The Washington herald., 1907-09-01
EVENTFUL SEPTEMBER
Many Notable Anniversaries to Be Celebrated
This Month.
ny Ex-ATTACHE.

ny Ex-ATTACHE.
September is Of all months in the year
the one in which occur the largest num-
Der Of festivals and anniversaries Of ma
tional Importance in various parts of the
world. No less than seven republics Of
the western hemisphere-namely, Brazil.
Chile. Guatemala. Costa Rica. Honduras.
Nicaragua, and San Salvador-celebrate
during the coming three weeks the ami
versary OF their national Independence
and emancipation from the rule Of mon
archical Europe near ninety years ago.
And tomorrow patriotic Germans In all
quarters Of the globe will be commem-
Grating. in customary Teutonic fashion,
their great victory over the French at
Sedan. where Napoleon III and his entire
army were compelled to surrender to the
late Emperor William. II is doubtful
whether there will be any official observ-
ance Of the day in Germany. The Kaiser
and his government are endeavOring TO
conciliate France, and to assuage by
every means in their power that Gallo
bitterness against Germany which con-
stitutes a standing. though. fortunately,
diminishing menace TO the maintenance OF
the peace OF Europe. Were 1t not for the
danger OF France endeavoring some day
10 recover her lost provinces of Alsace-
Lorraine, and TO avenge her crushing de-
feat at the hands of the Germans, il
would ne possible 10 proceed to that In
ternational disarmament which is sup
posed to constitute the principal aim OF
the peace congress of The Hague. Ger
many cannot afford 10 diminish her mill
tary strength as long as there is any pos
sibiiity Of a conflict with France, brought
about either by popular chauvinism, OF
by political expediency, on the banks OF
the Seine. and France. on her side, quite
naturally processes herself unable 10 re-
duce her ornaments as long as those OF
/ Germany are maintained at their present
strength. Little. by little, however, the
animosity Of the French toward Ger
many is dying out A new generation has
arisen, which knows Of the horrors OF in
vasion Of its "Patrie" only by hearsay
instead Of by sad experience. The cTay-
ing fer Ga revanche'' Is gradually dying
out, and providing that no attempt Is
made to unduly and tactlessly hasten the
work Of reconciliation, and that the Ger
mans continue 20 show consideration for
the feelings Of their neighbors on the
other side Of the Vosges. by avoiding any
too public and official celebration of the
French defeat at Sedan, friendship
based on trade. which is now developing
in an altogether phenomenal manner,
will eventually take the place OF the
former hatred existing between the two
countries.
Two DAYS later. that is to say. or
Wednesday, the present French republic
will complete the thirty-seventh year OF
its existence span Of life which seems
to indicate that the French are now
definitely committed TO this American
form OF government. The first French
republic lasted twelve years. Then came
the first empire, which was oyerthrown
at the end Of a decade. The country was
then subjected 10 the Bourbon regime
during sixteen years. and after that 10
the sway Of King Louis Philippe. Of the
House % Orleans. for eighteen years.
Then followed the second republic, which
came TO a close with the sanguinary
coup d'etat four years later; and after
that Napoleon III Feigned for eighteen
years. up 10 the time of the proclamation
Of the present republic, on the memorable
September I, 1870 when, on the news II
the disaster at Sedan. Empress Eugenie
was compelled 10 abandon the Teins OF gov
eminent as regent and TO flee TO Eng
Hand. From this IL will be seen that the
present republic has now been in eX-
istence more than twice as long as any
other form OF government in the last
hundred years. But little attempt will
be made 70 celebrate the anniversary.
September Is the month when the !egis-
lature has suspended its sessions, and
when ministers. officials. politicians, and,
in fact, all who can afford TO do so.
are seeking rest and relaxation in the
country. II is, perhaps. on this account
that the French prefer TO celebrate their
national birthday, not on September 4,
but on July H. that is to say, the ami
versary Of the storming Of the Bastile,
when much the same festivities take place
as those employed in the United States
on Independence Day.
On Tuesday week solemn services viii
be held in every church and cathedral
throughout the dominions Of Emperor
Francis Joseph. and. indeed. in every
Austrian and Hungarian community in
foreign lands, in memory Of the murder
OF Empress Elizabeth, on September 10.
1898, that is TO say, in the very year that
her husband was celebrating the COM
pletIon of the half-century of his reign.
Nine years have elapsed since this
abominable, and. even from an anarchist
point Of view. wholly useless and indie
feasible assassination Of a blameless wOm-
an. whose entire life was spent in the re-
lief Of suffering and misery, and TO whom.
more than to anybody else. the Hun
garians are indebted for the restoration
of their constitution and of their indie
pendence. And each of these nine years
has served TO still further strengthen her
hold upon the hearts of her people. and
TO increase the brightness of the halo by
which her image is surrounded in their
memory. There is scarcely a city OF q
town that mas not erected some memorial.
either IN the shape Of statue or OF
some philanthropic institution, in her
honor and il Is no exaggeration TO
assert that this gracious lady, who was
so little understood by the public at large
during her life, has now attained, as the
martyred Empress" almost as much low
ing reverence as if she enjoyed all the
honors Of eanonization. Francis Joseph,
who is a frequent visitor to the metal
sarcophagus that contains the remains of
his so deeply mourned consort. always
remains a particularly long time on the
morning Of the anniversary of her death
In lonely prayer in that vault of the
Capucin Church ct Vienna where repose
more than 200 members OF the House of
Hapsburg. and where in the ordinary
course of events-he was seventy-seven
a fortnight ago-he must ere long take
his place between his murdered wife and
his even still more tragically destroyed
only son.