New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-11-03

various races that go to make up the agglomera-
ton Of peoples known as Austria. But he had
no alternative. The state OF the pohticai
parties when he reluctantly assumed the once
of Premier was one Of chaos. There were ABOUT
dozen Of them in the Reichsrath. and 80 bitter
were they one against the other that 1t was i'm
possible to carry any legislation, the result
being that Austria was politically and fnan-
cially on the brink Of ruin. Distress was gen.
eral. agriculture was so weighed down by the
burdens upon the soil that the land was going
out of cultivation. Factories being closed
on every side. the sufferings of the poor were
terrible and while wages low and work
scarce. all the necessaries OF life were heavily
taxed
Count Taane understood that reforms were
urgent. and that they must be put into execu-
ton quickly and no matter at what cost. AS
the German Liberals. from whom he had every
right to look for support. declined to help him
unless he agreed Germanize everything.
thereby antagonizing every other political
party which would have rendered legislation
impossible. he cut loose altogether from them
and began a policy of Cancellation toward the
other political factions. the support Of each of
which he may be said to have purchased by
means Of concession TO their racial aspirations.
much that his Administration was known
as the concession market. 1t was by this
means that he managed 10 pass an immense
number of useful measures. which had long
been waiting Parliamentary sanction and to
introduce numbers Of sorely needed reforms.
Poor laws, factory laws. laws for the protection
of women and laws bringing home to employers
their duties and responsibilities toward the en-
ployed were enacted. rhe franchise
tended. and honesty and integrity intro
duced 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 majorites to ndorse what he knew
to be the policy Of the Emperor In most other
European countries where parliamentary form
of government exists il is the Prime Minister
a rule. who is subservient the Parliamentary
majority. In Austria and Hungary, however.
it is the Prime Minister who renders legislative
majority subservient to himself. Allying himself
personally with none Of the political parties he
availed himself of the services first of the one
and then Of the other, and when taxed with po-
Etcal inconsistency was wont to reply that the
doctrines Of both one and the other were indf-
ferent to him except in so far they could be
rendered serviceabe in the furtherng OF the
aims OF the Emperor. whose wishes he alone con-
suited and endeavored to fulfil He never under
any circums tances allowed himself TO be furred
or worried about anything, not even In the most
turbulent sessions of the austrian Diet, main
tanning throughout highbred and almost indo-
lent repOse and calm. lightened here and there by
a cynical smile or else by trite remark deliv
cred in the broadest Of Viennese "patois" (Wie-
ner- deutsch).
OF course there time when this sale Of
concessions TO the various political parties had
to stop. since matters had reached such a stage
that any continuation in this direction would
have resulted in the conversion of the Empire
into a number Of federal States bound together
only by dynastc ties. Having nothing more 10
sell. he could buy no further support; conse
lister came to end. and he definitely resigned
office after a crushing defeat in his attempt 10
increase the electorate by some 100000 votes.
Since that time his life has been spent mostly
at his beautiful country seat at Ellishau IN
Bohemia. In the pretty park OF which there is a
reproduction OF the ruins Of his ancestral Irish
castle Of Ballymote. Both his wife the stately
Countess Irma. and himself are noted far and
wide for their freedom from all pride and afec-
tation. their absence Of hauteur their hatred OF
everything in the shape OF fuss and feathers
and for their simple democratic. genial and kind
hearted bearing Count Taaffe descerds from
Sir John Taaffe Of County Cavan. In Ireland.
who raised TO the peerage Of the Emerald
Isle In 1928 The second vscount had his estates
confiscated by Oliver Cromwell for having
pOused the cause OF King Charles !. while the
third was killed in the battle Of the Boyne while
fighting for King James. 1t was the fourth Wis
count who migrated with his family to Austria.
been the guiding principle in the lives Of the
Lords Of Taaffe, in none more sO however, than
in that Of Count Edward Taaffe. the Emperors
friend EX-ATTACHE