The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1866-07-13
The Dark Hours of Austria.

just now upon the eve of the grand
European war, in which Austria appears
to be m anaced from all sides, and its ut
ter ACKNOWLEDGMENT threatened, it may
not be improbable to call back moments
in Austrian history when for time its
fall seemed certain and unavoidable, and
yet when, by its own recuperative force,
it succeeded in overcoming all danger and
rising superior to all hostile com biuations.
We shall refer to these historical instan-
ces, not iu the spirit of panegyrist, but
merely as indications of the great power
of resistance Austria possesses, and has
always possessed, and further to show that
those who predict, from the present COM
biuations against the House of Hapsburg,
its downfall as one of the great ruling
powers of the earth, have not thoroughly
measured the resources nor the elasticity
of Government compelled to fight for
the maintenance of its dignity, ay, FOR its
very existence.
The present situation bears remark
able analogy to the condition of continen.
tai Europe upon the death of Charles the
Sixth, Emperor Of Germany and Arch,
duke OF Austria, in l740. Against his
daughter, Maria Theresa, who claimed to
succeed him, by virtue of the "pragmatio
sanction" in the hereditary dominions of
Austria, almost the whole of Europe com.
bned iu maintaining her succession in
admissible under the Salic law, for Gen.
turtles past the great law OF kingly descent
on the continent. 1t was then that
Frederick the Second of Prussia, young
and ambitious, won his first spurs in bat.
tie.
Besides him, France, Bavaria, Saxony,
Hanover, and even Spain aud Savoy, and
some other minor powers of Italy and Ger
many preferred claims to the several por.
lions of the Austrian dominions, and for
time it appeared as if the days of the Aus
trian Hapsburgs, as ruling family in Eu-
rope were soon to end. But Austria outiv-
ed dagger, aud camo out of the struggle
with very little loss. Frederick gained
portioL Of SILICA, and France obtained L1r-
raIne and AIsace. But, gu the other
baud Austria's influence rose greatly, and
Maria Theresa succeeded in having her
husoaud, Duke Francis of Lorraine, elect
ed Geman Emperor, notwithstanding the
oppusiuun OF Russia, Prussia, Englaud
France, and Spaiu. Austria was thus
almost mlraculously saved from utter ruin
by the feIVld patriotism aud martial Wig
or OF the Huugarians, to whom Maria
Theresa presented herself, her infant sou
in her arms, pleading with fearful eyes
tor instant succor
Again, in almost our own time, the
NapuleoDlc wars have often brought Aus
trla 10 the verg: Of complete destruction.
All It's domluions overruu by victorious
enemy, it's capital 10 the possession IF
hostile army, lis own organized force Of
esistance nearly destroyed in numberless
battles, and the weak remnants of once
proud army and brave spirited population
denoralized by constant defeat, and added
to all this Gn 1919 national bankruptcy
working the most disastrous results among
all ciasses-all this did weaken for time,
it is true, the power of Austria; but iu
1918, as if with a sudden bound, to the
astonishment of all Europe, ant to the
amazement of no one more than Napoleon
himself, Austria stood fully armed, dauus-
less, and in all the strength and vigor of
unexhausted manhood on the plains of
LeipsiO, bidding defiance to che oonqueror
of the continent