Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-31
TROUBLESOME HUNGARIAN CRISIS

The ministerial crisis In Hungary has
been very long and difficult. On the
29th OF September Dr.
Prolonged wekerIe president OF
n,n.,,,.,.s the council. announced
in the Hungarian par
lament the resignation of the cabinet
The minister recalled that in July last
the ministry consented to continue the
direction of affairs until the meeting Of
parliament The delay having expired
the cabinet again resigned with the
prayer to the emperor-king to be re-
lieved OF its functions.
To that declaration the retiring presi-
dent Of the council added that the Goa
lition in the cabinet had ceased to exist
and that in consequence he had recon-
mended to the sovereign to receive M.
Francis Kossuth In his quality as presi-
dent of the independence party. which
constitutes the majority in the parha-
ment.
M. Wekerle said that he had proposed
to the king the adoption of a reform In
the suffrage and the maintenance Oh
the community OF a common bank: ne
desired certainly the economical moe
pendence of the country, not Simply the
form and appearance OF independent
which would mark in truth step
backward. He would have wished also
that the state of Hungary should nave
it's distinctive mark in military embiems
and that the Hungarian languaee
might be admitted I'm the army. fhese
propositions were not sustained In tne
council OF ministers by the kossuth
party. NJ. Wekerle closed with the state
ment that he and his colleagues would
Quit their posts with the CONSCIOUSNESS
Of having honestly accomplished their
The wekerle cabinet. It should be re-
called. came to power April 0. 1905. IS
a coalition ministry. 1t proposed TO
change the exceptional regime prac-
ticed by Count Tisza and Gen. Fe5er-
vary. 1t would facilitate the relations
between the crown and the Magyar ma
tionalists. It's composition and the con-
ditions under which II had been con-
stituted limited its influence to govern
only through compromises, part or
which was given to each fraction or the
majority.
During several months the combination
worked as well as could be expected. but
there were Incompatible
Party ties. Soon after the con-
r.. flict broke out. when the
tIonal party and those of the peoples
party resolved to hold exactly to the
terms Of the arrangement concluded with
the crown. the cabinet members Of the
independence party wished to introduce
tho question of the bank; that is to say,
prepare the creation Of Hungarian bank
when the privileges Of the Austro- Hun
garian State Bank had expired. Finally
the independence party divided upon the
question OF the electoral law. NJ. Kossutfl
and his friends favored the project of
Count dAndressy plural vote and public
ballot. while M. Justh and his partisans
were in favor OF universal suffrage. pure
and simple. Weakened by dissensions, the
Wekerle cabinet resigned as long ago as
the end OF April, but 1t retained power
until now.
What is now the parliamentary s'tua-
ton? On one side there are 24O deputies
belonging to the independence party II
comprises opportunists and intractab1es.
who are not always at peace and who.
upon the question of universal suffrage
notably. are of widely different views.
But II Is nevertheless the most numerous
group in the chamber. and in its relation.
with the crown II is united under the lead
erShin of NJ. Francis kossuth. Then come
the liberals and the clerico-populists. who
have declared that they will maintain
about $50 deputies. Finally there are
sixty members Of the lower chamber
which remain isolated. and il. indeed. they
should join the liberal-clerical union It
would not suffice to hold in check the In
dependence party.
In q parliamentary sense It Is the indie
pendence party to which the emperor
king should turn in order
Independence to form a cabinet. But
the intentions OF the
&fos'a"' party are very well
known. 1.-The program Of our party
said NJ Kossuth, should mean, first OF
all. the economical independence OF Hun
gary and electoral reforms based upon
universal suffrage" The next step Of the
independence party is the establishment
Of the Hungarian bank from the COM
mencement OF 1911. 1t is that innovation,
more than all else perhaps, which Is re-
pugnant to Francis Joseph. who sees I'm 1t
the breaking Of the ties which unite the
two parts Of the monarchy. The gravity
Of the Hungarian crisis. In view of this
situation. cannot escape the attentive ap-
probation of all Europe.
NJ. Francis Kossuth. In an audience
with the emperor-king on the Sd instant,
submitted the program of the indepen-
dence party. should 1t be called to power.
1t would proceed Immediately to realize
the proposed electoral reforms based upon
universal SUFFRAGE. but tax ng into &C
count the principle of Magyar hegemony
in Hungary. The independence party
would maintain its opinions on the SUBJ
ject Of the creation OF a bank of the
state of Hungary. and the separation of
the customs service of Austria Hungary.
The party, however, would not object to
according the present system a short de-
lay. Finally. the party would not de-
mand the concessions as to the army
provided that the present electives and
credits were not augmented.
The sovereign discussed the situation
Kossuth. The latter complained of the
opposition of Austrian Christian social
lists against the eventual nomination of a
cabinet chosen from the inde-endence
party. "The Christian socialists" sad
NJ. Kossuth. "have nothing to do with the
interior affairs OF Hungary. and before
they have re-established order in Austria
they should not seek to create disorder In
Hungary"
It Is well to refer just here to the re-
lations Of Hungary to Austria, that 1t
may enable us to prop
Austrian erly appreciate events
which from this d stance
@o"'ioo may appear vague and
obscure. The constitution OF the king
dom of Hungary, including Hungary
proper and Croatia Slavonia. dates from