New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-04-14
AnEaster

become aen-is infinitely more popular and
more in touch with the people than her father
nephew the weakly Prince Albert OF flanders
who possesses none Of the tastes and prejudices
peculiarly national that cause the Belgiafls 10
keep such a warm corner in their hearts ior 'he
lonG-nosed Princess Clementine.
At Vienna the Emperor has Just published an
official denial of the rumor long current that he
proposed II change the order Of succession III
favor of the eldest of his youngest and favor
tie daughter. Valerie. report which mas been
circulated throughout the European and Ameri-
can press True he has the power to do SO. IN
deed no save the Minister of the Imperial
Household and himself knows the exact extent
to which his powers in the matters extend. for
the most extraordinary mystery surrounds the
so-cae1 family statutes Of the house Of laps
burg, which kept profound secret. the Min
lister Of the Imperial Household being bound by
the strictcst oath not TO divugc their provisions
TO a living soul. - far as IN" pubic IS con-
cerned. It's knowledge concerning the succession
is limited to what is known as the ''praGnauc
sanction" which provides for the succession to
the imperial throne Of the female descendants
in the event only Of the extinction Of the male
line. According TO the terms of this law. the
throne of Austria must pass 10 Emperor Francis
Joseph's brother, Archduke Charles Louis. ana
then t. the latter's son. and to about twenty
five other arChdukes before the male line becomes
extinct, and only then. in default Of the latter.
would the succession pass to the only daughter
Of the late Crown Prince Rudolph. the little Arch-
duchess Elizabeth. 1t is stated in the standard
histories that the Kingdom Of Hungary and iis
Diet agreed to this pragmatic sanction in IT,
But Kossuth used t. declare that this consent
had never been given. and that all documents
purporting 10 record IT and which were pre-
served in the archives were mere forgerieS. II"
had in his possession an assurance. which he re-
ceived in writing from the famous Austrian his
torian UOrmayer. that the pragmatic sanction,
so far as Hungary was concerned, had been
forged This question brought before the
Diet at Budapest a few years ago and tn" GOV
eminent was compelled t. admit that the orig
inal documents bearing the consent or hungary
10 the pragmatic sanction had disappeared. both
from the archives at Vienna and budapest AMI
were nowhere to be found. The importanc" ~
the question lies in the fact that, In the event ~
Uungary's participation In the pragmatc sane
ton not being authentic the old law Of success
sion 20 the Magyar throne which was In force
before l722 and which provides for the success
sion IF the oldest child OF the soverefSn-no mat
fer whether male or female-Inust be consld"rol
still operative and IN that case II Is not IN"
Ernper0r's brother Arch1uke Charles Louis. VINO
would succeed TO the Hungarian throne. nut IN"
little ten-year-Old daughter Of the lat" crown
Prince Rudolph There are many pe1pl" IN IN"
Austro-Uungarian Empire as elsewhere. VINO be
ljeve that not alone the Magyars. but all IN"
races subject to the rule II Emperor Francis
Joseph would be infinitely happier under the
ecentre Of this bright little Archduchess. bred
and educated 10 modern. liberal and progressive
ideas than under that Of Archduke Charles
Iouis or Of his son. Francis Ferdinand. both X
,ybom are renowned for their reaC tionary. Tory
and almost fanatcally bigoted views.
any EX-ATTACIIE.