The Washington times., 1906-03-10
FRANCIS JOSEPH
WOULD BE CAR
Hungarians Accuse Him of
Planning Absolutism.
SERvIA BECOMES DANGEROUS
Austrian Emperor Must Face Posi-
bIlity of Balkan States Joining
Huns in Pan-SIavic War.

VIENNA. March 1e.-The outlook in
Hungary is darker than ever. Count
Apponyi, at Miskoltz, has issued a
statement to tho effect that absolute
ism mas thrown of its last mark" In
asmuch as .'absolutism' can only mean
the Emperor Francis Joseph. it can
readily be understood that the state
ments OF the Hungarians in this Aus
tro-Hungarian crisis come pretty
close to the danger point
However. so far as Hungary is con-
cerned II must be admitted that il ap-
pears TO be a conflict Of constitutional
ism versus absolutism, with absolutism
at present triumphant Just what will
finally result from this attenpt TO
govern without parliament no living
man can foresee. 1t must in any event
mean q sacrifice of the present en-
peror's life-work. and 1T would finally
destroy the splendid edifice reared by
Deaks labors. Francis Joseph is the
first Hapsburg sovereign who has ever
obtained the confidence Of the Hun
garlan people, and they would probably
1eel even more bitter against him than
they did against his predecessors, JO-
sepn II, francis II. and Ferdinand '.
Empress Doubts Magyars.
There is a widespread feeling in
Hungary that the position OF Emperor
Francis Joseph on the army question
is due to lack of confidence in Magyar
loyalty, and this naturally does not
tend TO make the Magyars more loyal.
Until the die is actually cast il is, per-
haps, just as well to abtain from all
speculation as to the final outcome of
these attempts at absolutism in Hun
gary on the part of the emperor. Tn
81 Fa =
TO know just what course to take even
from the standpoint Of the absolute
monarch, pure and simple.
But it is peculiarly unfortunate that
the Hungarian crisis should reach its
height at the very moment that the con-
st1tution in Austria was being placed
on basis more democratic than ever
known in this part Of the world.
Hope for Mediation.
It is hoped by singularly able medi-
ators like NM Szeli, Lukacs. and Wek-
erie that an eleventh hour agreement
can be reached. It is argued that the
continuation of the crisis will certainly
weaken Austria Hungary IN the con-
cert Of nations just as the troubles in
Russia have left the Gear no longer
force TO be reckoned with. for the pres
ent at least-just as the separation of
OF Sweden of even more than one-half
his power and prestige.
The internal trouble of Austria-Hun-
gary is probably one OF the chief causes
OF the daring attitude of her formerly
almost Insignificant neighbor. Servia, in
the matter of the customs union with
Bulgaria. If Servia and several of the
Balkan states made common cause
with Hungary against Emperor Francis
Joseph and Austria. it is by no means
certain that the Austrians could do any
more than hold their own
In this connection NJ. KOssuth's as
sertions that Hungary has no aims in
the Balkans win be recalled. However,
those who know NJ. Kossuth best say
that his object ia this connection. was
not so much to proclaim the disinter-
este6ness of Hungary, as to draw at
tention TO Austria's sinister designs of
expansion in Macedonia. and thus 10 en-
list Balkan sympathy in the Magyar
cause