The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1916-11-23
FRANCIS JOSEPH, VENERABLE
RULER AUSTRIA A-HUNGARY DIES
NEAR CLOSE OF 68-YEAR REIGN

ed for SO years and there is the
,more credible instance of Ramese
H., Seostris of the Greeks, who's,
reign is reputed to have covered g.
years. But in recorded history ther,
icertianly has been no reign OF equa
duration to that of Francis Joseph
Louis NIN., OF France, was nominal
lly King for ~ years. He actually
occupied the throne for little NOR,
than half a century. A closer riva
twas Jueen Victoria, who reigned fol-
ga years.
The aged monarch, although he
had suffered serious inroads upor
his health for many years past. was
strong enough TO keep firm grip on
affairs OF state almost to the last
IThere were repeated reports of a
lserious illness from bronchial af-
tection, and frequently rumors OF
| his death. which We're proven un-
founded, when official announce
ments We're made from Vienna. Some
| of the reports asserted that his mind
, had become affected through worry
over the great war, but the truth OF
these rumorS We're not admitted.
| In November, 1915. on the oc~
casion of visit of Emperor William
| of Germany. TO Vienna, it was rum
ored that Francis Joseph was about
to make possible move for a sep
arate peace, but owing to the strict
censorship in Austria there was no
confirmation OF such a report.
Started Great War.
Tho milf t,,,n of J,,1 101d
which Francis Joseph sent to King
Austrian propaganda in that country
and demanding prompt punishment
OF the assassins of Archduke Ferd-
nand, was supposedly dictated by
Francis Joseph himself and it was
this document that directly precipi-
tated 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 alleged anti-Aus-
trian conspiracies, Francis Joseph
declared war.
In his mnifesto of that date, July
2S, he said:
The intrigues of a malevolent op-
ponent compel me in defense of the
honor of my monarchy and for the
protection of its dignity and the Sc
eurity of its possessions to grasp the
sword after long years of peace
''Tho hope that Serbia would keep
its word has not been fulfilled: the
flame of its hatred for myself ana
my house has always blazed higher.
I'm this solemn hour | am fully
conscious of the whole significance
of my resolve and my responsibility
before the Almighty | have exam
ined and weighed everything. and
with serene conscience set out on the
path that duty points,
An Eventful Ruership.
Aside from the great war Francis
Joseph's reign was one of the most
eyentful in history. From his I'M
peral vantage point he saw the
French monarchy go down. the Sec
ond empire rise and crumble. the
Commune flare briefly, and the re-
public of today rise on its ashes; he
saw the black pinions of the Prus-
sian eagle stamped on the flag of the
new German empire-later to tower
threateningly over Austria itself; he
saw the papacy shorn of its territor
ial demesne. while about blickering
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 tMo continents; he saw the most
absolute depotisms- Russia. Turkey
and Persia concede representation
to the people; he say at a distance
the United States cement its fedora
tion with the blood of a great inter
necince war, and he saw his own
brother prove that monarchy could
not take new root on American soil.
/ In his own country he faced in
ternal dissensions and external ag-
gressions from the moment he 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
tho Duchy of Holstein to Prussia and
Venice to Italy; aud by the revolt of
kossuth. the Hungarian patriot, he
barely escaped having his dual em-
pire cut in two.
Personal Sorrows Great.
But in human interest his person
al sorrows overshadowed all. One
after another they came upon him.
In 1853 the list of tragic incidents
began with an attempt upon his own
life. In 1867 his brother the Arch
duke Macmillan, after three years
experiment as Emperor of Mexico
was captured by the army of the pa
triots and condemned to death by a
court martial whose sentence was eX-
ecuted Notwithstanding intercession
in his behalf by the governments of
the United States, England and
Prussia.
There followed the burning to
death of niece in Vienna, a sister
met similar fate in Paris; and a
cousin drowned himself in Stahren-
berg lake Yet these We're but minor
tragedies in comparison with that
which befell the ancient house of the
Hapsburgs in 1889 when Rudolf
the imperial prince upon whom the
Austrians pinned their hopes. met
death in a mystery which to this day
is not cleared.
Graves hold the secret of that fate
tul night at a hunting lodge in Mey
er1,ns There have been a dozer