National Republican., 1886-12-11
The Austrian Empire.

portanco than that empire has occupied
since the defeat at Sadowa. Whatever may
have been the national reasons or selfish
considerations which influenced Herr Tisza,
president Of the Hungarian diet, in cham
pioning the cause Of Bulgaria against Rus
sia when young Alexander was Kidnapped,
that statesman's prompt action has been
applauded by Europe and strongly indorsed
by Count Kalnoky, minister for foreign
affairs Of the Austrian empire.
Before dealing with the immediate causes
which have produced this remarkable unan-
unity between men like Tisza and Kalnoky,
whose aims and interests have been so fire.
quently in conflict, It may be well to take
bird's'eye view Of that strange mixture OF
races commonly known as the Austrian
Empire. For this purpose It is not neces-
sary to go back to the middle ages or to
follow Thackeray's reference to the ancient
glories Of the house Of Hapsburg, as any
political handbook furnishes information
enough to show that the empire OF Francis
Joseph is sort Of crazy quilt among the
nations, an empire Of shreds and patches.
Metternich used to say that Italy was only
geographical expression, and It may now
be said, with much more proprlety, that
"Austrian Empire" is merely an ethno-
graphical phrase.
Each Of the two countries in the Austro-
Hungarian monarchy has its own parlia-
mpn., ministers, and government, while the
connecting ties between them consist In the
person OF the hereditary sovereign, in o
common army, navy,and diplomacy, and in
a controlling body known as the delega-
tions. The delegations, according to the
Statesman's Year Book, form parliament
Of 100 members, one.half Of whom are
chosen by and represent the legislature OF
Austria, and the other half that of Hungary,
the upper house OF each returning 20 and
the lower house 40 delegates. On subjects
affecting the common affairs the delega-
tions have decisive vote, and their resolu-
tions require neither the confirmation nor
appreciation Of the representative assem-
blies in which they have their source. The
| jurisdiction Of this assembly is limited to
foreign affairs, common finances and war
Count Kalnoky is minister OF foreign at-
! fairs and of the imperial house for the whole
monarchy.
The affairs Of Austria proper are admin
istered under a charter which was put In
force in December, 1867, with modidca-
tions rendered necessary by the recognition
Of llungary's independence. The main
features Of this constitution are double
legislature, consisting, FIRST, OF the provin-
cial diets, representing the various
states of the monarchy, and, secondly, q
central district called the reichsrath, or
council Of the empire. There are seven
teen provincial diets, namely, for Bo-
hemia, Dalmatia, Galicla, Upper Austria,
Lower Austria, Salisbury, Styria, Carinthia,
earn lola, Bukowina, Moravia, Sllesia,
| Tyrol, Vorarlburg, Gorizia, lstria, and
Trieste. The provincial diets consist of
only one assembly, composed, first, OF
| the archbishop and bishops OF
the Roman Catholic and Oriental Greel;
churches and the chancellor of universities;
second, Of the representatives Of great
estates, elected by all landowners paying not
less than $50 taxes third, of representa-
tives of towns, elected by those citizens who
possess municipal rights; fourth, of the
representatives of boards of commerce and
trade guilds, chosen by the respective mem
bers; and fifth, of the representatives Of
rural communes, elected by deputies re
turned by all inhabitants who pay Sun all
amount Of direct taxation. The provincial
diets are competent to make laws con
cerning local administration, particularly
those affecting taxes, cultivation Of the
soil, educational, church, and charitable
institutions, and public works.
The reichsrath, or parliament of Austrla
proper, consists Of an upper and love-
house. The upper house (herrenhaus) Il
formed, first, Of the princes of the imperia
family who are OF age eighteen in number
in 1850; second, Of number Of MOBILES
(sixty-four In the present reichsrath) pos
sessing large landed property, il whost
families the dignity is hereditary; third, o
the archbishops (ten in number) and bishop
(seven in number) who are Of princely title
inherent to their episcopal seat, and, fourth
OF any othtr life members nominated by tn
emperor for distinction in art or science o
for signal service to church or state (l04 IL
1850. The lower house abgeordnetenhaus
consisted In 1885, under law passed II
1873, Of 1853 members, elected, partly di
rectly and partly indirectly, by the vote o
all citizens who are "a years OF age an
possessed of email property qualification
of these SIS represent the landed proprie
tors, 1l6 represent the towns, 81 tle cham
hers of trade and commerce, 13l the rura
districts. AT the election of 1879 ther
were 300, ,769 electors in Austria, althoug
those who actually voted were only 462, l60
The duration of the lower house is for til
term Of six years, and, in case of dissolution
new elections must take place within 81
months. The emperor nominates the pres
ident and vice president of the upper houst
willie similar officers Of the lower hous
are elected by the members. Count Et
ware Taafe, of Irish descent, is minister G
the interior and president OF the Austria
council Of ministers.
The constitution OF Hungary proper
though dating from S91 and formulated 1
q constitutional code in 1929, has been re
peatedly suspended and partially disre
garded, until at the end or Kossuth's arme
struggle in 1S40 1t was decreed TO be fo
feited by the nation. In 1867, after Prui
sla's defeat Of Austria, the present emperc
repealed the decree, swore to maintain I'll
constitution, and was crowned king {
Hungary. The legislative power rests cor
Jointly in the king and the diet, or reich
stag lin Hungarian "orszaggyulis"). Tn
latter consists OF an upper and lower hous,
the first known as the house OF magnate
and the second as the house of represents
tives.
The Hungarian house of magnates, II
formed by an act passed in 1885, now ii
cludes all hereditary peers who pay 1880
year land tax, so archbishOps, bishops, an
other dignitaries of the Roman Catholic an
Greek churches; also some lay representa-
tiyes Of the Protestant confessions, 100 iii