Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-09-13

Of the inhabitants had been not only
subjects of Napoleon, but his soldiers and
adherents.
The republican propaganda had been
eagerly embraced by professors and
man unity had labored for a generation
to achieve their object. Prussia had to
be included in this and the kingdom
was composed of diverse peoples, some
of whom bitterly resented being under
Prussian rule. In spite of many handl-
caps, external and internal, political.
social and industrial, the Kingdom
1ourished, when in 1910, Frederick
reign began auspiciously. but it was
soon seen that he did not favor any re-
forms. For seven years the people
tried to wiring from him the promise OF
was makeshift satisfactory to no one.
Then he said he would convene a
general assembly with two chambers.
the lords and the estates. But the re-
strictions were many and severe, and
it was expressly stated that there
would be no constitution The king
and the landtag. as the assembly was
called, locked horns over their respec-
tive demands and the latter was dis
solved by the king 1t was during this
session that there appeared in the par
lament young and ardent defender
of royalty, Otto Won Bismarck-Schon-
hansen, destined to play an important
part in world politics.
When Frances citizen king fed
from the mob, the Prussian monarch
called for new quadruple alliance and
asked Queen Victoria to join it. But
it was too late. All Germany and Prus-
sia. saw revolt Every government
free press, free speech, jury trials, a
constitution and the right of all class
es to bear arms were among the things
demanded. Workmen asked profit
sharing. and from the peasents came
a call for the abolition of several OBJ
noxious laws and conditions.
Mass meetings were everywhere held
and petitions were thrust at the min
listers and the kings. The socialists Il
new party, were very vocfferous. The
debates in diet and parliment were vio-
lent. The movement had some success
in certain quarters, and concessions of
a popular sort were granted. Else
where there were clashes and blood
shed. Ludwig of Bavaria capitulated
and abdicated. Even in states govern
ed by comparatively liberal rules fur
Their rights for the people were exact
ed. News of successful revolution
spurred the people of Germany and
Prussia on to radical demands.
troops against his people when he heard
of the Austrian downfall and Meter
nich's flight. He then saw his capital
invaded by his people and barbados
thrown up in the streets His ministry
began to resign. and in desperation he
signed a patent calling for combined
diet and a constitution.
Even in Austria the growth of the ma
tional spirit showed itself in the period
preceding 1s4s, the year Of revolutions.
The Czechs resented the preponderance
of German rule in Bohemia The foun-
dalton of their revolt was laid by the
movement to supplant the German with
the Czech tongue. In Hungary power
was held by the Magyar mobiles. The
Hungarians had constitution, but 1t was
a back number and did not represent the
popular will. The small oligarchy of no
bles ruled by feudal methods. One or
two influential voices were lifted for re-
form and against the sloth which had
paralyzed the country. but the Magyar
mobiles in the diet gave them no encour-
agement. The peasant and the petty no.
bility had no voice in legislation. They
were burdened by taxes imposed by the
ruling mobiles for their own use. This
powerful minority sought to impose on all
Magyar customs, but the Magyar Ian
guage as well.
Here we see Louis Kossuth arise to
champion the downtrodden, and with him
Francis Deak and other patriots. After
years of agitation, during which he suf-
fered Imprisonment and other persecu-
ton, he toured the world, arousing ma.y
nations to a sense of his peoples wrongs
He succeeded so well that by 1913 he be-
came the leader of the opposition in the
diet where his oratory carried every
thing before 1t.
He spoke not only for Hungary, but
for the whole people of Austria, and
one speech in March reused the nation.
Riots broke forth in many large cities
Mobs surrounded the palace and legis-
tive halls at Vienna ard denounced the
emperor and Metternich. The latter
fed to England and the country went
wild with joy. Hungary's diet was car
ried by the reformers, who passed laws
giving the country modern constitu-
ton and banishing all the out-of-date
acts which had made it feudal. The
press was freed, jury trials instituted,
and the fees and tithes heretofore ex-
torted from the peasants were swept
of the books.
4
Before the month was out Vienna
had acknowledged this practical indie
penOence u hungary, anu hoSsutA
battle was won. Similar demands by
Bohemia were granted. A national
constitution was adopted.
But the triumph was not long-lived.
The old fight in Hungary between Mag
var and the Croatians broke out. The
emperor dissolved the diet at Budapest
and appointed Croatian in command
Of all troops in Hungary. There were
riots In Vienna, where the revolution
lists drove the emperor out. The troops
came and took possession of the city
and reaction again ruled. But the en-
peror was forced to give way to his
nephew, the present ruler. The latter
rescinded all the concessions made by
biS nrad ecasaar Hungary defied him