The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-05-02

assemblies ar to be absent; and he has the
privilege OF being exempt from contributions and
pubic taxes excepting twelve soldiers which he Is
obliged to maintain against the Turks for one
month lie has rank Immediately after the eec-
tors: and exercises justice in the States without
appcal by virtue OF privilege granted by
Charles " His subjects cannot even be summoned
out OF his province upon account OF law suits, to
give witness, or to receive the nvestiture OF fes
Any of the lands OF the empire may be alienated
in his favor even those that are fcudal; and he
has right to create counts, barons, gentlemen,
poets and notaries In the succession to his States
the right OF birth takes place; and, falling males
the females succeed according to the lineai right
and, II ne heir be found, they may dispose OF their
lands as they please.
The House OF Austria acquired the imperial
throne OF Germany in 144O, when Frederic III. was
elected Emperor, although, as we have seen, 1t
was during his reign as Emperor that Rudolph OF
Hapsburg, founder OF the dynasty first secured
the ducnY TO his family. The mperia! throne was
held by this house from its accession in l44O for
800 years. Macmillan, successor to Frederic ILL.,,
enriched tho House by famous marriage that
gave il possession of Burgundy and the seventeen
provinces OF the Netherlands, the inheritance OF
his bride the heiress Of Charles, Duke OF Burgundy;
and Charles ", grandson and heir OF this Maxi
milan, marrying the heiiess OF Ferdinand and
Isabella OF ArragOn and CASTLE, added
to the dominions of the house OF Spain
aud the spanish possessions IN America.
Thus by two marriages the house acquired richer
and vaster possessions than 1t ever secured by all
other means together During this great age OF its
splendor the House OF Austria was the controlling
power OF Europe. 1t sustained Christendom against
the Turks; sustained Rome aud her Church in the
religious wars that devasted Germany; sustained
monarchy and absolutism against the rising spirit
OF the people, and tugged through many wars for
supremacy OF dominion with France, giving battle
in every country and In every court and on every
sea.
AUSTRIAN DECLINE
In l745 it lost the imperial crown and its dismem-
berment began by the ravages OF energetic neigh
bors preying upon the mass OF half vital dominion
it had seized but never digested. Prussian Fritz
was the most energetic Of these neighbors, and in
the fruit OF his depredatOns laid the first founda-
ton OF the subsequent Prusstan power. France
was not less rapacOns and transferred Spain
from the House OF Austria to the House OF BOur
bon, and also tore away those provinces of Lor-
ralne and Alsacc, over the loss OF which she has
recently made SO much noise, having the bitter
chalice in turn commended to her own lips by her
Teutonc neighbor. But the power Of Austria was
not fairly broken in Europe until the Emperor Ma
p0eon, with the legions OF France, and with half
the power OF Germany marshalled under the
French eagles, tumbled down all the thrones and
trampled the crowns under mis- feet
Prussia's part in the wars against Napoleon
brought her prominently forward as great
Power, and gave her the prestige aud position that
enabled her to dispute with Austria dominion over
the German people. In the rivalry between these
Powers lies the principal interest Of the history Of
Germany from the end OF the NapoleOnic wars until
the year 1866 when Austria, as a German Power,
was utterly crushed by the decisive battle of Sa-
dOwa.
THE NEW EMPIRE ON THE Danube.
The present Austrian Empire has an area OF
23S 900 square miles and population OF $4,000, 000
1t is the most heterogeneous agglomeration OF peo
pies that submitted to one rule since the days
OF ancient Rome It's paper currency is printed
with the same inscription in three languages on
each BILL and is then not ineligible to the mass
OF people in many States. Yet it is, altogether as
to It's territorial extent, compact empire and, in
reference its position, has been well called the
Empire OF the Danube. IL is drained almost ex-
clusvely by that magnificent river and its tribu-
taries. Within the Austrian d0minOns the Danube
has course OF $40 miles, and receives the waters or
fourteen large rivers. Nearly all the Austrian
States are mountainous, and the consequent eleya-
tion and diversity OF surface gives a climate
of great variety. The mean temperature Of
the year at Vienna is iny-one degrees. In
its products, both for value and variety
it is highly favored country. The produce OF it's
mines alone for the year 1851 Is stated ut O0O
II has salt coal quicksilver, and all the metals
cept platina. Rock salt occurs In immense beds,
and salt is made also by evaporation from springs.
The annual yield from both sources Is upwards Of
three million hundred weight. Grain OF every
kind is raised in Hungary. The potato foursles
10 snNa of Iar
tions OF the people. Fruit is abundant and fine,
and in the production OF wine Austria is second
only to France.
THE GOVERNMENT
Austria is a monarchy, hereditary in the house OF
Hapsburg Lorraine the heir 10 the Austrian throne
in this family being also King of Bohemia and Hun
gary; but, should this reignlng family die out, 3D.
hemia and Hungary VIII each have the right to
choose their sovereign anew. Thus it is in the
person OF the ruler that the unity OF the Empire
lies. The States grouped around their sovereign
in perpetuation of the political accidents that
originally drew them together subject to one
crown.
Since the war with Prussia in 1866 liberal con-
stitution has been conceded to Hungary similar to
that for which her people arose in 1913; she thus
has a separate internal government and this cir
cumstance gives the monarchy an essentially fed
eral character in its political organization while
the exceedingly dissimilar peoples of the many
states give it otherwise an essentially composite
character.
Every Austrian is subject to military service for
three years in the line seven wears in the reserve
and two years in the landwehr. The army on n
peace footing is 24s.OOO and footing 500 OOo
The public debt Is 1,0oo, 600, 900.
EMPEROR AUSTRIA.
Francis Joseph. the reigning sovereign, was born
in $780, and IT, consequently, forty-three years Of
age. He is the son of the Archduke Francis. and
assembled the throne in 1s4s, upon the abdcation OF
the chlldIess Ferdinand, his fathers brother. His
accession to the throne secured in the interest
OF the conservative or absoutist party, which was
dissatisfied with certain concessions that Ferdi-
nand had promised to the liberals, and which party
de q 10 daft