New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-12-06
COUNT KALNOKY.
A BRILLIANT CAREER THAT STARTED FROM
A wASTE-PAPER BASKET. ~

more in the sky of Europe said prominent
journalist of this city just ten years ago. The ap,
pointment OF Count KalnolSy to he Minister Of
Foreign Affairs had just been announced. Tho
Count had been Ambassador to Russia, and had
been prominently persona grata at st. Peters
burg. The Gar esteemed him above ell other
diplomats, and on receiving his adieus bestowed
upon him most distinguished decoration; and
NJ. de Giers shared fully the sentiments of his
Imperial master. Naturally, therefore, the ele.
walton of Count Kanoky to the Ministry of For.
eign Affairs interpreted meaning that the
three Emperors were to form thenceforth triple
alliance II was the first time in years that
Austria had displayed any wish or willingness 10
enter into a pact with Russia but this seemed
an unmistakable sign to that effect. Hence the
remark of the journalist above quoted. To-day
marks the tenth anniversary OF Count kalnokys
appointment, and constellation Of three stars
is still visible in the sky OF Europe But 10 IL
not quite the same constellation. The north star
has vanished from it, and the south star has en-
tered the group. Instead of maintaining an sl-
lance with the power that helped her to subdus
Hungary and weld the Dual Empire together,
Austria has joined hands with her former foe, wbe
wrested from her the fair provinces Of Lombardy
and Venetia.
This anniversary, which is being observed with
fitting formalities has. however, more than po-
litical interest. The personality of the Minister
commands attention 1t is striking personality.
albeit far less familiar to the public than that Of
almost any other man of similar rank. lie was
young man, compared with other Ministers, when
he took up his portfolio forty.nine. against Bis
marcks sixty-eight, Gladstones seventy-two and
Gortschakoff's eighty three. lie was seven yeaD
younger than Andrassy. But he already
famous parsonage. Oddly enough, much Of his
fame had come from waste-paper basket.
younger son of great Moravan noble he was
put in the army at an early age, and after few
years quilted it for diplomacy. He served, with
no especial distinction, at Munich, Berlin, London.
Rome, and Copenhagen, and in 1880 was made
Ambassador at st. Petersburg. Immediately after
his appointment 10 the last-named post, the
Beaconsfield Government in England fell. Thus
Austria lost her chief support outside Of Germany,
and Russia lost her most dreaded foe. The po-
sition of the new Ambassador thus
made exceedingly delicate, and it was not inn
proved when, a few months later. Alexander III
was murdered and Alexander III,
Slavophil and AustrOphobe, succeeded him.
Nevertheless, Count Kalnolly conducted himself SO
that, as before stated, he became persona grata
at the Russian court The Gar himself described
him as "a diplomat eminently correct and con-
ciliatory; still young, but firm, and above all,
prudent and conservative"
Early in the fall of 1881 Baron Haymerle. then
Austrian Foreign Minister, sent TO Francis Joseph
a long telegram giving Kalnokys account Of the
much-talked-of Dantzig interview. The Emperor
received 1t at the Mskocz palace, read it, and
threw it into waste-paper basket. Thence ii
was surreptitiousy taken by some attendant, and
conveyed to the editor of the Hungarian news
paper "Eggertetes. In that journal it was
nro no day all tuvo
rang with the name of Kalnoky. couple Of
months later Haymere died, and the Emperor. who
had watched the young diplomats career closely
and approvingly, put Kalnoky in his place. Nor
did Francis Joseph ever do a more popular act
There were other statesmen whom the public had
thought more likely TO receive the portfolio, such
Andrassy, Huebner, Beust, de Kallay, and
Trautmansdorf But none of these resented
in the least criticised Kalnoky's appointment;
and indeed it was the foremost of them, Andrassy:
who nominated him. Count Taafe also heartily
supported the appointment so that the two wings
of the Dual Empire in entire harmony on this
issue. Perhaps the fact that the Kalnoky family
owns large estates in Hungary had something
to do with that.
1t is said that Count Kalnoky is the best dis
pstch-writer in Europe and that it was lis ability
in this respect that most commended him to the
Emperor From Rome and from st. Petersburg
his dispatches were models Of clearness. The
same may be said of his State papers and speeches
since. His public addresses comprehensive.
cool, clear, and singuarly eloquent. He fire.
quently writes for the Emperor elaborate sketches
Of the general political and diplomatic situation
and it is said that each of these would well
serve as chapter of permanent history. He
is, indeed, a thorough scholar, master Of the
classics and of all important foreign languages.
opl .xiHo o thn la-4
world When he was subordinate attache Of
some legation, while his feow-clerks were dancing
or drinking or gambling, he would study There
were many who thought him a fool for leaving
the army, where promotion was certain. to enter
the hazardous realm of diplomacy. lie would
surely have become captain, they said and
perhaps even q colonel Well lie has become
Ambassador, and Foreign Minister and is a
General of Cavalry to boot.
One reason why this statesman is so little known
to the public is that he has never married, and 50
has not figured largely in society. Indeed, he
rather shuns society, preferring to remain in his
study. 1t is rarely that he receives at the Foreign
Office, and his official weekly reception is always
strictly confined TO Ambassadors. Thus he sell
dom comes into personal contact with any of the
minor members of the Diplomatic Corps, or, indeed:
with the parliamentary and official circles a
Vienna. He spends several hours every day, how.
ever, with the Emperor, and in some way manages
to keep himself thoroughly :" in touch with public
sentiment. lie may not always be in full accord
with it. but he always knows exactly what it ID.
He is so cool, reserved, so self-reliant and 30
self-contaned, and he seems more like a stolid
Briton than an emotional Austrian. This notion.
indeed, is carried out in his very appearance,
his dress, his impassive countenance and his
inseparable monOcle lie is, moreover, one Of
the most thorough gentlemen in this most gentle
manly capital lie minds his own business and
never NEEDLES with the affairs of Others. He
never intrgues and when Others intrigue against
him. he has tile patient endurance OF a Stole. 10
his subordinates Inc is invariably just, and often