New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-06-04
AUsTRI4'S PATCHWORK PARLIAMENT

TIE opinion hitherto expressed that in the
mad mixture of warning factions in the new
Austrian Parliament and the ascendancy Of in
toleran, reaction In Vienna the personal inter
vention of the Emperor would be deemed neces-
sary for The preservation OF orderly govern
ment. is justified The Prime Minister. I'M
der immediate direction Of the Emperor, has
abruptly closed the session. buntly telling the
Deputies they were doing more harm than
good. This action. ii Is said. has caused con-
siderable excitement. That is quite natural.
From some sources there will no doubt come
bitter denunciation. But the better mind Of
the nation will approve the Emperor's act as
in the interest Of good government and the well
fare OF the realm.
The present Parliament was elected about
three months ago under an enlarged franchise.
which gave 1t 42J instead Of. as before. 353
members. These 425 are divided into no less
than % parties and factions. an average Of II 10
each The most general division of the Cham
Der IL into Moderates. Of whom there are only
10. and Extremists. who number 30. But no
such division is stable for Parliamentary pur-
poses. There are % Anti-Semites and II Social
Democrats. between whom there is always Bit
ter war. and both Of whom are turbulent in the
highest degree. and loud against all forms Of
power" There is considerable contingent Of
Italians. and another Of Rumanians OF the
163 Germans 80 are Liberals. AZ Clericals and
. Anfi-Semites. OF the III Slavs. 63 are
Czechs and GS Poles. and the latter are divided
into two factions. one Of which, numbering 80,
is the only steadfast Government party In the
Chamber.
II was evident at the outset that the Minis .ry
Of Count Badeni would have a hard time in
holding together majority. especially as none
of It's members were members Of the Chamber,
and they could not therefore claim TO represent
any popular majority. Any majority would
have to be a patchwork affair, and be held to-
gether by a system Of give and take. From
such a task Count Badeni naturally shrank,
and once indeed actually offered his resigna-
ton. But the Emperor personally persuaded
him to remain In Office and has given him all
the imperial aid and comfort possible under the
Constitution: and, now that the choice has had
to be made between Ministers and Deputies. he
has favored the former and sent the latter
home in disgrace. That must be reckoned
wise for the Baden Ministry is composed OF
capable and patriotic men. and II has on the
whole served the Empire well. while it is per-
fectly evident that for the present nothing is TO
be expected Of the Chamber but wrangling and
discOrd.
Continental Governments are realizing more
and more the need Of such party system as
has long prevailed in Great Britain. where
there ARE two great parties, upon one of which
the Ministry can depend for a stable majority.
France has made much progress in that direc
ton Germany has made little. If any Italy
has Of late actually lost ground. and so, in the
last election. has Austria. The las-named En-
pre will achieve the desired end probably with
greater difficulty than any of the others be-
cause it is itself cOngOmerate Of SO many
races. nations tongues and crceds. one Of
these days it is 10 be hoped. these various
divisions Of the Empire will learn TO subordinate
local ambitions and factions TO the general
welfare. But that time seems TO be still far
Off and until II comes political life will be full
Of unrest. and marked with more than one such
incident as that which has JUST been recorded