New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-21
AUSTRIA AND HINGAR ny.

There is ray of hope in the announcement
that at last the Budget Committee OF the lower
house OF the Austrian Reichsrath has agreed
to report favOraby tho bill for the provisional
renewal OF the compact with Hungary. There
will no doubt be bitter fight over the meas
IRE in the House itself. but the Government is
fully prepared to deal with obstruction. AMI
there is reason to expect that the bill Will go
through 1t has already been adopted by the
Hungarian Parliament, and thus. when adopted
at Vienna, will become law and will assure the
continued union OF the empire for at least an
other wear 1t Is an agreeable circumstance
that this action of the committee was taken al
most simultaneously with the assembling OF
the DELEGATIONS and that the final adoption
of the provisional Ausgcich will thus proba-
bly be effected before the delegations are more
than fairly started on their work. 1t will
naturally promote harmony and good feeling
in their deliberations. and tend to remove the
fear. hitherto widely expressed. that the pres
ent might be the last time they would ever as
semble.
While the conduct OF the Rcichsrath has been
scandalous in It's lawlcss violence and factious
opposition TO the manifest interests OF the
nation. 1t must be said that large share OF
nation has not acted altogether well. She has
been ungenerous In her contentious over the
Ausgeich. When the now expiring treaty was
made, ten years ago, Hungary was not nearly
so rich and prosperous as now. She was lar III
ferior TO Austria In those respects 80 IL was
agreed that TO the common fund OF the dual
realm Austria should contribute CSC per cent
and Hungary only 3l.4 per cent That was an
equitable division then. but II Is not now, Tor
Hungary has been growing in wealth and re-
sources far more rapidly than Austria. Justice
gems TO require that In the new treaty the pro-
portion OF the fund contributed by Hungary
shall he increased 1t is over this point that the
hitch has occurred. Austria wants Hungary TO
pay more than the latter is willing To pay. AS
no agreement has yet been reached. 1t Is pro
posed to extend the old treaty Professionally for
one year TO give time for further negotiations
and for determining To their mutual satisfaction
the lust division OF the imperial budget Natu'
rally. Hungary agreed 10 this with little hes-
tation. since II meant decided financial ad-
vantage for her for the coming year That the
Austrans should view II with some repugnance
was also natural, since II meant the continue
ton of an unjust burden upon them for another
wear Nevertheless there can be no justihca-
ton of such extraordinary measures as the
Austrian minority has resorted 10 for It's de-
feat.
1t is deplorable that Hungary should assume
so nlggardly an attitude. Or perhaps II would
be better TO say that some OF her statesmen
should compel her TO do so; for II IS not con
cciyable that the proud and generous Magyars,
as n people. want to avoid payment of their
lust obligations. When the Ausglelch was es-
| tabllshed. thirty years ago, iIungary's quota
was fixed al only 80 per cent Even that was,
perhaps n little more than her just share. but
| her statesmen would not listen to any PROPOSE
| ton for making 1t less. 1t would not comport
with Uungary's dignity, they said II would be
| n disgrace 10 hcr To say she was less than 80
| Der cent Of the whole realm And Count julius
Andrassy n statesman worthy OF his rank
| and OF the nation. fcrvcntly exclaimed God
grant that we may soon be able 10 contribute
| 80 per cent instead Of 30"' That was the
| ambition OF Hungary then to become Austria \
| equal in wealth and material resources. ms well
| "a in political rights. Since then she has made
| marvellous progress in that direction, and it is
not TO be believed that with increasing wealth
| her ambition patriotism and pride have de-
creased Before the end Of another year the
! spirit voiced by Julius Andrassy will doubtless
manifest itself again, and the Ausgelch viii he
| renewed on equitable and honorable terms.