The New York herald., 1871-09-16
Constitutional Reform In AustriR--Bohen,j
and the Progress of Decentralization.

Constitutional Reform In Austrin--Bohensja
and the Progress of Decentralization
1t appears from one of our latest telegrams
from Vienna that the reform policy, of which
Count Won Beust must be regarded as the
parent, and Count Hohenwart, the present
Prime Minister, the active promoter, is making
satisfactory progress throughout the Austrian
dominions.' The Provincial Diets of the en-
pire have opened their sessions, and in the
Diet Of Bohemia an imperial rescript was
read amid the enthusiastic cheering of the
Deputies. In the rescript the Emperor Fran
els Joseph expresses his desire for the settle
ment of the status of Bohemia, and declares
himself willing to recognize her rights by a.
public coronation, by taking the oath of
Prague and by consenting TO her electoral and
other national bills.
This announcement is proof sufficient that
Austria has reached another stage in the pro-
gress Of that policy inaugurated after the bat
tie of Sadowa, and carried on under the guid-
ance Of Count Won Beust, the second great
German statesman of the times. Since 1866
Austria has completely reversed her policy.
For many previous generations the Germans
had control Of the empire, and the policy Of
the Germans was policy Of Capitalization.
So long as Austria was at the head of tho
Germanic Confederation this was a possible,
though not wise policy. The battle of Sa-.
dowa, which drove Austria out of Germany,
and which made Prussia supreme, made q
new departure necessary. The Austrian en-
pire was composed of series of separate and
distinct nationalites, some of them complete,
some of them fragmentary but the smallest
sections were, the most Of them, larger
individually than Austrian Germany. In
virtue Of the status of Germany in the
Union the Germans had hitherto ruled,
This was no longer possible. Hence the recog-
milton by Francis Joseph of the claims Of
Hungary. Hence, too, that most magnificent
pageant of modern times-a pageant which
revived the dazzling splendor of medieval
times-when Francis Joseph was crowned
King of Hungary as the legitimate successor
of ST. Stephen, and when, as part Of the cere-
monial, he rode a prancing steed up the Mount
Of Defiance an elevation built from soil
DlVuSuV iIOHl CNcty Puit Va VIC IluliSdThu
royalty. On that day Hungary regained her
independence; and if she did not break away
from the Austrian empire and from the youth
full tyrant of 1889 it was because she had
not forgotten Maria Theresa and her ancient
line Of sovereigns.
1t was with difficulty that the German party
in Austria made up their minds to 80 important
and so dangerous a concession. 1t was felt,
however, that nothing else could save the
empire. What was on all hands predicted
soon came to pass. What was good for Hun,
gary could hardly be bad for Bohemia, for
Galicia, for Moravia, for Carinthia and for the
numerous other provinces Of the empire De-
mands for autonomy came in from all quarters.
To further decentralization, however, the Ger
man centralists could not consent; and 80 the
struggle has been going on from that time
until now The accession of Count Hohen-
wart to power as Prime Minister of the empire
was a mighty blow to the centralsts and
although the Count has had hard work to per-
form, success is now promising to be his ample
reward. Francis Joseph consents to do for
Bohemia what he has done for Hungary. !.
Bohemia has its crown as we'll as Hungary ~
and the Emperor consents not only to recog-.
nize the separate rights of the Czechs, but tof
submit to be crowned their King. Bohemia isl
an ancient kingdom, and on more than one{
occasion it has played noble pars
in the history Of Europe. During the Refor
nation struggle It suffered terribly; not fews n
than thirty six thousand people, some OF the m {.
noble, all of them Protestants, were forced TO
emigrate. The Thirty Years war fell hasd or
Bohemia and gricvousy reduced the popula-
ton. 1t is gratifying to find the spirit of the
old peoples revive. 1t is more gratifying still
to see them accomplish their long chUarishef
purpose and resume their places among the IA
tions. In the coronation Of raneis-Joseph as
King of Bohemia we have grand approsoh-
ing sensation.
The decentralization programme is not to be
ended with Bohemia. AS we have said al
ready, it will only mark another sage in;the
progress of reform. The other nauonaglties
are already claimant for equal rights, kand it
10 imnosslble to say how often Franais Joseph
NAV vet be compelled to submit to bstcrowned.
| The Poles now look to Vienna with hope and
confidence; and they do go with good reason,
for they have become the objects of special
attention and special favor Galicia, Aus :
trian Poland, is now honorod as is no part Of
the Austrian empire. The concessions already
made to her hardly fall short Of making her
| indeoendent The Galician Diet makes laws
in all that pertains to home legislation. The
Polish language is the recognized official Ian
guage of the province. A Polish Academy
has been created, with rights almost equal to
the Academy Of Vienna. The chairs in the
Uuiversities Of Lemberz and Cracow are to bA