New-York tribune., 1881-10-13
AplR4LLL1 nLLh cONrK1SrH-

There is passage in the recent speech Of the
Emperor Franz Josef To the Hungarian Parla-
ment which may bc studied with profit in ats
bearings upon the National movement III Ire
land. lt relates to the political position of
Fiume, which is almost the only question that
remains unsettled between Hungary and
Croatia This was originally a hungarian
town, but Was annexed to Croatia when the
Constitution was suspended in 1919. When
the fundamental statutes, al rOgatcd then ahd
partially introduced in 1850, were completely
restored in 1867. compromise was effected
whereby the town was given hungarian Gov
crnOr and representation in the National Parla-
ment, and at the same time was allowed 10
retain judicial and provincial connection with
Croatia. This compromise has remained "A
constant source Of agitation aud controversy,
embittcring the relations between the two conn
tries The Emperor now declares that the his
toric position of this frontier district was deter
mined ouce fer all by Maria Theresa but that
the Government will take steps Immediately
for the permanent settlement OF various ques-
tiOns of detail on the basis OF equity and COM
mOl interest.
The Magyars are the Englishmon of the Con-
tinent. Like them, they are endowed with nat
ura aptitude for political lifc-wth that yirilc
citizenship which constitutional practi 90 NAV
develop but cannot wholly impart. The Hun
garan Monarchy, like the United Kingdom, IL
made up of four parts Hungary proper, Tran
sylyania, Slavonia and Croatia. Of these,
Croatia has always been Iiungary's Ireland.
fully endowed with the instincts of self-govcru-
ment and jealous of Magyar interference in
1 q
increased by an illincIal language policy with
which so liberal a statesman as KCssuth den-
tilted himself The dominant race was not only
bent upon governing the Croats, but even at
tempted to uprOot the yernacular and to compcl
them to be Magyars in speech as well "a in
politics. This unnatural policy created
strong States rights party, 50 that one of the
most difficult problems which the Andrassy
Ministry had to solve after 1867 was that of
rec0nciling Croatia to Magyar ascendancy and
Of bringing il into harmonious relations with
The other three natiunaities One of the first
acts Of the Hungarian Diet was the repeal of
the obnoxious laws Of 1S4s, whereby the use
of the Magyar language was made compulsory
in county assemblies and subsequently, a COM
promise was ageed upon by the Diets of Pesth
and Agram which offered a fair prospect of
permanent peace. Croatia secured the bryi-
leges of home rule in all matters of internal
administration, relegatng to the Hungarian
Diet, in which she was allowed representation
when Joint affairs we're discussed all questions
relating TO the army, customs and finance, and
setting apart 40 per cent of her revenues for
home expenses and the residue for the common
exchequer This compromise has borne the
test of experience. A State which rebelled
against Dualism and refused to send represen-
tatives 10 Pesth when the King was crowned,
is now Gontented under a system whereby a
rival race has acquired overmastering inau-
ence. Tue adjustment Of the military frontier