New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-09-14
AUSTRIA AND HUNGARY.

The assassination OF the Empress OF Austria
and Queen of Hungary is rot, IT first thought
a matter of political importance Her Majesty
had persistently stood apart from all affairs or
state and had exerted no appreciable influence
upon them But the secondary results or the
tragedy may be OF much moment. It's erect
upon the Emperor-King. already aged ana IN
feeble health, Is n matter Of gravest omen. lie
desired to abdicate his throne Mt the death or
his son. VIII he fulfil that purpose now. under
this greater provocation? If not the facts
must he faced that his life Is, In the natural
course Of things nearing ts end. and that TINS
bereavement may much hasten the process.
And after him? With all possible respect, the
heir-presumptive gives scant promise OF de-
welcoming the qualities which have enabled
Francis Joseph 70 hold his HETEROGENEOUS ana
often turbulent realm together. Without them.
without the tact and diplomatic skill, above
all without the phenomenal personal popularity
that has made the present monarch f'noSt
UNIQUE in Continental Europe, the outloo Tor
the next reign IS indeed unprortious.
For the last two years strenuous efforts Asv,
been made backed by all the sovercign's potent
ncrsonal influence TO bring the two halves Of
the realm into agreement for a renewal of the
Auselcich They have failed, and there is little
hone that the failure will be retrieved A TEN
porary modus vivendi may he maintained for
q few years complete renewal of the treaty
for the constitutional term Of ten years is not
TO be expected on either political or CONNER
cial grounds The Magyars love neither the
Germans nor the Slays, and are loved by
neither. Year by year the feeling Of antago-
n!sm Is growing stronger The tension is to-
/ -n1 ", In of no
reavement. which is felt by all alike. But to-
morrow II will be I'll the stronger. The crux
OF the trouble IS that neither side desires al
equitable and amicabe settlement. 4 mutual
desire to come together could overcome all OBJ
stacles A mutual desire 10 stay apart will not
be easily overcome.
| So much for the political side Of the ques-
ton The outlook for renewed and permanent
commercial union is perhaps still more hope
less Hungary is already convinced Of what
is probably true. that free trade between her
| and Austria is more TO AuStras advantage
than to hers. AT present Hungary IS not pre-
pared for tariff war. hut she is rapidly ap-
preaching state Of preparation for complete
fiscal independence. Five years hence. when
the time comes for revision of commercial
treaties she will be ready 10 establish custom
houses along the Austrian frontier: and she Is
not likely now TO bind herself not To do so.
On the Austrian side there is manifest no
important movement for conserving the union.
On the contrary the chief tendencies arc
toward such an extension of the federal sys-
| ten as would almost certainly destroy the
union. Bohemia demands that the Kaiser he
her King. in fact as we'll ms name. crowned
| with the crown Of St Wenceslaus. and that
Prague be made the peer Of Vienna and Buda-
pest IF Bohemia. why not Moravia? And why
not every one OF the seventeen provinces with