New-York tribune., 1907-06-08
ST. STEPHENS GROWN.
Forty Years Ago To-day 1t Vas
Assumed by Francis J0seph.

rnaperor Francis Joseph is celebrating TODAY a.
Budapest the fortieth anniversary of. his corona
zion as King Of Hungary with the crown of 81
q.ephon. and Il is 10 be feared that the popular en-
,-usiasm which remarkable a feature Of
mat memorable ceremony will be conspicuous bv
,,s absence to-day. The celebration of twoscore
,-aars ago meant the reconciliation of Hungary
NH, austria a footing of two sister enlpires
ard revival Of all the Magyar loyalty and de-
,,o,fon 10 the house of Fapsburg. which played
en- memorable a role at the time when the Hun
rsrian maEnates pledged themselves TO die for
Fr1press Maria Theresa during the Seven Years
War Tho celebration to-day finds Austria and
+5pngary further apart and more embttered
seajnst each other than ever. the loyalty OF the
Nagrars 10 the Hapsburg dynasty reduced to Its
lowest ebb, and the kindly, sagacious old Emperor
es having forfeited all the affection to which he
Is entitled and which for many years he enjoyed
in Hungary.
separatist doctrines have been carried 10 the
most absurd lengths in Hungary. where statesmen
and PEOPLE seem TO he unable to understand that
~ cut adrift from Austria they Will sink to the
level Of q third or fourth rate power and that
,bev hold Croatia, which furnishes two-thrds of
their population and even a still greater per-
ce7tage Of their industry, trade and wealth. solely
bv the grace and assistance of Austria. We're
Hungary cut loose from Austria and to pro-
claim herself independent OF the rule OF the En-
nercr. Croatia would at shake off the hated
Magyar yoke which has been of an extremely op-
rressiye and despotic nature and would thus leave
Hungary a small. weak and altogether unimpor-
+a-t kingdom. = one-horse power in every sense
Of the word. The Croatians, I may add, are de-
voted 10 Francis Joseph. who talks to them I'm
trelr Own language. instead OF compelling them to
use the Magyar tongue, do their Hungarian
governors and officials. Moreover, the Croatians
know that the Emperor. who has recently brought
about the introduction Of universal suffrage in
Austria in the face Of immense amount Of op-
position is endeavoring to introduce the same
franchise in the Hungarian portions Of his do
rnnions so as TO give the Croauans voice in the
affairs Of the nation. from which they have been
until now excluded by their Hungarian fellow citi-
gsns When universal suffrage IS introduced into
Hungary. Il viii he If the Emperor has his way.
the Magyar domination Of Croatia and Transylva-
Ma will be 81 al end, and, owing to their great
numerical superiority. the Croatians viii be IN a
position 10 enforce in constitutional fashion their
civic rights. from which they have until now been
debarreG
That 5 the c--x Of the conflict now raging be-
tween re Emperor and The HUngarians, and the
disputes on the subject of military questions,
through his refusal 10 comply with Hungary's de-
rand for entirely distinct and separate army,
having no connection with that Of Austria are
merely a detail Of the conflict The Magyar poll
acians, who the doom Of their supremacy, are
fighting tooth and nail against the Emperor, and
have made use Of ali the means in their power TO
incita popular sentiment against him. That IS why
the 'Eljens.' by which he will be received to-day
IN Budapest will be much less enthusiastic than
those with which he greeted the morning
CT his coronation just forty years ago.