The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-01-16

De succeeded by his brother Archduke
Charles Louis, but death took the Arch
duke on May 10. 1896 A few days
later Archduke .Albrecht Salvador. son
of the late Archduke Carl Salvador. also
died. The Archduke Franz Ferdinand
has not been Of late in the best of
health. and at one time it was thought
that consumption would surely carry
him off. His younger brother Otto
stands next in order of succession. but
he s. very unpopular, and there are in
dications that he has no desire to be-
come the ruler of Austria Hungary.
Franz Ferdinand, on the other. hand.
has taken a. great interest lately in
imperial affairs-even as late as last
June he urged the Emperor to allow
him to take his place before the world
as Crown Prince. AT the same time
the rumor spread that he was about 10
marry the daughter of Karl Theodor
Duke OF Bavaria, one of the most pop
ular CT the South German Princes.
From every point of view Franz Jo-
SET S position is most delicate one.
He has many kinsmen. but even If he
had the power it is doubtful if he could
find one among them we'll fitted to
succeed him. Archduke Josef, COM
mander of the Hungarian Honved
army, is fine soldier and scholar-no
man living knows more about gypsies
IMAM he does-but there is no evidence
that ne Is fit to be Emperor or that he
would accept the position if it We're Of
Tered TO him. Again, there is the Arch
duke Louis Salvador. cousin to the EN-
peror, ana also cousin to the Queen Re-
gent OF Spain. who has left the gayety
OF co'lrt life and taken up his ABODE
IN MaJorea, one of the Baluric Islands
Where he lives the life of a hermit. but
thoroughly enjoys himself with his
BOOKS, his art treasures and his yacht,
ouch a man would evidently be loath
10 exchange the pleasures of his island
nome for the pomp and splendor of an
imperial palace in Vienna.
NAUGHTY ARISTOCRATS
Franz Ferdinand seemed to be the
logical successor, but, if it be true that
he married last week in London "a mid
ole class lady from Kohlscheidt, near
Aix-la- Chapelle, ibis chances of obtain
lngthecrown have certainly diminished.
There is no aristocracy in Europe which
Is quite as naughty as the Austro- Hun
gar1an, and the members of that body
would certainly not be inclined to ac-
knowledge as their sovereign any one
who had married beneath him. Indeed.
such a marriage would deprive the heir
presumptive of the rights of succession.
Splendid poblemen these aristocrats are.
ana Woe TO any one among them who
willfully proves false to the traditions
of his order. For example, let the rumor
spread that an Esterhazy intends to
marry some one who is not of the purest
blood, and straightway all possible OBJ
stacles will be placed in his path These
ar1stocrats are loath to believe that the
heir presumptive has married middle
class lady,, and one who was formerly
a housekeeper of Herr Krupp, and they
have taken pains to publish an itinerary
showing that he could not have been in
London last week. On the other hand
we are assured that Franz Ferdinand
met the lady in Essen and that she and
he have gone together to Algiers.
Those who assume the story to be true
think it very possible that the Archduke
was influenced by motives which seemed
to him to be excellent. He must have
known, say these persons, that his ac-
cession to the crown would not be pop
ular owing to his delicate health. and
in any case it is more than likely
that he has no desire to become EN-
peror. Being immensely rich, he can
afford to do as he pleases, and, being a
Hapsburg, he may prefer to marry the
woman of his choice and to pass his days
in comparative seclusion rather than to
wed some potentate's daughter selected
for him by the Austrian Court and TO
reign as suZerain of Austria and Hun
gary.
One thing is certain-the Austrian sue
cession is likely to become some day a
question Of first rate Importance in Eu-
rope. Will the Emperor try to secure
the crown for his daughter Archduchess
Marie Valerie. or for her son, or will
Archduke Louis take the place of Franz
Ferdinand? The latter was married at
Dresden in 1886 to Marie Josef's shoes,
and, even if he was, it is by no means
certain that the people of Austria and
would take kindly to the notion
of having him as their liege lord. He is
assuredly unpopular, and this is doubt
less one reason why the Emperor is so
anxious to find fitting successor to the |
crown before he dies.-New York Her |
aid.