The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1914-08-22

eminent, but has, nevertheless, been
in constant friction with Austria, and
her agitation for the sole use of the
Hungarian regiments brought the
Government to a temporary standstill
few years ago. She, in her turn,
is virulently hated by the non-Hun-
garian races subject to her.
Czech.German Feud.
Bohemia is crippled by the bitter
feud between the Czech and German
inhabitants. The wary shopkeeper
will never be the first to address the
intending customer who enters his
shop, but wisely allows the latter to
speak first, so that he may know
what language to USE, because so
high does feeling run that many
German would Immediately walk out
of the shop If addressed in Czech, or
the Czech would do likewise if ad-
dressed in German.
One of the most obnoxious results
of this inter-racial feud between sub
jects of the same Crown is, that there
are parties amongst them which are,
scarcely secretly, looking across the
frontiers to kindred foreign powers.
There are Germans in Bohemia who
are indisputably scheming for an
eventual union with Prussia. The
present propaganda in that country
is, almost certainly, based on the
contemplation of its eventual absorp-
ton into the German Empire.
On the other hand some Czechs
are ever demonstrative in their
declaration of sympathy with Russia,
and in their aspirations after Pan
slavism many of them point to Rus
STA as the fit and natural head of the
Slav races. In South Tyrol, where
there is an irreconcilable variance
between the German and the Italian
populations, there are Austrian sub
jecH who are looking down towards
Italy with disloyal eyes.
The Word Austrian Seldom Used.
The visitor to Austria wonders
how seldom he hears the word
Austrian" used. For Austria" the
great majority of the population, in
GLIDING even a strangely considerable
proportion of the aristocracy. seem
to have little or no conception OF
patriotism. People call themselves
Germans. Bohemians, Italians, etc..
but the collective idea of Austrian"
is generally absent.
Emperor Everywhere Beloved.
Towards the aged emperor there
is a widespread feeling of regard.
1t is largely his individuality that is
holding this vast dissentiept popula-
ton together. When he spoke the
memorable words, days of my
youth, FAREWELL" and assembled the
throne at the early age of eighteen
years, his youth readily won for him
sympathy, both at home and abroad.
and now age serves to enhance the
feelings which his character and
kindly qualities could not fail to ex-
cite.
His high sense of duty, his Won
derful freedom from self-conscious-
ness, and his splendid fortitude I'M
der succession of catastrophes that
would have shattered the nerve of
the ordinary man force admiration
even from those who are, politically.
most disaffected. What will happen
when the Kaiser dies!" many an
Austrian has been heard to exclaim.
and, in truth, that event bids fair to
prove one of the most anxious mo-
ments in the whole history of the
Empire.
The heir to this difficult task was
the Emperor's nephew, the Archduke
Francis. Ferdinand, who had only
passed the first half Of his fiftieth
year when he was assasinated at Sar-
ajevo. He was believed to be ami
mated by a desire for more vigor-
Gus policy. He was opposed to the
large measure Of power which Hun
gary, under her present autonomous
constitution, enjoys, and desired to
see the balance of power in the en-
pire recast, giving a larger measure
of it to the southern Slavs, amongst
whom would be prominent the Cath
ohc Croatians, at present subjects
and whole-hearted haters of the
kingdom of Hungary.
BY majority of Hungarians the
Archduke's death will not be keenly
regretted. A like observation will
probably be true of many Italians in
the Empire and of far more still in
the kingdom of Italy. The London
Times says that the Archduke held
strong views in favor of the temporal
power of the Papacy, and would not
have been averse from war with It.
ally on the matter. But apart from
such ground, it was we'll known that
he was in favor of strong military
attitude on the part of Austria.
OF Deep Religious Feelings.
The Archduke was a firm supper
ter of the policy which tended to the