Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1916-11-29

dication of his uncle, Ferdinand J.,
December 2, 1S4S, making his active
reign extend over period Of 6S
years, all but the first 20 Of which
! he was also Apostolic King Of Hun
! gary. 1t Is doubtful If in all history
| there has been an active authenticate
ed reign that was longer. Tradition
says Pharaoh ruled for 90 years.
and there is the more credible in
stance Of Rameses II, Seostris of he
Greeks, whose reign is reputed 20
; have covered G7 years. But IN re-
corded history there certainly has
tccn no "cign Of equal duration to
that Of Francis Joseph. Louis XIV
years. l.e actually occupied the
throne f)r little more than half a
century. a closer rival, an: the
only one of modern times. va;
Queen Victoria, VINO rcigA",, i" Ct
years
The aged monarch. although he
had suffered serious inroads upon mis-
health Tor many years past. was
strong enough to keep a firm grip
on al ,irs Of state almost to the last.
There we're repeated reports OF Il Sc
riOuS illness from a bronchial atfec-
ton. and frequently rumors OF his
death. which were proven uniound
cd. when official announcements
were 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 was not admitted
In November, 1915. on the Occa-
OF Germany to Nienra. it was rumor-
ed that Francis Joseph was about to
make a possible move for separate
peace. but owing 10 the strict cen
sorship in Austria there was no con-
tirmation of such report.
I'rccipitatcd 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 Archduke Ferdinand
was supposedly dictated by Francis
Joseph himself. and it was this docu-
ment that directly precipitated the
war now raging in Europe. Five days
later. after Serbia had complied with
all the demands with the exception
Of agreeing to allow Austrian au-
thorities to enter Serbia to stamp
out the alleged anti-Austrian con-
spiracics, Francis Joseph declared
war. In his manifesto Of that date.
July 2Sth, he said:
The intrigues Of malevolent OPP
poncnt compel me. in defense OF the
honor OF my monarchy and for the
protection OF its dignity and the Sc
curity OF its possessions. to grasp the
sword after long years Of peace
The hope that Serbia would keep
its 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 significance
OF my resolve and my responsibility
before the Almighty. have exam
incd and weighed everything, and
with serene conscience set out on the
path that duty points"
Saw Many National Crises.
Aside from the great war Francis
Jo$eph'S reign was one OF the most
cventiul in history. From his impe-
monarchy go down. the Second En-
pire rise and crumble. the Commune
flare briefly, and the republic of to-
day rise on its ashes; he saw the
black pinions OF the Prussian eagle
stamped on the flag OF the new Ger
man Empire-later 10 tower threat
eninGly over Austria itself: he saw
the papacy shorn OF its territorial
dcmcsnc. while a great pickering
family OF petty principalitics was
welded into united Italy; he saw
Spain. once the greatest OF colonial
powers. lose the last OF her depend
cncics in two oceans: he saw Japan
opened to Western civilization. and
later defeat the Sprawling Colossus
OF two continents; he saw the most
absolute despotisms--Ru Russia. Tur-