Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1900-09-20

droning of a mighty gong. A rhyth-
mical accompaniment was furnished by
the humping Of heavy rules against
wooden desks; and the pandemonlum
was augmented by the shrill sound OF
whistles of every description, and the
din of all sorts of noisy instruments
borrowed from the nursery.
This performance, euphoniously
designated as Construction was sys-
tematically carried out, according to a
hxed program, until long after mid
night, with the firm determination of
hindering the proceedings of the diet.
Meanwhile, the other parties, listened
in mute establishment to the rendering
of the symphony. The president of the
diet, powerless by reason of a lack or
enactments making provision against
such disgraceful scenes, permitted hour
after hour thus to elapse, wh.le the de-
serted benches of the ministry stared
desolately into the beautiful hall thus
shamefully desecrated. The ministers
meanwhile held a council of war in a
neighboring dwelling; and there. as a
last resort, it was decided to awaken
the venerable monarch-then sojourn-
ing at his summer residence. Schoen-
brunn-at midnight, in order to secure
from him the necessary constitutional
permission to close the season.
Nothing could be more characteristic
of the unnatural conditions now pre-
yailing in Austria than this necessity
of disturbing the rest of venerable
and grief-stricken monarch. Yet the
disgraceful scene just described is by
no means unique in the modera parlia
mentary procedure of Austria, and
cite it merely as the most recent illus.
stration of a long series of similar
demonstrations. Fierce conflicts have
been repeatedly waged within the walls
of parliament: government and presl.
dency alike have been constantly sub.
jected to the vilest ridicule and abuse;
and on several occasions, indeed, it has
been found necessary to summon the
police to quell the tumult.
Apart from these external demon
STATIONS, the Austrian parliament has
for years ignored all legislative work
Of a serious nature. 1t has been found
necessary to pass most importan,
enactments, such as the Budget and the
decennial compromise with Hungary
in the form of defensive measures. Ia
the midst of an exampled economic
prosperity among neighboring nations
Austria is suffering from deep-seated
depression. Commerce and traffic are
languishing, and an industrial insecur-
ity has ensued which is Gripping capt.
tai and paralyzing enterprise. Despite
numerous natural advantages and the
frequently moderated industrial ca
pacity of the country, economic oppor-
tunities have been lost, exports have
declined, internal consumption has de-
creased, and the bourse, once so flour
ishing, has become impoverished.
Within two years the government has
changed six times, while a great pro-
portion of those eligible to the ministry
have already been called to the helm In
vain. All attempts to restore order
whether proceeding from the federal
government or the several parties, have
been futile. The destinies OF the ma
ton are involved in darkness and OBJ
security; and though the humblest citi-
zen realizes that this situation cannot
long continue, none has undertaken to
indicate the way in which order may
be constitutionally re-established.-
Maurice Baumfeld in the Forum.