New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1901-05-12

work to establish an administration of the prov
inCes on a European and civilized basis, with
the recognition of equal rights to Christians and
MahOmetans, and by degrees has transformed
the provinces from outposts of barbarsm, and
from the worst example of Oriental tyranny
oppression and misgovernment, into prosperous
and we'll administered portions of civilized
and progressive European empire. Magnificent
roads, railroad lines and canals traverse
Bosnia and Herzegovina in every direction. In
dustres of all kinds flourish; rights of property
and of person secure full recogniton no dis
elimination is made between Christians and
Mahometans, the religions of each receiving Of
fetal and financial recognition by the State.
while members Of the two creeds, instead of
being in state of continual and fierce warfare
as in times gone by live together in such
amity that finds Christians yielding ready
obedience to the Mahometan headmen of their
villages and Mahometans according similar def
erence to their Christian superiors. To accom-
plish all this has cost great deal of money
But at length the provinces self paying
basis and among the most prosperous and best
governed of the Austro- Hungarian Empire.
OF course no one magines for one moment
that after all this trouble and expense Austria
would be willing to restore Herzegovina
and Bosnia to the Sultan, and, indeed, it would
be a downright crime against the laws OF civili-
cation to condemn the two provinces to a relapse
into barbarism, which would necessarily follow
their restitution the Sublime Porte. What
then, is the reason for Austria's wishing to
transform her occupation into actual annexa-
lion? 1t is. In the first place that full industrial
and commercial development of the provinces
is to a certain degree impeded by the idea that
the title of Austria to these dependencies is in
complete, and that the permanency of her tenure
Is not fully assured. Moreover, political agita
tors encourage the idea that in course OF time
Servia and Montenegro, now divided by the
provinces in question, may join hands across
them and absorb them into one single
State. constituting n revival of the oldtime
Servian Empire of the Middle Ages. Besides II
Is felt that the Hapsburg monarchy being made
up Of so many more or less rival races and
nationalities united by ties that are in the main
dynastic. it is polite to amagamate as far as
possible all the divergent elements and to have
all titles clear and clean. since. in the event
Of any dynastic troubles in Austria Hungary. or
my internal disturbances following upon the
death of Francis Joseph Russia or some other
bower might, as the stands now. find
pretext for the seizure of Herzegovina and
Bosnia the ground that Austria Hungary
was no longer in a position TO fulfil its duties as
Mandatory of the great powers In connection
with these dependencies. The Emperor Of Aus
ir!a is old man of over seventy. who
FEELS that the end Of his reign cannot be much
longer delayed. and with the interests of his
dynasty and OF his people at heart he wishes TO
set his house in order before he is gathered 10
his fathers. He is anxious before he dies 10
remove everything that can be source of
weakness or difficulty to his successor, and like
Il sound business man. To leave nothing but clean
and clear titles to all his possessions.
That is why negotiations are now in progress
with the various signatOry powers Of the Treaty
Of Berlin, with a view TO the definite annexation
of Herzegovina and Bosnia to the Austro- Hun
EaTan Empire, and while neither Russia nor