The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-11-30
THE AUSTRIAN TROUBLES.

IL n
Affairs in Austria have at last reachec
= crisis and the ministry has been forced
20 resign.
The Austro-Hungary dispute is long
story and cannot be told in newspaper
article. Suffice it 20 say that the Hun
earians revolted in 1SS and until 1901 were
held in subsection by the bayonet. An
agreement was then entered into OF ten
years duration under which Hungary was
10 contribute 30 per cent. and Austria 20
per cent of the expenses OF central gov
eminent. This compact was renewed IN
1877 and again in 1887 and is now to be re-
Moved for tho third time. The present
fight began ostensiD1y over the bill to re-
new this compact. There is a feeling in
Austria that Hungary should pay lit
tie more towards the common fund and
that the compact should be altered to
that extent, to which. as we understand
if. there is no special objection on the
part of Hungary. But there was not time
enough 10 enter into prolonged negotia-
lions. such as this would have made ne
cessary, so that it was proposed to extend
the agreement for one year in order 10
give dine for revision Hungary raised
no objection to this, but the Austrian
Germans, who have no love for the Hun
garians, would not hear to it. They OBJ
1ect~d to even any discussion OF the sub
ject in the Reichstrath and resorted TO
all sorts of obstructive measures, even go
ing so far as to demand the impeachment
Of the Prime Minister for proposing this
arrangement.
The greatest grievance Of the Germans,
however, was that Premier Badeni, who
is Pole, by a recent decree recognized
the Czech language as coordinate with
the German language for all official pur-
poses. This in response to q demand
from the Poles and Bohemians who are
more powerful numerically than are the
Germans. This so Infatuated the Ger
mans that under the leadership OF Dr.
Wolf. they resorted to the most violent
tactics TO carry their point, with the re-
suit that the Badeni ministry was forced
10 resign.
gadeni has had a remarkable career.
lie is the son of a cook. His father was
chef for one Of the last kings Of Poland
and was created Count. A fortune was
loft him by his aunt, Annie Wierer the
famous German actress. He went into
politics at an carly age, and in 1883 was
mazda Governor Of Galicia, which office
he held until appointed Prime Minister Of
Austria by the Emperor in 1895. lie and
DR. Wolff have been at loggerheads for
some time, and a duel was fought be-
tween them on September 18th, the trout
ble arising from insults addressed by Dr.
Wolff TO Badeni during a session Of the
Unterhaus. The duel was with pistols
and Baleni was slightly wounded in the
right avn.
The Irstro-Hungary Empire is held to-
gether by very slender ties. 1t is con-
rlomcration of states. brought together
by the Hapsburg family during 600 years
OF war. Each one OF these States is in
habited by different nationality, having
a language Of its own, its own customs
and religious doctrines and its own in
tense rational pride
The Germans constitute the Weather
and better educated class. and they in
dignantly resent this recognition Of their
interiors.
The fight is now on with oil its force.
and there are those who predict that this
revival of race patriotism is about 10 pro-
duce its logical result, the violent dis
solution OF the ancient heritage of the
Hapsburgs into its original elements.
These desultory facts. gathered from
numerous articles which have been writ
ten of iate on this subject, we have hur-
riedly thrown together with the hope that
the reader may gather therefrom an in
telligent idea as to the real state of ar
fairs in Austria, and the origin Of Che
trouble.