The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-12-29
M is 9!I!!: 70.
TROUBLE AHEAD FOR AUSTRIA.
Present Discussions Likely to Disrupt the
ConglomeraIe Empire.
MISSoULA. MONT.

An Austrian. who is staying in Lon
don, explains the troubles in Austria
Hungary as follows:
THE explanation of the present crisis
Us simple enough. Austria, Ii must al
ways be remembered, is not a nation
fin the proper sense of the word. The
empire is made up of a conglomeration
of peoples and states. with different
languages and often conflicting inter-
ests and aspirations. There can be no
feeling of patriotism in Austria. such
as exists, for instance, in England and
Germany. The Austrian empire is a
perfect chaos of languages and races
Germans, Slays. Czechs, Poles. Croats
and Hungarians. all owe allegiance to
nhe emperor of Austria. They have few
Interests in common and cannot even
understand each others language. As
long as national and race feelings We're
dormant ii was possible. by judicious
compromises. to hold the empire to-
gether. But as soon as national feel
ing in any of the component parts OF
ahe dual kingdom became pronounced
IA crisis was inevitable This is what
has now happened. The explanation of
Fhe present situation is the clashing of
Fhe interests nf the numerous nation
alites which form the basis of the Aus
trian empire.
THE situation is a very critical one
For this reason: Austria lies between
three great poWerS-Germany, Russia
y.
(which inhabit these countries are also
TO be found in Austria. Whenever they
have any grievance to the component
parts of the dual kingdom they extend
sympathy and support to those who be-
dong to the same race. The center of
attraction is not. therefore. the Aus
trian neighbors For instance at the
present time the German population of
Austria naturally looks rather To the
German fatherland than to a federation
of races which have nothing in common
with themselves. That is the danger
and ii is a real one.
The feeling toward Germany of the
Austrian Germans has been gradually
growing for many years and II has now
found expression. The present leaders
of the German opposition We're boys
and students when the German empire
was founded. They We're deeply in
fluenced by the wave OF national feeling
which preceded the war of 1870. The
seed sown then is now bearing fruit
Ut has grown steadily and will grow
until the German provinces OF Austria
Join the German empire. Up to the
present time the emperor has been able
40 keep the empire together by means of
compromises But the time for compro-
mises is now past. The emperor will
undoubtedly endeaVor TO smooth things
for next year he celebrates his jubilee
and is very anxious that there shall be
no disturbance. The feeling is running
very high
But it has often been predicted that
Austria was on the point of breaking
up and each time the prediction has
been falsified
Yes, that II true. but the situation
to-day is different in many respects
The Germans. instead OF being divided
among themselves are. with the excep-
rion of the clericals. firmly united. Ma
1ional feeling was not so strongly de-
Neloped. the German empire had not
been united, Italy was still a chaos of
states and Russia had not gained the
commanding position she holds to-day
Above all. the emperor is an old man
and is not what he used TO he. Ii needs
a strong hand and keen mind 10 keep
abe Austrian empire together. Where
Is that man 10 be found2n