The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1877-05-11
The Austrian Empire.


and complete changes in a brief space Of
time than Austria within the past eleven
years. During that period, that proud
empire, once known for its despotic pow
er and military vigor, has been transformed
from an absolute into free and constltu-
tional monarchy. 1t is especially inter-
esting to note this fact just now, because
Austria is deeply interested in the result
Of the Turkish trouble, and next to Rus
STA, England and Turkey, has the most at
stake in its settlement.
Nations, as we'll as men and women,
are often chastened by affection. 1t some
times does country great deal OF good
to be Inundated, defeated in war, and re-
duced to weakness and poverty.
This has clearly been the case with the
empire which, up to within quarter OF
a century, claimed to be unsurpassed In
power and dignity, and whose rulers have
always claimed "divine right" to gov
ern. The war of 1866, in which Austria
was 90 numerically beaten by the he'll
melted hosts of Won Moltke and the Prus-
sian Grown Prince, has proved to be a
blessing in disguise. A bitter but very
useful lesson was then learned by the
Austrians.
1t WAS seen at last by her statesmen
that the days Of despotism were over, and
that the empire must ut once become free
and constitutional, or fall into inevitable
decay and ruin.
To effect this great reform, the Emper-
or called celebrated Saxon statesman,
Count Won Beust, to his aid; and this en-
lightened man succeeded in achieving the
task committed to him.
1t must be remembered that the Aus
trian empire is composed, not of single
race, holding the same religious faith, but
of at least four very different races, who
are divided into Catholics and PrOtestants.
There are the German subjects of the
Emperor, who live in the Austrian Ouch
les, bordering on Bavaria and Saxony, the
Tyrol and Styria. There are his Magyar
subjects, who dwell in Hungary. There
are his Slavic subjects, who occupy Sile-
cha austrian Poland), Bohemia and Mo-
ravia, and the southern provinces of Alsa-
tia and Dalmatia, and the Latin or Rou-
man race, which is to be found in large
numbers in the province of Transylvania.
1t has always been very hard to recon-
cie the interests and allay the jealOusies
of these various races. The German ele-
ment, which had always controlled the
empire before the war of 1866, was OPP
posed by all the others; and Won Beust
found it necessary, at the very beginning,
to conciliate the great kingdom of Hun
gary by granting it a ministry and Leg
islature of its own.
Austria, therefore, is now divided into
two kingdoms, the Austrian proper and
the Hungarian; the Emperor rules over
both, but each has it's local government,
and is in local affairs independent of the
other There is cabinet and Parlia-
ment in each and, besides, there is gen.
eral Parliament for both, which deals,
however, only with foreign, military and
financial matters affecting the whole en-
pirs.
Following these changes came many
great and real reforms. The Emperor
was deprived of his right to decree laws
without the sanction of the Legislature !;
free education was established; the peo-
pie we're allowed to meet and discuss po-
litical matters, which they could not do
in former days; marriages were permitted
to be performed by civil magistrate, where
as no marriage used to be valid in law
unless it was performed by priest; the
right of suffrage was given to all who
paid taxes, and freedom of the press and
of religion was fully established.
Thus the proud old empire of Charles
V. and Maria Theresa has become almost
as free as England or the United States.
The jealousies of the different races still
give a great deal Of trouble to its rulers f;
and it is these jealousies, especially of the
Hungarians against the Sclaves, which
render the position of Austria so difficult
in dealing with the Turkish question.
1t is to be hoped that, if war should
arise between Russia and Turkey, Austria
will be able to keep out Of it; for if she
should be involved in a great conflict now,
at time when she greatly needs peace
and time to become strongly founded on
her new basis of constitutional freedom,
it will be misfortune that may be fatal
to her-Youth's Companion.
"THE mails have changed, madam, " re-
sponded the clerk at the general delivery
window of the post-office to an applicant
for a letter.
eyes, indeed" said the old lady, plac-
ing both hands on the desk, and looking
straight into the clerks eyes. "You are
right in saying the males have changed.
Why, when was girl we didn't hear
of half the wickedness that we do now,
and its all owing to the males. Then
when woman married we expected to
see her settle down and raise a family
around, and her husband to go into some