The sun., 1903-09-09
The Crisis In Austrta-Hungary.

The Crisis In Austria-Hungary.
The situation in Austria Hungary calls
to mind one of the legends told Of SALA-
DIN the Saracen.
On certain occasion famous swords
man of one of the crusading armies was
exhibiting before SALADIN his expert
ness with the sword. With equal skill
he severed bar of iron or cut in two
piece of fine silk floating in the air, with
his keen and well-tempered blade. SALA-
DIN expressed his admiration Of the in
fidel. and summoning one Of his own
most renowned performers and slave,
commanded the warrior to make cut
downward with his scimitar on the slave.
Asked if he had experienced any sensa-
ton, the slave replied that he had felt
as if chill had passed through him.
On being told to shake himself he fell
asunder.
1t would almost seem from the tone Of
the Vienna and Budapest papers that
Austria Hungary is approaching the
last in cident in the above legend. Pre-
pared for the blow struck by Prince
BISMARCK in 1865 by a series of events
dating back to the time Of the first Ma
poLEoN, the dual monarchy has been
waiting for the summons to act that
menaces it's cohesion. By the agree
ment made by the three Emperors in
1874 at Rastadt, Austria Hungary be-
came a party to the breaking up OF
Turkey which was then decided on, and
after the Congress Of Berlin, in 1878, she
received her first share of the plunder in
the provinces OF Bosnia and Herzego-
vina, and the reversion Of the Sandjak
of Novi-Bazar lying between Monte
negro and Servia, together with pledge
from Lord BEACoNsFIELD's Government
in England, ratified by private con-
vention later, according to Austria the
western Balkan country down to Salo-
MICA and the Greek frontier.
The sntagonism between Russia and
Austria that arose out OF this arrange
ment grew in bitterness; but circum-
stances favored Russia, and whatever
may be the issue Of the events now shap-
ing in the Near East, Austria can only
attain her aim by war or with the assent
of Russia. In the meantime her internal
conditions are such that the moment
of action threatens to be the signal for
the disruption of the monarchy. We
are told by the press Of the Austrian
and Hungarian capitals that the situa-
tiou is of the gravest, and that only the
threat Of abdication by the Emperor has
averted what might prove tragedy.
By the light of this exposure, 1t is
easier to understand the seriousness Of
the Russian action in sending its squad
ron into Turkish waters close to the
capital and the predominance OF Russia
generally in connection with the Balkan
troubles. Austria's weakness and trou-
bles are Russia's strength and oppor-
tunity, and unless the Magyar element
in Hungary renounces it's pretensions to
dictate to the other races OF the mon
archy east Of the Leitha and to dominate
them, political convulsion may follow
that will throw the Austrian part Of
the Empire-Kingdom into the grasp Of
Germany and leave the Magyars iso-
lated amid the Slavonic and Roumanian
races they have so long terrorized.
Next to the condition of things in
Turkey, the political situation In Austria
Hungary is of the deepest interest. The
more important Of the political leaders
in Hungary seem to understand their
responsibility, for it is said that Count
AFPoNYI, DR.. WEKERLE, and others who
have held up the banner Of ultra-Mag-
yarism, after their interviews with the
Emperor FRANCIS JOSEPH, left the capi-
tai without betraying their reflections by
word or gesture. Whether the Magyar
extremists and separatists will be willing
to subordinate themselves and cease their
agitation in the face of the crisis that may
be precipitated at any hour is matter
of great moment for, to a considerable
extent, the form the solution Of the
present troubles in European Turkey
must take depends on their doing So
On it depends probably the continued
existence under one head Of the Empire
Monarchy.
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