The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1874-03-07
lErIEng PROM EUROPE


Y NNN Hf'FINNN w Nf|IN'fNiiIt NNNNf " w
M eventual day IN tlio history 0f Aus.
tfln. The October revolution had been
subdupd, aud arrests aud cOndenlnn-
tons had been the order NJ ilie day
during the month uf November
Threatening cnnnon lrOwncd down
upon the city from the bulwnrks; the
pre.s stood under military censorship;
kossutl NJ the head Of nn army rled
In Hungary; IN the residence of the
Archbishop NJ Olmutz, the imperial
court lived In voluntary exile, while in
the summer residence of the Moravimn
church princes the imperial diet lived
| In enforced exile. Amid all this tn
multi of Instruction and revolution
the Emperor Ferdinand /, felt himself
weak, too weak, to face the storms that
still made the political heavens look
dark, too weak 10 guide the ship of
state through the darkness, or even to
sit as ruler, holding the scepter while
others more powerful, more courage
Gus, or mere daring held the
rudder, and put into his mouth
the words that he should utter ms
commands. The responsibility OF caus-
ing so much blood 10 he shed terrified
him. He shrunk from it as If saying
with Rudolph. ii, in Grillparzers
"Bruderzwist,u al am an old man,
with meek will, | withdraw myself
from the kingdom and its cares, for
the ghosls of the bloody future follow
and in the night sit around my bed.
The call of the drum, the alarm of
battle wakes me from slumber and
complete my dream"
The resignation OF the emperor WAS
Il long premeditatcd action in the I'M
perial family circle, but no rumors OF
its approach found its way to the
world, not even into the imperial
diet.
Different opinions were entertained
by different members Of the royal
household, but the empress herself
favored the resignation, and was ably
seconded by the Arch Duchess
Sophie, whose husband, Arch Duke
Charles, was the next heir TO the
throne. But the archdulle declined ac-
cepting the Kingdom and crown In fa-
vor of his young son Francis Joseph,
then but eighteen years of age. All
preparations were made secretly. Upon
the 9th of November the Empress
Maria Anna wrote to Windischgr0tz,
the military ruler, that everything was
now in readiness, and that the res gna-
ton could take place upon the 9th OF
18th. The prince replied that the time
was favorable, and added the follow
ing significant remark;
IF your ilustrous nephew, nlosi
noble lady, can conscientiousiy guar.
antec constitutional forms to his broaC
Kingdom, he owes il to his dynast.
and his people TO yield them only
: under conditions which shall be {;
surety for his posteriiy and Il surety fol
the people who come under his scep
tcr.n
Although SO near the elimination o
the great event, perfect secrecy was
maintained. The young archduk.
continued his studies rs USUAL taking
, his customary instructions from hi
teachers even Oh the LIST Of December
the day before the acceptance of th,
crown apd the title of emperor.
t The young Ferdinand Max, bette
, known MS MaXimilian Of Mexico, mis-
trusted something and guessed that ;
governorsillp was going to be given t.
"FraZie," as be aftactionately called hi
cluti lDoli tilt tNttlihS "
December 18th Windischgratz an;
others of note, made their appearance
in Olmutz where the court were. Th
, next morning OlmutZ wore lively as
pect. The troops We're all called Gil
. upon the parade platz, though no On
. knew why. The court ladies and gen
tlemen were seen hurrying to the resi-
dence of the archbishop, and at half
f past seven the rooms about the CRANE
Throne saloon were filled.
The Arch Duke Karl FERDINAND
. stepped to the ministers of war AM
said:
e "But tell me, what has broken loos
a that we are ordered to he here at eigh
O'clock"
The answer was: "Only have n mo
4 ment's patience, your highness, and W
shall soon KNOW"
, Even as he spoke the door of tn
throne saloon opened and the meEi
) bcrs Of the royal family entered, ant
after they had seated themselves tn
2 Emperor Ferdinand read the following
1 paper, spare in words but fall Of signiii
r cance.
"Important reasons have brought u
to the irrevocable decision to lay dow
the imperial crown, and in favor o
, our dear nephew, Arch Duke Franci
j., Joseph, whom we have declared to b,
of aye, after our beloved brother, Arcl
Duke Francis Charles, father of thu
same, had declared that the right o
/ the crown, according to the house an'
State law, he irrevocably resigned ii
favor of his son.
Prince Schwarzenbcrg then read TIM
act declaring the young arch duke tt
, be of age, his fathers remuneration
and the record of the resignation O
the emperor"
Francis Joseph, now emperor, step
ped to his uncle, no longer emperor
and they embraced. The old man
deeply moved, did not make the spceci
prescribed for him, but said simply
l'tiod bless thee. Only he good. Goo
, will protect thee. 1t has been done
gladly"
Congratulations of the relative fol
lowed, and while the Young emperor
prepared himself to take up the bur-
; dens of the empire, the old emperor
made preparations to retire into tht
quiet OF life almost Eermeticai in ii.
isolation and solitude. Here, in th,
city of Prague, for twenty-five year;
has he lived, no doubt following The
history of his nephew's reign with in.
terest, perhaps often with anxiety, and
amid wars and rumors of wars, amid
the restless and turbulent scenes oil
strife, conquest and overthrow; per
haps often rejoicing in the quiet peace
and happiness that surrounded him Us
the .'hermit of the Hradschin," for Sc
is the platz named upon which his pal
ace stands, and such is the title which
is often conferred upon him-and never
regretting that lie is 10 longer emper'
or of Austria.
At noon of the same day upon which
the resignation took place, the impe-
rial diet met in Kremsier. Nointima-
ton of what had taken place had
reached them, and when at o'clock,
p. NJ, the messenger from Olmutz en-
tered, and read in their presence, re-
port of the mornings proceedings, the
murmer OF surprise, followed by ejacll-
llatiOns of sorrow over the emperor