New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-10-25
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
THE rsrABrIsHMENr OF THE AUSTRIAN
MONARCHY.

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6x9ordd Octave. pO. p. The Macmillan Com
pany
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up. 20 The Macmillan Company.
Tn. reign OF Maria Theresa Of Austria Is ono
OF the most famous In modern history. Inc
great Empress took up the reins OF government
at q time big with importance In the develop
ment OF Europe and her administration. con-
tinued as II was in many respects in spirit anu
purpose by her son. Joseph H. was decisive not
only in determining the future OF Austria Du'
In influencing the current or modern history
It came just before the French Revolution. when
monarchical institutions were on trial. ihele
were reforming monarchs" In Europe ehgaseu
IN giving their answer TO the Qusstionings Oh d
new political philosophy as to the sources Oh
royal power. There was. too the game OF ou'-
ance Of power" played with a xest and vivacity
that are strangers to the slow and cautious
rulers OF these days The popular. national ele-
ucnt was left out. though struggling for recog-
milton. vainly at first but soon with the rush OF
an irresistible impulse.
The ruler Of Austria had particularly intri-
cate and responsible part In this game. Inc
empire was geographically exposed to many
enemies. II was at pest an eeN
Of unrelated provinces and peoples 1t was
ruled, as no other country In Europe. by the
WORKOUT principles Of medieval society. 1t was
be.et on the one hand by the restless ambition
Of the Great Frederick. on the other by the un-
known and elementary power Of Russia: and
nv France at a distance. In these two volumes
the Rev ]. Franck Bright has traced the moves
IN this complicated game Of stateemanship ana
Diplomacy as played by Maria Theresa. her son.
Joseph IL and that circle of men by whom they
we're advised with Prince Kaunitz at their fore
front. II was not a game with which the people
had much to do and the historian has connned
himself to tracing the movements In the higher
realms of statecraft the movements OF olplom-
acy and government policy. the exigencles OF
royal interests and the large strokes that were
played on the map OF Europe. Inc TWO Hioho
graphs are in fact. true to their titles ana oeA'
with the policies OF the two rulers and win ther
realms; they not history OF Auslria'
without a certain vitalizing element OF the
nopular undercurrent OF history. the narrative
lacks something in charm. 1t treats OF events
important and indeed decisive. but IT mas not
the fascination Of the real history that nils IN
the background. With such treatment 1t coud
not be expected that the characters OF the two
monarchs should be clearly delineated. Joseph
stands forth more wildly as living figure than
his ;nsther-which on several accounts Is pity.
But II is In general the official side. generally, OF
rulers and Ministers that is here disclosed. and
It Is only the official history OF the reign OF
Maria Theresa and her son. Joseph II, that DR..
Bright has undertaken
And vet there is certain human interest
even in such a presentation or the great
Empress's activity Her accession to the Aus
1nAra n
experienced girl. into a troubled sphere. where
she was destined Immediately TO falsify the po-
lticaI calculations that were based on the sup
posed weakness Of a young Queen. She met her
responsibilities with an unyielding determine
ton to uphold her rights and to inspire her
dispirited people with energy. Frederick OF Prus-
sia was harassing her with a war, avowedly
TO secure for himself her possessions In Silesia:
the electors Of the Holy Roman Empire were
uniting to secure for OF themselves the i'm
peral crown which had so long been the mark
Of Austra's supremacy. and which she (being
debarred from II by her SEX was determined TO
have conferred upon her husband. Francis OF
Lorraine. Her Hungarian subjects were strong
in their separatist tendencies. Her rallying OF
this kingdom to her support and the spectacular
scene Of her coronation tributes to her
ability and courage and to the extraordinary
fascination of her personality. They were like
wise among the most important factors that
co-operated to extricate her from the dangers
that beset the beginning Of her reign.
The same qualities won her the imperial crown
when the early death Of Charles VII who had
taken It from her. placed It again In the hands
OF the electoral princes. Her course at her hus-
bands coronation at Frankfort throws ray OF
light on some Of the causes Of her popularity
20 he ant
at the ceremony was prompted by her deter
mnation to make that day his triumph (the
weaker vessels). not hers as 1t would have been
had she been present. The first eight years OF
her reign found her. at the end Of the for
the Austrian succession. Inundated by the
peace Of Aix-la- Chapele. but nevertheless still
maintaining a place among the foremost princes
of Europe She set herself to carrying out re-
forms that should fortify her on the throne and
her monarchy In It's environments. to meet the
new conditions that were coming to the fore
IN European political life. The remnants OF
faudalism were seen in the dsJointed character
Of the Austrian monarchy with its scattered
provinces and the independence OF the great
mobiles Maria Theresa bent her energies to the
establishment Of a strongly centralized Gov
eminent and benevolent despotism to the
eubordinatlon Of the aristocratic families. TO the
REORGANIZATION Of the army from its previous
shapeless chaos. to the equalization OF taxation
upon the nobles previously exempted and COM
moners alike. and to the Improvement OF the
schools and the University. These reforms In
some instances. were worked out with surpris-
ing iberalty. considering the absolute power
of the Jesuits at the time There WERE too
Ministers to be selected who should be more
efficient in their service to the monarchy than
the ones the Queen had found IN office at her
accession
The important administrative reforms tina,
marked her reign were the work Of Haugwtz
summoned by the Empress TO formulate his
ideas for the benefit Of the throne. The rise o: