New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-06-26
THE PROGRESS OF HUNGARY.

The announcement that the Ausgeich be-
tween Austria and Hungary has been arranged
according TO the interests and wishes Of the lat
tor is suggestive Of one OF the most remarkable
bits of national development the Europe OF this
century has seen. Men now living remember
when Hungary was nothing but Crown col
ony OF Austria. ruled arbitrarily by an Aus
trlan archduke. After n weary struggle It's
status was so far improved that It became nom
inally an independent kingdom and an equal
partner In the Dual Realm. For many years,
however. II was the weak member, sighted
and ignored TO the utmost degree Not until
within the last dozen years has Hungary really
been treated rs the peer OF her Clslehan
neighbor. One important step was gained
few years back when the sovereign consented
to make the Hungarian capital the seat of a
royal residence, and actually TO reside there
for n short time each year Now more than
that has been gained. Budapest has been made
the imperial capital Jointly and equally with
Vienna. The Vennese used to sing There is
but one Kaiser and one Kaser-town"' That
boast ended when Kaiser was seated at Ber-
lin. But now there Is another Kaser-t0wn
within the Dual Realm itself For six months
of the year Vienna will still enjoy her glories.
Court. the Imperial Ministries and the lega-
tons Of foreign Powers will all be seated ut
Budapest. or n truth. Hungary has arrived.
1t is not TO be wondered at that this Is so.
and that Hungary has become not only the
equal, but the dominant partner. In political
affairs. For one thing. Hungary has been
| united, or at any rate. far more united than
Austria The latter has been for years the
/ ta,ht
paralleled since the Middle Ages. The strng
gle between Teuton and Slav has dominated
all else The political activities and energies
OF the Cislelthan Empire have boon devoted to
and exhausted in utterly Improbable domestic
dissenslOns. On the other hand. Transleithana
has been working straight along lines OF do
nestle improvement harmonzlDg differences
! and building herself up into strong, compact
and homogeneous nation Again, the spirit OF
Austria has been and is distinctly reactionary.
Church and State still united and the for
mer dominates the latter. Religious equality
Is still denied. Greed hatrpds are fostered.
Jew-batlng has been officially sanctioned. In
| Hungary. the contrary. progress rules the
day Religious determinations have been abol-
ished Liberal education has been promoted.
The kingdom is to-day one OF the most liberal
|
should be false TO American ideas II we did
not believe that such progress is source of
strength and that 10 II Hungary largely owes
her rise In influence in imperial affairs.
What the outcome Of 1t all will be Is one OF the
most interesting questions for the near future
TO answer The answer will probably not come
until there Is n change OF sOverelgns, and that
unhappIly in the natural order OF things can
not be postponed for many years. When the
restraining influence Of the present Emperor
one OF the wisest and best OF soveregns. Is
removed. the forces Of disorder and Of dlssou
ton in Austria will have full sway. The Ger
mans are now clamoriDg for Incorporation into
the German Empire. The Slavs are looking Il
the Russian Car MS their Little Father
And It Is within the limit, not only Of possibl
ties but Of probabilities. that attempts will BE-
made TO carry out these revolutionary plans
Such a movement would be, for reasons which