The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-01-20
FRANZ JOSEPH IS ILL
;, and Death EXPECTED
Demise of Aged Monarch Would o.
casion Complications of Serious Ma
ture, II Is Feared-Hus Successor
Not Popular.

LOHuOn, january zU.-hecenJ re
ports as to the i'll health of Emperor
Franz Joseph of Austria-Hungary have
caused some alarm in British diplo
matte circles. The aged emperor is
said to be in low state of vitality
and his death at any time would not
be surprising. What will transpire in
the dual monarchy he has ruled so
well, in the event of his death, is now
an interesting subject of discussion
among those interested in European
politics.
According to those who keep in
touch with foreign affairs and who
understand the mysteries of continent
tai politics and intrigues, that which
would happen in the event of the
death of the old emperor depends en-
tirely upon the strength and individ-
uality Of the archduke who will sue
coed to the throne. And of Archduke
Franz Ferdinand not enough is known
here to justify positive declarations.
In late years he has demonstrated
more conspicuous capacity for state
craft, a more intimate understanding
of his future duties, deeper syma-
thy with the heterogeneous elements
that compose his country. For many
years the emperor has held together
the loose parts of his empire, some
times arbitrarily, in the hollow of his
hand, as it were, but always plainly
with mind to perserve its integrity
and harmonic the jealous it's factions.
Now as he is about to lay down the
work, which remains undone, and
when Franz Ferdinand ascends the
throne he will find conditions well
calulcated to try his mettle as a mon
arch. In Hungary, loosely held to
he will be harrassed by lead
ers who for years have been searching
for a pretext upon which to hang a
declaration for autonomous govern
ment, leaders who have been fostering
the ever present desire for absolute
The first misstep of
the new ruler would precipiate the
crisis, whose present existence is de-
he'd. That Kaiser Wilhelm should fer
ment trouble in the house of his neigh
Dor is a prediction which finds but
few believers here. Diplomats and
statesmen do not place as much cred
ence in the current stories of Kaiser
Wilhelm "boundless ambitions" as the
of these stories profess.
Kaiser Wilhelm has been a power for
pease, and that he will remain such
is the general expectation. In face,
assurances that Germany casts no
covetous eye upon the German-speak-
ing provinces of Austria has been Of
ficially lodged with the Georman en-
bassy here.
1t is pointed out that the Pan-Ger-
man party in Austria has received no
from the kaiser and
hat the dream for a southwark ex-
ension of the German empire has long
been renounced. Yet it is stated with
10 lack of force, that If Germany is
o become really great naval power,
f she is to play conspicuous part
n the politics of the Mediterranean,
ler path lies through the German
provinces of Austria to the Adriatic.
Even If that be Germany's ambition,
the answer is made that the time is
not ripe TO rthe execution of such a
program. Hungary and Bohemia
would rise against it. Italy would
not support her ally's contention, for
IN case of dismemberment Italy her.
self might lay claim to Istria and
Dalmatia, where the Italian tongue is
spoken; and Russia, France and Great
Britain would resent so marked dis
turbance of the equilibrium of Eu-
rope. Yet the shadows of all these
questions. If not their substance, will
confront the ruler who succeeds to
the throne of Austria-Hungary in the
event of the death of Franz Josef.
How well equipped Franz Ferdinand is
to cope with them remains to be seen.
Under the tutelage of his uncle, the