The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1908-08-18
JOSEPH ]
HAS BIRTHDAY
RULER OF RIA-HUNGARY
GRANTS MANY PARDONS
TO SUBJECTS.

les majesty were among the features
of the celebration today of the 18th
bi-thdav of Emperor Francis Joseph.
Fetes were held throughout the dual
monarchy and there was great public
rejoicing everywhere. The emperor
himself spent the DAY quietly. as his
advancing age does not permit any
exertion. If he lives until December
next he will have reignad over Aus
tria for sixty years, a record equalled
by but few European monarchs of re-
cent times.
|, Never before was the emparors
birthday so generally observed as to-
day. Business was generally suspended
and all public offices and majority OF
shops and factories We're closed. Gala
performances were given at all thea
tiers The streets and boulevards for
which Vienna is famous were decorated
with flags as seldom before. In nearly
ali churches special thanksgiving SER
vices were held and attracted thou
sands of worshipers. Telegraphlc mes
sages of congratulation were received
by the aged emperor from nearly all
the reigning monarchs Of Europe.
Francis Joseph was proclaimed en-
peror of Austria on the abdication OF
his uncle Ferdinand L. on Dec. 2, 1S4S.
He was crowned King of Hungary,
June s. 1867. He married in 1854. Eliza
beth a daughter of Duke Macmillan
of Bavaria.
She was assassinated by an anar-
cihst at Geneva, September 10, 1898.
or the three children of the royal
pair. Crown Prince Rudolph committed
| suicide and the two daughters. the
Archduchesses Gisela and Marie, are
| ineligible to the throne. On the death
of Crown Prince Rudolph. in 1889. the
right OF succession passed to the en-
peror's brother, the Archduks Charles
Louis. who died IN 1895. His son. the
Archduke Francis Ferdinand, is the
presumptive heir to the throne. He
married in 1900, the Countess Sophie
! Chotek, but the union was inorganic
tic one. The emperor has a second
brother, the Archduke Louis Victor
The family is of the ancient Hapsburs
line. and is inclined to look upon other
European monarchs as of a mushroom
royalty.
The celebrations in honor Of Emper-
or Francis Joseph are not the forced
tributes of downtrodden subjects, but
are spontaneous testimonials to the
love and affection which this most gen
erous monarch is held by the people
There is no more popular ruler in the
world and he has WOE this popularity
by a uniform generosity and kindness
to his people ever since he mounted
the throne more than half a century
ago.
A keen observer of national cOndi-
tions once STYLED Emperor Francis 30
seph THE most universally respected
monarch in the world" The designation
is considered apt, for he is the last
of what may be called the "old school
of pOtentates
1t is this love and respect shown by
all classes which, in the trOublous times
Austria has experienced, justify the
statement that the empire in its pres
ent form will endure so long as EN-
peror Joseph lives, and it is because OF
realizing how much Of the Old emper-
or's power over his people is purely
personal that calm thinking men feal
aside, the turbulent factions will over
throw the entire government struct-
ure.
1t is strange empire over which he
rules An arbitrary wedding of 6
dozen races and nationalities, speak
ing as many tongues and without sym
pathy. he has made strong nation
from the medley, and it is said thai
with his death the empire may be dis
solved into the inharmoniouS cOmpo-
nent parts, for, however great may be
the mutual jealousies, all Of his sub
jects regard their emperor with love
and generation. Even after Sadowa
there was no talk of revolution.
A successor competent to rule the
quarreling nationalities which make
up the monarchy is not in sight. With
Crown Prince Rudolph's death ended
the life Of a man who, although abund-
antly supplied with the frailities OF
4 humanity, was nevertheless loved in
tensely by a large portion of the Aus
trian and Hungarian people. Had he
lived, temperance might have come
with mature years, and it is not impos-
sible that he might have developed
| q ol,or nfo