New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-10-04
THE EMPEROR Ar BTDiPEST.

The recent visit Of the German Emperor 10
Budapest was noteworthy in several respects,
| hut in none more than In one which has re-
| ceived probably least attention Of all. That
was the recognition of Budapest for the frst
time MS an independent royal capital, and Of
Hungary itself, therefore, as an independent
kingdom. Theoretically, and in some respects
practically, the city and the kingdom have
long enjoyed such status; ever since the crea-
ton OF duallism by Francis Deak. But to the
popular and even 10 the official mind, Hungary
has until the last few years seemed merely II
province Of Austria, Vienna has been the SUI
preme capital. and Francis Joseph has been
more Emperor than King. 1t was. indeed. ohiJ
half dozen years ago that genuine royal
residence was established at Budapest, ana
until the present time all visits of foreign SOY
cIeigns have been made to Francis Joseph III
Vienna. in his capacity as Emperor or Aus'ria'
William ri Of Germany was last month 'ne HIST
to make formal visit TO Budapest as the guest
not Of the Emperor OF Austria, but of the King
of Hungary. 1t was a graceful compliment
and an epoch making incident. ana IL IS not
surprising that the wlrm-heared Hungarians
were by 1t reused to great enthusiasm
Nor are Budapest and Hungary unworthy OF
such attention. Their technical rank. in the
letter Of the law Is uldisputcd. Their intrinsic
rank by virtue of their own character ana
achievements. Is no less. Budapest Is one or
the largest most beautiful and most highly
cultivated cities in all Europe. Few others
have more splendid buildings and avenues or
a more advanced application or all the arts
and sciences 10 the uses Of daily lif" onr
boosted Yankee enterprise has allowed the
American metropolis to lag years behind III"
Hungarian In the important field OF local pas
senger transportation. aud In other by no
means trifing details \ewiork might well
learn lessons from Budapest. So. too. Hun
gary AT large is one OF the most liberal pro
grcssive and generally promising countries on
the whole continent. In agriculture and allied
industries IL is among the foremost, and in leg
islative progress in social. educational and re-
l!gious affairs II has no rival. II Is high time.
therefore that the Trinslcithan Kingdom re-
ceived such recognition as that which the Ger
man Emperor has led fhe way in giving H.
The political md diplomatic effect Of the in
cdent may also be considerable. The Hun
garians have hitherto felt the strongest kind Of
antipathy toward tho Ger mans. whether OF
Austria or Of Germany itself But they are
row so nightly pleased over the German En-.
peror's visit and speeches that that antpathy
Will surely be much lesseued. aud perhaps alto
gether transformed into affection The Hun.
garians are also intensely hostile 10 Russia. in
menbrance Of the way in which Russia aided
in crushing their attempt NJ independence.
Certainly this episode will make them all the
more disposed TO stand with Germany against
possible Russian aggression. and thus greatly
strengthen the Triple Alliance. Hungary has
hitherto regarded that alliance as Austria AZ
fair, rather than her own She will now proba-
bly, regard IL as NJ least equally her own For
these and other clsons the German Emperors
visit to Budapest may well be reckoLcd In"
most noteworthy of all the numerous visits
he has made in all his much-travclinc career.