New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-05-05

I,1.s- ro,oor,s ,reface before her work was
concluded for in that case she mieh' h%ne ''Nrm
mon her to introduce some slsh' n'"ii'''''o"
conducive 10 clcarness. The STUDY % E'u''ii""
history must always be attended WIN pe'uIi"i
and for the most part unaNoldSpic lii'''i''''
arising out of the nature OF the so-cane" eiP''''
I'D tho ,yrters who have dealt with il hereto
fore have not lessened the original tchdchcie' 10
confusion by working. in almost every instance
from the point of view of some particular ma
t;ono,itv As Austro- Hungary embraces no less
than nine distinct races, the general erect OF
irving 70 unite the history of this composite ana
wholly artificial arrangement, may DC Imagined
Historians have continually INSTRUCTED matters
bv assuming harmony and identity OF interest
between nationalities the majority OF when nave
always been pulling different ways, and several
of which have for centuries been dong their pest
to crush out another. NJ. Leger has proceeded
on a better basis. His plan Is TO give the sepa-
rate history of each part of Austro hungary. Even
this involves some surplusage, for IL becomes
necessary TO 90 back beyond the time of the
junction of the several parts under the House of
Austria Yet in this way certain definite
knowledge is obtained of tie origins of the varl-
Gus States and knowledge which, If withheld,
would have to be sought in special histories be-
fore the student could apprchend the later life of
the mixed nationalites.
What principle has been followed by the author
or translator in the spelling of proper names 1t
is impossible TO conjecture and here. indeed. thr
confusion is considerable Mrs. Hill herself evil
IDENTIFY perceivPs the deficiency. for she tries to
explain her method in the preface. Bat. in fact.
there does not seem 10 have been any method.
for sometimes German spelling is employed, some
times Slovak sometimes Hungarian, with Devil
derinc results The preface by Professor Free
man is n valuable introduction 10 the book. In
il he clears up several mistakes into which mod
ern writers have fallen in speaking OF the
Austrian Empire" and the Emperor OF Austria
neither of which. he maintains. is iustiiial'c
expression. 1t is. however. an interesting re-
fection that the head of the House Of IiapShur&
could assume the title of Emperor of Austria IL
leCtimately. and with no shadow OF claim 10 it,
and nevertheless succeed in imposing this ilched
rank upon the world, and actually derive new
prestige and weight from TIE imposition Mr..
Freeman briefly considers what he rightly regards
as the most singular fact in AuStro-lIungaran
history namely. the continuance 10 the PR sent
day of political system which APPEARS 10 dIher
in no essential from those similar groupings of
diverse nationalities. every Of which has fallen
to pieces long ago. He suggests rs one cause OF
this tenacious cohesion the fact that Anstro-
Hungary includes complete natlonallty-that
of Hungary-and that this may have given
inherently unstable. II may have been 50. and
il is certainly true that the territory ruled by
the House Of Austria has repeatedly seemed on
the verge OF dsunion.. and has often been held
together rather by the dsaccord Of the various
elements than by any central influence of attrac-
ton.
Mr.. Freeman points out that it is nonsense 10
speak of Austrian nationality because there is no
such thing. Other States have become great by
annexing neghboring provinces or kingdoms. and
these other States have in a comparatively Short
period assmiated the peoples conquered and
annexed France is directly in point Al who
passed under her sway became FIcnchmcn. and
thus distinct French nationality developed
But this has not occurred in Austria. ThTe all
The diverse nationalitics have remained separated
The IIungarians. Italians. Czechs SlavOnians and
Serbs have not become German. have the
Germans assimilatcd with any Of their neighbors
Neither can il he said that the Interests Of the
various States have tended 20 become identified.
On the contrary. they have remained not only
separate but frequently opposed. and many pcrils
have thus bGeii generated. When, indeed We con-
slider the looseness of the ties which have bound
the corglOmerate together, and the dis0r-aniznQ
energies which have been in operation 50 often
il is the remarkable that airor many
centuries there should be still an Austro- Hungary
clearly the retarding effect these faults of the
combination have had upon the progress Of the
whole The House Of Austria has not governed
after the traditions Of the Sublime Porte. but lis
situation generally has been comparable in seycrrl
ways to that Of the Turk in Europe. II may
perhaps. be contendcd that the bringing and hold
inC together of some of the weaker States has
preserved them from extinction. but il must not
be forgotten that they have really been threatened
with precisely that fate within the Austrian sys-
TEN. Thus Hungary even while appealing 10 the
worlds sympathics in her struggles for indie.
PENDENT representation. could not forbear from
persecuting her SlavOnc and Czech neghbors.
and endeavoring TO stamp out their distinctive
nationality. as Russia had done to Poland.
NJ Legcr follows the usual historical methods
in dwelling most upon salient events. these being
chiefly military and political. SO we pass in
review confused and tedious chronicle Of battles.
rcvolts, conquests, losses, murders, legal enact
ments. and diplomatic manocuvres. all Of which,
while clearly keeping up perpetual disturbance and
destroying enormous amounts Of capital, neither
tended TO settle any important principles nor
wrought for the peoples concerned any deliver
ancc from their oppression any development
for their intelligence. In every age all the
energies Of the House Of Austria have been taxed
10 the uttcrmost 10 keep the ll-assortcd hegcmony
alive. 1t has also been apparent that a constant
struggle between tie German and the Hungarian
natonalities was unavoidable, and now this, now
that. seemed about TO win dominion The elcva-
ton Of Hungary in the present century has
clearly invigorated the empire, though the cX-
amples of Hungarian illbcralism toward the
weaker States nav involve serious menace for
the future. In the past Of Austria there has
been sturm und drang" enough, and her history
contains many stirring scenes. II Is significant
that the Teutonic domination at Vienna has not
evolved anything masculine, yirilc and great
Vienna is renowned for luxury and sort Of
Byzantine refinement rather than for the stcrncr
virtues which build enduring empires. Hungary
on the other hand has always joined 10 strain