The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1898-06-16
FRANCIS JOSEPH.
A BRIEF SKETCH OF THE EMPEROR
OF STRO-HUNGARY'SL LIFE.

Spain and the Cabled Rumors of His Eff
forts to Raise Europe Against Us Makes
His Majesty Interesting to Our People.
The assurances of anxiety on the
part of the Emperor Francis Joseph in
the Crown of Spain and the cabled
rumors of his efforts to raise Europe
against the United States make the
polyglot empire Of his majesty mat
ter Of direct interest to our people.
We have paid but little attention to
Austrian Reichstag, and neither the
discomfort Of the Magyars nor the po-
litical demands of the young Czechs,
have much concerned the people of the
United States, since the exile and death
Of Louis Kossuth. When the great
Hungarian patriot came to this country
the people of the United States gave
him funds, warm welcome in the
name of freedom and the privileges
usually accorded to a distinguished
stranger in Washington. Mr.. Seward
and the late Sunset" Cox and many
others made warm speeches appealing
to Magyars and to all American patri-'
OTIS alike to stand by the Hungarian
cause. There is not any apology due
Francis Joseph for our action in 1870.
Though one portion of the dual EN-
pire would probably reciprocate by now
discountenancing acts of hostility
against the United States on the part
Of the head of the state, 1t is neverthe-
less fact that beyond wishing well to
freedom everywhere we have not as O
people taken any particular interest in
Austro-Hungarian affairs for many
years. We may do so again because 1t
Is almost impossible to doubt that the
head Of the House Of Hapsburg has dis
played both in his own person and in
the case of his Majesty's Premier, Golu-
chowski, tone of bitter unfriendli-
ness to the people and institutions of
the United States. Count Goluchow-
ski has gone 80 far as to publicly urge
upon Europe the necessity of combin-
ing against us commercially, and his
august master has followed up this
step by repeated Invitations to Euro
pean Courts to intervene in our con-
test with Spain in the common interest
Of the lame, crippled, humpbacked, be-
wigged and wrinkled monarchies of
Europe. With the affairs of that con-
tinent We have no concern. It is not
the intention Of the United States to
interfere in the domestic affairs of any
f~ n,,A %
the case Of Kossuth helped to create
the autonomy of Hungary and as we
have in this country many os the for
mer subjects Of the Austrian kaiser,
the political condition of the people Of
central Europe can hardly be matter
OF Indifference to Americans.
The people OF the United States may
therefore be compelled to renew their
former interest in the Emperor Francis
Joseph and his affairs, apart entirely
fron the fact that he may at any time
spring into notice as the author Of a
European concert against the new for
ward policy of this country. OF course
we have no fear Of any such concert
Ard II all Europe would be so mad as
20 regard these United States as all
Europe once regarded the First Napo-
icon, this country has enough of the
former subjects of these European
countries to stand between US and an
American Waterloo, even if all the ma
tive Americans kept saying nothing
but saving wood. We need not
raise hand should such an Issue be
thrust upon us. Indeed the somewhat
rickety throne of Austria would hardly
bear such q strain just now as partici-
paticn in a European concert would
put upon it. And the opinion prevails
in more centres than America that it is
the tact and urbQlity of the Emperor
alone which makes the House of Haps-
burg a factor at all in Europe; and
that when Francis Joseph dies as many
lines Of cleavage are likely to set in
Tested themselves in the once proud
Empire of Charlemagne, of which there
is now no trace.
The present Emperor was hardly
seated on the throne In 1S4S when he
saw the expulsion of Louis Philippe
engender revolution among his sub
jects, and 1t is not unlikely that to the
fear of seeing the throne of the Bour-
bons fall in Spain, and thus the con-
tagion spread from Madrid to Vienna,
is due much of that solicitious interest
in us now shown by the Emperor of
Austro-H Hungary. 1t is not our fault
but Spain's misfortune that the proud
and pedigreed race over which his ma
jesty's niece is Queen Regent, should
SO conduct itself in Cuba as to make
American intervention humane neces-
sity as was that Of Austria in Bosnia
and Herzegovina in 1870.
1t may therefore SO happen that
Francis Joseph would court the fates
and that the close of his reign would
see the renewal of those aspirations
for liberty which in 1S48 drove Prince
Metternich from the Austrian Capital,
and gave free constitution to lhe
Austrian people. The presen. Emperor
e.,