Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-11-22


archy have been so solidified by he
wa- that the death of their ruler will
not bring about any political changes
of importance.
The new monarch is said to have
well defined views Of peace and is
peaceably inclined. He is described as
q sensible man."
CLIMAX TO TRAGEDIES.
Death Of Francis Joseph Ends Career
Unparalleled in Unhappinsss.
The death Of Francis Joseph is re-
markable climax to the long list Of
tragedies In the Hapsburg family-a
list unparalleled in any other reigning
house in Europe. He dies in the midst
of the worlds greatest war. which he
himself largely brought about by hrs
determination to avenge the act Of as
Of his heir. the Archduka
Francis Ferdinand. as the result of an
alleged Serbian conspiracy, while on u
state visit to Bosnia on June %, 1914,
Francis Joseph was ss years old al
the time Of his death. He was born
Aug. Is, 1880. He was only 10 years
OF age when he ascended the throne OF
Austria, upon the abdication of his
uncle, Ferdinand l., Dec. 2. 1s4s, max
Ing his active reign extend over q Pc
riod Of sixty-seven years. all but the
first twenty OF which he was apostonc
king Of Hungary. It is doubtful that
II in all history there has been an ac-
tive, authenticated reign that was
longer. Tradition says a Pharaoh ruled
for ninety-nine years and there is the
more credible instance OF Rameses l..
Seostris OF the Greeks. whose reign il
reputed to have covered sixty-seven
years. But in recorded history there
certainly has been no reign OF equal
duration to that Of Francis Joseph
Louis XIV, OF France, was nominally
king for seventy-two years. He ac-
tually occupied the throne for little
more than half a century. A closer
rival, and the only one Of modern
times. was Queen Victoria who reigned
for sixty -four years.
j The aged5monarch. altho he had suf-
fered serious tnroads upon his health
Tor many years past, wAs sarvng
enough so keep ~ fifms nip on affairs
OF stote. aano9tsio the last. There were
rsneAtsd reports ot u serious illness
from = bronchial affection. and fre-
quently rumorS OF his death, which
were proven unfounded, when official
were made from
Vienna. Some Of the reports asserted
that his mind had become affected thru
worry over the great war, but the
truth Of these rumors was not aa-
mitted.
Prsoipitatss War.
The ultimatum Of July %, 1914,
which Francis Joseph sent to King
Peter Of Serbia, denouncing the anti
Austrian propaganda In that country
and demanding prompt punishment Of
the assassins Of Arehduke Ferdinand.
was supposedly dictated by Francis
Joseph himself and it was this ldocu.
ment that directly precipitated the war
now ravaging Europe. Five days later,
after Serbia had complied with all
the demands with the exception Of
agreeing to allow Austrian authorities
to enter Serbia to stamp out the al
legged antt-Austrian conspiracies Fran
els Joseph declared war.
II his manifesto v1 that date. ) uiiJJ1
%, he said:
THE intrigues Of malevolent oppo-
nent compel me in defense Of the honor
Of my monarchy and for the protection
Of its dignity and the security Of Its
possessions to grasp the sword after
long years OF peace. The hope that
Serbia would keep It's word has not
been fulfilled; the flame Of its hatred
for myself and my house has always
blazed higher. In this solemn hour am
fully conscious of the whole signih
canoe Of my resolve and my response
bility before the Almighty. have ex-
amined and weighed everything, and
with serene conscience set out on the
path that duty points"
Aside from the great war Francis
Joseph's reign was one Of the most
eventful in history From his imperial
vantage point he saw the French
go down, the second empire
rise and crumble. the commune flare
briefly. and the republic Of today rise
on Its ashes; he saw the black pinions
Of the Prussian eagle stamped on the
flag of the new German empire-later
to tower threatenihgly over Austria It
self: he saw the papacy shorn Of
It's territorial demesne. while
pickering family Of petty principalities
was welded into united Italy; he saw
Spain, once the greatest Of colonial
powers, lose the last Of her depend
encies in two oceans; he saw Japan
opened to western civilization, and
later defeat the sprawling Colossus Of
two continents; he saw the most abso-
lutte Russia, Turkey, and
representation to the
people: he saw at distance the United
States cement Its federation with the
blood of great internecine war, and
he saw his own brother prove that
could not take new root on
American soil.
In his own country he faced internal
and external aggressions
from the moment ne came to the
throne. BY the war of 1859 with
France and Sardinia, he was forced to
cede Lombardy to Italy, by force Of
arms and treaty he lost the Duchy Of
Holstein to Prussia and Venice to
italy; and by the revolt OF Kossuth,
the Hungarian patriot, he barely es-
capped having his dual empire cut In
two.
Continued % Pass Z,
! \ .