The New York herald., 1869-10-11
BOHEMIA.

A General Election and General Exc:enl ent--
The Political situation as 1t Was and fs--
Austrian Policy und Influence of the Em-
pire-How tho HuugariRns Rank in the
Circie-A Struggle for NatiOnalism-Scene
nt the Polls.
PRAaUE. Sept. %. 1889.
The kingdom OF Bohemia Is at the present time in
the midst OF election excitement. No one writes,
talks or thinks OF anything except the election Of
members for the coming Diet. To-day members
have been chosen for the country districts, and on
Friday the Gath inst, Prague and the towns will
elect their representatives.
have Just returned from an election held in
suburban district, and hasten to give an account OF
what saw and heard In order to understand the
Significance OF the present elections 1t Is necessary
take retrospect OF Austrian policy for tile last two
or three years. shall, therefore, preface my descrp
ton with brief statement OF the political position
IN Bohemia such as 1t has been given me by prom-
ncnt men here and from such information as have
procured since coming to Prague. Although differ
enI attempts at constitutlonalism had been made in
Austria previous to 1885, the government always
maintained Its old tendencies ana centralized all
power In Vienna Constitutions were drawn up
from time to time, but they were either aDrogatcd,
rendered OF no account by ministerial regulations
Issued In Vienna or were simply not applied, remain
Ing a dead letter. After the crushing defeat OF
Sadowa the old system was discarded, and 1t was
announced 10 the world that Austria, which hitherto
had been the acknowledged stronghold OF reaction
arr principles ami politics. was now to become
really q liberal and constitutional State. Hun
gary which, since 1S4S, had been governed from
Vienna, was invited 10 come to an arrange
ment The leading idea In Austrian politics
has always been to maintain the supremacy OF the
German over all other nationalities In the empire
IL was possible to carry out this idea when Austria
was Of the head Of the German Confederation, and
when all administrative and legislative power was
unceremonousy thrust out G BY Count BISMARCK ts
was dinicult to keep up the former supremacy OF q
race 30 small In numbers as the German Is IN Aus
tria, and utterly out OF the question If constiu-
tOnai form Of government was TO be introduced aud
adhered to. There ia nothing, however, so difficult
evident tnat the Old system must be aban.
doned, it was only after 1t was shown
faction that these demands were acceded to
by the Vienna government After She agreement
with hungary Count Beust set about arranging the
affairs OF the western half OF the monarchy. con-
stitutton was promulgated from Vienna by the pro-
visions Of which the different people were to have
gates TO a central Parliament to be held at Vienna.
1t Is generally acknowledged, believe. that She
constitution Is reasonably liberal iu many respects;
but complaints are made that 1t is used merely as
weapon TO secure German asccndancy
TO give the most striking example, wiz take
Bohemia. which ls inhabited by upwards OF five mil
lions OF people. or these abou. two millions, or
nearly So are Germans OF recent German descent.
IL Is evident that II the ballot IL fairly applied
the Bohemians must be In the majority. But
Vienna gave the constitution, VI
emma undertakes TO regulate the arrangement
OF electoral districts aud the manipulation OF elec
tons, which IL done with such success that the
BOhemans who form large majority or the popu-
lation OF the Kingdom are represented ia the Diet by
q minority. This Ia managed by giving to email
towns having German majority an equal rcprcsen.
taton with large Bohemian towns. At the FIRST ses-
sion OF Tho Diet In 1851 the Bohemian members with
drew, signing at the same time protest stating
their grievances. Since that time they have taken
no part In the government OF the country. Upon
withdrawal their seats were declared vacant aud
election has boen ordered. The great question
involved In The election Is, AVN the country uphold
the protesting membersW Az write returns have
been received from thrtyseven DISTRICTS IN every QUE
the protesting members have been returned either
unanimously or by very large majority, ana the
prospect ~ that every member wilt be returned. |
asked one OF The leaders OF the bohemian party yes
terday what they were struggling for IN this contest
| with tho government lie answered. 'for OUT
nationality and our local riGhts.' Said he. "Bone.
mla u one or the Oldest kingd0ms In the Aus.Iun
| empire. The only legal tie bnqmg u " nuslrIa =
| that the Emperor OF Austria is King OF Bohemis
We are wiling to yield to tho vionna goverumMni
every thing that Ia necessary for preserving i@ uny
| but we wish to preserve our nati0naiiy anu on,
| local institutions. We wish 70 allow sao us'n~h