New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-10-29
BOHEMIA'S FIREBRAND.
THE LEADER OF THE YOUNG CZECHS AND
HIS CAMPAIGN FOR SECESSION.
A CZECH GOVERNOR AND HIS FAILURE ~ wv
ERN-A SCIENTIST BECoME


POLITICAL AGITATOR.
The acute crisis which has just been reac"eu
IN the notifies Of the ro-Hungarian Empire Is
only the latest phase of the agitation Una. no.
Ions. been going on in Bohemia. The dominant
marty in that country are the Czechs' VINO "'e' VI
consider themselves to be- kin to the Russians.
They hate the Germans who have Se'''eu
among them. and hate. also, the RUE Oh
Austria For years they have aspired 10 d
position corresponding to that OF nun
rarv. They have a parliament OF their OWL
lint they want a sovereign too. lhey navy
wanted the Austrian Emperor to be cro"heu
King of Bohemia, as he has been crowned Ni.is
of Hungary and many of them wouiu sum o'
satisfied with such an arrangement hu' wv
leaders Of the Young Czech party nave SUI
beyond that. and seek entire enforcement Hum.
the Hapsburg dynasty. In this latest 'u'" ~
affairs two men have chiefly inquired o"e IL
a>voung Czech nobleman Count Won Ihuh' WIN
has fought against the revolutionary tehueh'ie'
of the Bohemians. The other Is d" 'iu'''s
scientist DR.. Edward Gregr. VINO mas p'dyeu
and is playing the part of hrehrahu ueNo'ns
all his superb powers to the arousihs VI e"''''!
between the Czechs and Germans ana toward
the separation Of Bohemia, from the ooai Hh'-
pre- AN "OID CZECH" LEADER.
c. Won rbun Is a member of the Thun-
1Iobonstein family one of the most ancient
and most noble in Bohemia. dating away pacK
% tho oarIv feudal times. Naturally therefore
no &c an ardent Nationalist. He entered both
the Austro- Hungarian Reichsrath and the 30
bemian Landtag in 1879 as one of the most out
spoken and aggressive of the Czech party
%ominally follower Of DR.. Rieger' ne soon
became the real leader. surprising all MS ieiiow
Czechs in the persistency and vigor OF MS oe-
nands for Bohemian home rule. lie was an
extremist Nothing short of complete autonomy
would satisfy him. He was loyal and devoted
70 the Emperor; but the Emperor mus. he de-
c,ared he formally crowned King of Bohemia.
with the ancient crown Of st. Wencesaus. in
the Cathedral of Prague. AS for the Germans
of Bohemia they Of no account. They
were the rreconcilable foes Of the Czechs. and
the latter would make short work with them
when once they had the chance. Such was the
spirit Of Count Thun's speeches, delivered
with fiery zeal that made the Czechs wild with
delight and caused the Germans to regard him
as their most dangerous foe. Indeed, the ques-
ton of impeaching him Of treason was being
seriously considered when startling thing
came to pass.
This was nothing less than the appointment
Exactly what impelled Count Taaffe to this
extraordinary course is uncertain. There
those who say that the Emperor himself was
chiefly responsible. But il was. at any rate. one
Of the boldcst experiments ever tried Under
the lead of Count Won Thun the Czechs had
brought Bohemia almost into state OF civil
war. and now. at the very height Of the aelta-
ton. Count Won Thun was made Governor. The
Germans were stricken with dismay. and the
Czechs were conespondingly exultant. The
former had. with great difficulty, maintained
their rights under an impartial Governor. With
an intense partisan in Office. they would have
no hope of justice So they began TO prepare
either for war or for wholesale exodus from
Bohemia And the Czechs began to prepars
to worry and prosecute the Germans to the
fullest possible extent. Both parties were soon
however. to find themselves much mistaken
A GOVERNOR WHO COULD NOT GOVERN
At the first Count Won Thun acted With entire
impartaty He seemed indeed. Indifferent
nd let the two parties wrargle and fight as
they pleased. The result was something amount
ing almost to civil war. So serious became the
situation that the Imperial Government had
20 interfere and restore peace Then. having
learned that extreme lenence would not do
Count ven Thun began to govern in fact as
well as in name. He dispensed justice impair
italy, protecting the Germans against the law
less aggressit MS of the Czechs, ard opposing
all movements that seemed disoyas to the
Hepsburg dynasty. The result was unmis-
taxable. He soon became the object Of utter
detestaticn on the part Of the Czecks They
denounced him traitor and said that he
had teen purchased by German gold. few
stccd by him. and became known as the Old
Czech party The great majority turned
aoA
party, under the lead of Dr. Edward Gregg.
Between these two parties as they stand to-
day there are many differences, but the most
noticeable is this: The Old Czechs want Home
Rule, but want Bohemia to remain in the En-
PRE- with Francis Joseph Kire. while the
Young Czechs want Home Rule, and want
Bohemia entirely separated from Austria. with
some Russian grand duke as King.
The third and final stage of Count Won Thun's |
Govcrnorshp one Of utter helplessness. He !
was repudiated by the majority Of the Czechs |
and not trusted by the Germans. He was
leader without a party, a ruler without moral |
authority. So Bohemia went rapidly from |
bad TO worse. Open treason was rampant. |
Russian gold circulated freely, and pro- Russian !
societies were formed every hand. The |
Austrian flag torn down and the Russian
raised in its place. Banquets were given |
in honor Of the Car. at which his health was
drunk while the name of the Austrian EN- |
peror was hooted and Kissed. The Russian |
national anthem was sung and played every
where. while an attempt to perform the |
Austrian hymn provoked riot. Public mass
meetings were held at which all present de-
nounced Austrian rule and swore allegiance |
to the Car; and formal delegations sent !
to ST. Petersburg to beg the Car to take !
Bohemia forthwith under his protection All |
this could have, Of course, but one ending. !
The Imperial Government has again inter
vened Prague has been put under martial
law. And Count Taaffe has finally grown
tired of experimenting with a Czech Governor,
and has called for Count Won Thun's resigna-
ton.
THE YOUNG CZECH" CHAMPION.