New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-11-30

COUNT TAAFFB.
operations and "c)ups de bourse." ONCE could no'
add 10 his social importance or consideration. WINE
st left him considerably poorer on his retirement
than when he first entered the service OF the
Crown.
The story Of the Empperor's first meeting with
Count Taafe after his ascent TO the throne reads
almost like n story of the Arabian Nights. Fran
els Joseph few years after his succession nap
pened 10 pay official visit TO the ancient CITY
Of Linz The Governor of the place. in accord
ance with the requirements OF etiquette on such
occasions begged for permission 70 present MS
staff and among the members of the latter was
Count Edward Taaffe in whom the young mon
arch recognized the old playmate Of his boyhood
lie said nothing at the time. but after the OF
fetal receptions were he sent for. the Count
and as soon as they alone threw his arms
round his neck and told him how delighted he
was TO him again. No man was ever more
lonely more Isolated from his fellows than Fran
cls Joseph IN those days. Fate. too, had dealt
with him ruthessy, both sovereign and as
man. on all sides he was surrounded by people
whom he had been taught by bitter experience TO
distrust. Those most loyal 70 him were half
hearted and respondent. whilo his own nearest
relatives held aloof from him, with rare excep-
tons, bitterly condemning him for having go FAR
forgotten the traditions Of his race as TO grant his
subjects a constitution. He was literally wits-
out single friend, his beautiful wife being
estranged from him at the time. 1t Is not as
tOnishing, therefore, That ne reJOlceu 10 Iu VHCe
more mis- old chum. in whom he could repose Inc
perfect trust and confidence.
From that time forth Eddie" as the EN-
peror used to call Count Taaffe, addressing him
with the familiar pronCun of thou, remained
his sovereigns friend and confdant in the widest
sense of the word, and the Emperor probably
never suffered deeply from parting with
Minister than when Count Taaffe finally found 1t
impossible continue any longer in the office OF
Premier
Count Taane has been blamed for pandering too
much to the Nationalist aspirations Of the various
races that go to make up the agglomeration of
peoples known Austria. But ne had no aiterna-
tive The state of the political parties when ne
reluctantly assumed the office Of Premier was one
of chaos. There were about a dozen OF them in
the Reichsrath. and bitter were they one against
the other that 1t was impossible 10 carry on any
legislation the result being that Au tria was polii
icany and financially the brink of ruin. Dis
tress general, griculture was so weighed down
by the burdens upon the soil that the land was
going out Of cultivation. Factories were being
we're terrible and while wages were low and work
scarce all the necessaries Of life were heavily
Count TaafTe understood that reforms
oniskiy and no matter AT what cost As the Ger
man Liberals. from whom he had every right to
agreed to GeTmanze everything. thereby antagoniz-
ing every other political party, which would have
rendered legislation impossible. he cut loose alto
eh eem and 6o Gega1 RSy G5 nppor
chased by means OF concession to their racial
known as the concession markell 1t was by this
means that he managed to pass an immense mum
Der of useful measures which had long been wait
ing parliamentary sanction, and 10 introduce num-
bers Of sorely needed reforms. Poor laws. factory
laws. laws for the protection of women and laws
bringing home TO employers their duties and re
The franchise was extended, and honesty and IN
tegrty were introduced into, an administration
where jobbery and corruption had been rife
AN ADEPT IN GAINING MAJORITIEs.
No statesman ever showed himself more perfect
master in the difficult task OF securing legislative
majorties to indorse what he knew be the policy
Of the Emperor. In most other European countries
where parliamentary form OF government exists
II is the Prime Minister. rule. who is sub
eervient TO the parliamentary majority. In Aus
tria and Hungary, however II is the Prime Minis
ter who renders legislative majority supser vet ~
himself Allying himself personally with none OF
vices first Of the one and then of the other. and
when taxed with political was Sd w4 tbe
other we're Indifferent TO him except in so iar as
ing of the aims OF the Emperor whose wishes he
alone consulted and endeavored TO fulfill lie never
furred or worried about anything. not even in
the most turbulent sessions of the Austrian Dlet'
maintaining throughout highbred and almost m
doent repose and calm lghtened here and there
by cynical smile or else by trite remark GEM
dentsch) .''' - '1''' u '~',''0
OF course there came time when this sale OF
concessions 10 the various political parties hai 10
stop. since matters had reached such a stage that
suited in the conversion OF the Empire into a mum
Der OF federal States. bound together only by
dynastic ties. Having nothing more TO SELL ne
could Guy further support consequently ms
career OF usefulness Prime Minister came 10
an end. and he definitely resigned office after a
crushing defeat in his attempt to increase the
electorate by 100000 votes.
From that time forth his life spent mostly
at his beautiful country seat at E.lishau In 30
hemia in the pretty park of which there Is re-
production OF the ruins Of his ancestral irish
castle of Balymote. -
Count Taafe peculiar looking man. HIS
head was and long. and sloped downward
10 the back, and ne his coal-black hair rather
long. falling the collar OF strangely cut old
frock coat that bore the mark of having been
built by an exceedingly provincial tailor An old
and rather disreputable silk hat OF Anticipated
architecture perched the very back Of his
head, its narrow br.m affording shade whatso-
70 the humorous black eyes that sparkl6d on
either side OF aquilne nose. which. In turn.
perched above a dropping black mustache.
The cheek-bones high, the complexion olive
colored. and the general aspect OF the man II not
Oriental at rate that of a SDaniard
Count Taaffe was descended from Sir John Taaffe
OF County Cavan. In Ireland, who raised to the
peerage Of the Emerald Isle in 1928 The second
viscOunt had his estates confscated by Oliver
Cromwell for having espOused the OF King
Charles while the third killed IN the battle
of the Boyne while fighting for King James II
was the fourth viscount who migrated with his
family to Austria. Loyalty to the sovereign in
lives OF the lords of TaaNe: in so how
ever than In that OF Count Edward Taaffe. the
Fmperors friend.
PRINCE KITASHIRAKAWA.