The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-04-28

The strength OF the Germans, on the other
hand, is divided among a hundred Issues.
Some make a creed OF anti-Semitism some
work only for universal suffrage others are
wholly taken up with fighting the Church /;
others with protecting the interests of the
landowners. Against the dashing, serried
attacks OF the Czechs and Poles they have
been able to offer only a weak and disunited
opposition. As u consequence one conces-
sion after another has been yielded to the
Slavs, until now Slav influence threatens TO
inundate the whole OF Austria, The bitter
struggles OF the past two years have made
the Germans realize that II they are to cope
with their opponents successfully they
must cease disputing among themselves on
small political issues and must stand to-
gether as a race.
II Is the realization OF this necessity that
has given birth to the movement known as
Pan-Germanism. The recent and almost
universal celebration OF BIsMARcK's birth
day throughout German-speaking Austria
shows the depth and strength Of the new
feeling. Pan-Germanism aims not only at
the solidarity OF the Germans in Austria,
but OF all Germans; in other words, 1t Is
trying to pave the way for the admission OF
German Austria into the empire Of the
Hohenzollerns The union Of Austria with
Prussia has for many years been advocated
by u small knot Of statesmen in Vienna as
the only possible bulwark against the ad-
vance OF the Slav. One great difficulty
stands in the way OF their success. The
Austrian Germans are mostly Catho-
lies, and there is no reason to believe
that Kaiser WILHELM Ii. is at all anxious to
increase the already preponderating power
Of the Catholic Centre in the Reichstag by
receiving into his empire several million
subjects OF the same religion. From this
dilemma there Is but one escape-the con-
version Of the Germans in Austria to Prot
estantism, and this means OF escape is being
widely adopted.
Away from Rome is the watchword OF
the new Pan-Germanism. There is no more
interesting movement in Europe to-day
than this secession Of the German-speaking
Austrians from the Catholic Church for
political and nationalist purposes. 1t is
made the more easy because the priesthood
has always set itself against German lib
eralism and encouraged the Entertainments
ofthe Czechs upon German authority.
Pan-Germanism has for its main object
the preservation Of the German element in
Austria. II this can be effected by putting
a final stop to Slav concessions the move
ment may die away without further results.
II it cannot-and the time for such a pos
sibility seems to have passed it Is not
unlikely that the assistance OF their breth-
rem across the border will be steadily ap-
pealed for. What is certain is that the 10y
atty OF the Germans TO the House OF Haps-
burg is strained almost to breaking point,
and that some conspicuous act Of favor
is necessary to keep it intact. Nor is
this the only difficulty the Ministry will
have to face on the meeting OF the Reichs-
rath. In all parts of Austria, in Galicia
especially, there is the severest agricultural
distress, with its usual accompaniment OF
political discomfort. The country is still
being governed, illegally, as the Germans
contend, under an emergency paragraph in
the Constitution. The fiscal relations be-
tween Austria and Hungary are not yet on
a satisfactory basis, and beyond the Dor
ders OF the realm are Germany and Russia,
awaiting the outcome with more interest
and anxiety than it is polite to show.