The twice-a-week Twin Falls times. (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1916-1918, 1917-12-27

But unlike the French revolution the
Hapsburg emerged VIGOROUSLY, aid
ed by the church who at that time
welded a powerful influence.
One must understand the deep de-
votion to that church in order to
clearly see its influence, in shaping
the destiny of that Inflated empire.
Until as late as 1886 the Roman
church had under its direct supervis-
ion the entire school system of Aus
tria A seat in the upper house or
"Herren House is not subject to pop
ular vote or even appointment but
merely a matter of Inheritance Here
again the church along with the no.
bility, has the upper hand Fifteen
per cent of the wealth of the empire
is directly owned by the church. To
this day a powerful party called the
Christian Socials has as its principle
the complete surrender to the church
of the Austrian school system. This
party works under the guise of social
reform of the laboring classes.
The same sinister influence that
rendered the revolution of 1S4S
failure was the cause of Austrias I'M
fortunate position before this great
war. Torn by inner dissention the
masses fell victims to outside influ-
ence The fall of the Hapsburgs and
the subsequent ACKNOWLEDGMENT of
Austria in 1S4S would have deprived
Bismark ~ an useful ally in his
Eastern Policy" therefore Prussian
Junkerdom strived to stamp out the
first glimmer of Democracy in Aus
tria and succeeded, and the people
were left again to the mercy of the
Hapsburgs backed by medieval
church and Prussianism on the other
hand with both zealously guarding
the carcass of a once powerful en-
pire as vultures await the final eX-
haustion of the weary wanderer of the
deserts.
Prussia played her hand through a
party called the German Nationals
but always took advantage of the OPP
position in Hungary and the Chechs.
Imagine now the position OF the
Austrian citizen On the one hand
the influence of its rulers and they
again guided by Roman hands, and
threatened with everlasting suffering
after death; on the other hand the
glittering promise of freedom and
power that Prussia offered. Both
seeking recruits among the numerous
natiOnalities. creating opposing par
ties and paralysing the empire. Such
opposing elements made reform OF
internal conditions impossible. The
dual government could be compared
with a pendulum, swinging between
the two opposing currents. The par
ties being divided as follows
Prussia: German Nationalists, Hun
rrer siara I1r
icals, Christian socials, Liberals.
While Socialism has no political
representation to speak of, under the
prevailing conditions it is gaining
powerful support of the masses.
Is it a surprising fact then that
Austria sends more emigrants to our
shores than any other nation?
After the sentiments of the Austrian
citizen. political as well as religious,
had been so to speak, thrown about
from pillar to pOst-in other words,
after he tires under the rule of the
despOtic Hapsburgs, he seeks the
promised freedom from the Prussian
benefactOrs. He finds, however, in
stead the mailed fist" he then seeks
his peace of mind and real unadul-
terated freedom in America
Except the love for his immediate
family or relatives left behind, he has
nothing in common with Austria. He
knows how widespread Prussian in
fluence is; knows the Prussian for
mula of Kultur; knows fully the dis
astrOus influence of it. The Austrian
in this country prays for a victory
of democracy, the cause of his coun-
try of adoption