The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-03-10
By F|GHINGS WITHIN
Austria is Weakened to the
Point of Collapse.
IT Is RACE AGAINST RACE
Imperialism 0verdone Results
in a FeudaIiSm.

country. Political predominance has
passed from the hands of the Germans
into the grasp of the Federalist-S Slavic
combination.
Francis Joseph, in his effort to exalt his
personal power at the expense of Parlia-
ment and of the constitution. has sue
ceeded beyond his fondest hopes, and now
governs Austria by imperial ordinances.
The constitutions is a dead letter. The
army is becoming demoralized, Races
quarrels are multiplying. and slowly but
surely the moment of catastrophe ap-
proaches. The following statement oof the
situation, prepared in Vienna by Mihael
Hainisch for the Berlin Nation. is clear
and pointed:
Ii We fix our attention upon the develop
ent Of circumstances in Austria during the
year 1898, it is a gloomy picture that un-
olrls before our eyes. The year began
under the impression produced by the
riots of Prague, and by the violent at
tack of Badeni upon the rights of Parlia-
ment.
1t is true that Badeni himself had fallen,
and that the proclamation of martial law
in Prague had had a soldering effect upon
the mob and upon those behind il. But
the ministry of Baron Gautsch was a min
istry OF expediency formed in order 10
overcome the difficulties of the moment.
Its days were Numbered beforehand, not
only because there was nor in the min
istry a single man Of broad political ideas,
but also because its freedom of action in
every direction was hampered by the too
great Influence of the feudal nobility.
Baron Gautsch was not even able to re-
place Count Coudenhove. Governor of Be-
hemia, who had shown his entire lack of
ability during the Prague riots. by more
suitable person, in spite of the fact that
he would then have been in the condition
to end or at least to modify the German
Bohemian struggle. So Baron Gautsch
| soon gave place to Count Thun, a feudal
of the good old stamp. who. after a few
hardly genuine attempts to make peace
| between Germans and Czechs,, threw him
self completely in the arms of the Slavic
/ Feudal majority. Since that time the
! constitution in Austria has practically
| been suspended. Ordinances replace the
laws although the minority long ago
| gave up obstruction in Parliament BY
| this means the difficulties are only yelled.
in no way removed.
! The national differences have not be-
come less. on the contrary, they have ac-
| centuated, and the crisis mas passed to
Hungary and there created awful con-
/ fusion. 1t would have been strange If
| the desperate political situation bod not
had its influence on economic conditions.
And so We see in Austria an Industrial
| stagnation, such has not occurred before
| for years the effect Of which is lessened
to some extent only by the fact that the
| year 1898 brought an exceptionally good
/ harvest, which helped particularly the
sugar industry On the whole. however,
the mining industry alone can-and that
because Of its ruthless use of a monopoly
| brought about by the formation of a trust
look back upon satisfactory results. The
textile industry IS passing through
| severe crisis and numerous other indus
tries like the paper industry have been
forced to reduce their output
Even the last and frmest pillar OF the
monarchy no longer stands entirely unin-
jured by the flames Grillparzer was able
| TO exclaim to General Radetsky: f'Where
your camp is there is Austria" Since that
! timethere have been many changes. Not
| only have dierent regulations of the army.
such as that which perscribes the use Of
the German language. been made the sub
ject of hostile agitation, but the army
itself. as a result Of the universal con-
scription, the arrangement Of the reserve
officers etc. stand in far closer relation
| 10 the people than ever before And. al
| though severe discipline suppresses the
| national differences among the troops. and
although on account OF the veil that Is
! spread over all military occurances. but
little can force its way TO publicity. II
IS yet an open secret that the traces Of
Reorganization are already beginning to
show themselves in the corps Of officers.
What. then, Is the cause of this general
! confusion? It Is the language regulations
and the consequent obstructive policy Of
! the Germans, which have to rent austria:
or do the causes lie s;iH deeper?
! II has often been said me existence of
Austria was 81 necessary to Europe that
If il did not already exist It would be
necessary 10 create II. The idea Intended
by this IS that because il IS difficult n
/ unite the different parts Of Austria 70
| existing nations these parts themselves
must be welded together into a greater
whole. Thus the task tist Austria mas
to fulfn as a state - b described
as simply negative.
But y one takes into consideration how
Austria developed one can scarcely come
70 any other conciusI Of than that il IS the
/ family property of the Hapzburrs. rno
exerred themselves % strengthen u By
marriage and Inheritance IT order 90 lend
the necessary power 10 thc position o. TIE
rurlror IN the C,aTy---a7- sr~,rf~a
The old German empire - a .hsnz q
long ago. and even the last re between
/ Germany and Austria nae been loosened
The family power q the Hapssargs has.
on ,he whole. remained intact But x does
r7- deny i-s origin For. even today ths
dynasty IS the strongest bond vthat holds
toge-h her the parts % the empire ttat a.
fe z-3 nuca IN culture and N Ea5ienalsty
4 f1s.nE % The different countries tato
I ere nation - TIE political seasefof t1s
( words t7- instance ia Sz.-zerlz and
azs ~. taken p.zce-fTs, beca csc thsrc
-as a.wzrs been licking conscious and
ssr-s--tr=5 policy; and. second becz 1es
x has z@eue1 = D. ere Interest q -he
--ax- 90 preserve a certain feusss1 hs-
tween t1e different ns-.scsI.fles Tae d.
/ -eer result % 1;his u5-cy 1as bz4E re
Z he.za-en1us 60 sEca an extent q s.1er-
{ pr1ss .hz- a--ez8y existed tast ;hs lie
z ~ state - s=riosssy endangered w-ts
regard rc sh.s nothing car - pore SIX
nlsceat tsaz tae ~ ssas tas reusEal =
ne Hunszr.ar -AurEie 30 49, - start
X 1or ~ -as prrssaz cEts.s
{ Aasg.escz wa= l-nx eavsi1z-s-i q dzrEnae-.
sr4 /. has osten aeeu asked g safz vvhat
( lsrr-F auvrrsz - +r@ yesr - So 81 rake