The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-11

hS'O lioSNu VhO representative Va WY
Magyars in a minority. OF the two ways
by which a violation of the Constitution
and a temporary reversion to absolutism
could be averted-namely; a recourse to
revolution, or a compromise the Magyar
leaders have followed the latter.
Both parties gain by the compro-
mise, though at first sight it seems that
the sovereign has the advantage. The
chiefs VI the coalition have renowned
for the present the demand that the
Hungarian flag and Hungarian words
Of command shall be used in the Hun
garian army. That was an innovation
to which the Emperor-King had firmly
refused assent, on the ground that it
would be fatal to the conference and
efficiency of the military forces of the
Dual Monarchy. The passive resistance
hitherto offered in Hungary to the col
lection of taxes and to the replenish-
ment Of the army with oonsoripts will
now cease. The new Ministers have
promised to pass the budget for the year
19O5.oe, which hitherto the coalition has
refused to do. They have also prom
ised to ratify the international COM
mercial treaties recently concluded by
the sovereign with Germany and some
other countries and to maintain the
existing relations between Austria and
Hungary.
1t is further understood that while
the Table Of Deputies to be chosen this
month will be returned under the old
limited election law, the new Parliament
will be asked to pass a bill adopting uni
versal suffrage, after which a second
general election will be held, and the
Table Of Deputies then elected will be
called upon to deal with the military
demands above mentioned and to de-
fine NEW the rights OF the Crown under
the Constitution. The franchise in Hun
gary, except IN the case of the learned
professions, depends on the payment of
a tax, not large, but varying in size
according to the nature Of the property
or income on which it is assessed,
and varying also according to locality.
Moreover, while any possessor OF the
franchise who is "a years old is eligible
to the Office OF Deputy, it hitherto
has been provided that he must speak
Magyar. AS a majority of the in-
habitants Of the country cannot speak
that language they have been barred
out of the Table of Deputies, except
the Croats, to whom forty members are
conceded. Permission to use their own
tongue in Parliament is also granted to
the Croats. We presume that after the
new electoral law is passed not only
the Magyars and Croats, but the Ger
mans, Rumanians, Serbs and other
Slavs will be allowed to use their own
languages in the popular branch Of
Parliament. That is to say, the re-
formed Table of Deputies will be even
more m%ultilingual than the Swiss Ma
tional Council, in which either German,
French or Italian may be employed,
all laws passed being published in the
three tongues.
Not only have the coalition leaders
prevented a suspension of the Hungarian
Constitution, but if universal suffrage
is to come it Is obviously expedient that
the law providing for it shall be framed
by themselves rather than by their
political opponents. They have doubt
less come to the conclusion that although
the Magyars are ~outnumbered by the
aggregate of the other racial compo-
nents Of the Hungarian people, yet, as
they constitute a compact and homo
geneous body, whereas the other factors
have no common tie, they should find
it easy to form a preponderant combi-
ton, especially as most of the other
races have had no political experience,
whereas the Magyars have shown an
extraordinary capacity for self-govern-
ment since 1867, as is proved by the
immense growth of Hungary's material
prosperity.
1t is probable enough that the COM
promise reached at the last moment
between the Emperor-King FRANCIS
JOSEPH and his Magyar subjects was
brought about through pressure from
Berlin. The outcome Of the Algeciras
Conference must have convinced the En-
peror WILLIAM III. that he had but one
friend in Europe, and that consequently
the strength of his Hapsburg ally must
not be weakened by internal dissension.