New-York tribune., 1879-12-29

4 KING or BOHEUI1.

1t looks as if the Bohemian Deputies who
have just taken the seats i'll the Austrian
Parliament left vacant since 1867 were to
receive their reward in a notable concession
TO their national pride on the part OF the
Emperor. Francis Joseph, according to recent
reports, will soon go to Prague and be
crowned King Of Bohemia. He is already
the tituar and actual monarch of that cOun-
try. but the people want formal recognition
of their nationality rs something separate
from the Austrian Empire proper. Francis
Joseph is Emperor of Austria, but he is King
of Bohemia just as he is King of Hungary,
and the Bohemians, or rather the Czech
element of the Bohemian population, de-
mand the same measure of national autOn-
omy and self-gOvernment extorted by the
Hungarians from Austria after the defeat OF
Sad0wa bad shaken the foundations OF the
Hapsburg monarchy. To this end they re-
Trained for twelve years from sending repre-
sentasives to the Parliament III Vienna and to
this end they have now changed their course
and filed the empty seats Ill that body. The
policy of the Imperial Government, so long rs
it was controlled by Count AndraSsy, was to
preserve carefully the dual system and to
keep Ill the nOn-Gcrman elements Of popua-
ton in the Cis-Leithan Provinces under the
control of the Germans, and all the DOn-Ma2-
var elements in Tians-Leitha under Magyar
rule. Thus the Germans and Magyars have
had a close partnership since the adoption of
the rev constitution to manage the affairs of
the cutTe realm.
Evidently the new Premier, Count Taafe,
sees danger in the continuance of this
aIc of
Bohemia are of the Slavic race. So are the
Poles of Galicia and the CrOats of Southern
Hungary. A Slavic agitation within the borders
of the empire would be perilous thing in case
OF Il war with Russia-an event which Aus
trian statesmen think cannot long he post
poned. Assailed on the east by the great
Slavic empire OF the Gar and flanked on the
north and south by discontented Slavic pop
ulations within her own borders, the situation
of Austria Hungary would be desperate one.
1t is no wonder, therefore. that the new Min
istry secs the Importance of yielding sOee-
thing TO the demands of Bohemia. Between
the pageantry OF public coronation in Prague
and the recognition Of the claim of the Bohe-
mians for an Independent Parliament, there
may be wide gulf, but the coronation Will be
au admission of the right Of the Bohemians 20
bridge it if they can. If they may crown II
King, why may they not create a Parliament!
The Emperor can hardly hope to have the
good luck at Prague he had at Pesth, when
he was crowned King of Hungary. An artif-
cial mound had been formed ID the great pub
lie square of that city OF earth taken from a
hundred Hungarian battleields. The mound
was iuclosed by fence, having an opening
through which the Kaiser was to ride in order
TO gain the summit, where he was to take the
coronation oath, and swear to defend the
rights and ancient laws of the Magyar King
dom. Paying no attention to the gateway,
Francis Joseph rode bis horse at the high bar
iier, cleared it in fine style, dashed up the
mound, and with drawn sword pronounced the
oath. This feat of horsemanship won the hearts
of the multitude. The Hungarians are the
best horsemen in Europe, and greatly admire
dash and courage in the saddle. A mighty
shout of "EJen ~ (the Magyar cheer) rose from
the crowd, which had moment before looked on
the preparations for the ceremony with scarcely
concealed hostility. From that day 10 this the
Emperor has had nowhere in all his many
realms more loyal subjects than in his King
dom of Hungary.