clear that
what the us had done had produced its effect, and it
was desirable that that effect should not be allowed to die ,
out. The object of the bill was to undo all they Ohs
League) had done, and to make that legal which was
now admitted to be illegal. (Hear, hear.) After *mai- I
derthie discussion the following resolution was agreed to : I
—" That the government having intimated their intention ,
to proceed with the Royal Parks Bill after Whitsuntide,
and then to move its second reading, the council resolves,
in case of this intention, which it much regrets, being
persevered in, to summon a monster meeting of the inha-
bitant* of the metropolis in Hyde-park for the purpose
of protesting against she attempt proposed to be made
by the bill in question, to deprive the people of their
admitted right to meet in that park for the considera-
tion of political and other questions, a right which has
been lately exercised with so much order and propriety,
and without any perceptible interference with the use and
enjoyment of the park by others." The council then
adjourned.