The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-02-20

people.
reg ee--zts-~-~'e-'~~ FRA ssenseaia1
Moravia, and stlesia, wish the two
LuSanss, constituted al. aGepefdens
realm, Just as Hungary was then an
Independent kingdom. In 1895, the
iCzechs called the Hapsburg dynasty
Ito the Bohemian throne for practical
ly the same reasons. and on the same
conditions as tho Magyars. Together
with the Pragmauc Sanction. the
terms under which the Hapsburgs
were called to the Hungarian throne
formed what we might call tho legal
foundation of the Hungarian revolu-
ton IN is4S. The Czech case. legally
speaking, was every bit as strong II
NOT Stronger, as was the Mayer case
In lSfS. The compact of 1926. to-
gether with the coronation paths and
ii large number of other historical
documents too numerous to be men
Toned here, formed the legal basis
of the Czech revolution In tho years
1915, -is-i7 and 'ts.
/ AT one Time tho Bohemians de
/ facto lost their Independence. De
jure they always possessed 1t, and
throughout their movement during
| the war demanded something Of
which they were illegally deprived
Just as no one can be legally de-
prived of his property by force and
violence. and without due process of
law. just so the Czechs retained their
legal title to independence.
One would not go very much
astray, therefore, il he should say
that the recent Czech struggle was not
so much revolution as a fight for
restoration Of legal righM
But can these smaller nationalities
states. In fact. small? 1t used to be
argued that the disme berment of
Austria Hungary would result in the
formation OF large number of small
states This Ia not so. We see two
new states only. the Czecho -Slovak
Republic and united Poland Hun
gary has been Independent prac Ideally
SINCE 1857. This, in fact, Is the trend
OF historical development, as the
creation of new states during the nine
teen.h century illustrates Win the
exception of Germany and Italy. all
the states that came into exls.ance
during the nineteenth century must
BIO considered small ones. and Italy
and Germany do not form an excep-
ZION, because they came into being aa
a result of The tendency of nauonali-
Ties TO unite In one national state.
Even prior to the war there were in
Europe twenty-seven states, and the
great majority of these were small
Furthermore. as modern states go,
n C2echo -Sioyak Hepubiic, for an
stance. WiIi not be a small one. hav-
ing in extent about $1,000 Engush
square miles, and a population be-
tween twelve and thirteen millions
Insofar as any state Is self -sus .ai IA
ing under modern conditions, that OF
The Czecho-Siovaks will be able TO
stand upon its own feet Even prior
TO the war, economically and finan-
tctally. BOHEMIA Was one OF the richest
OF The Austrian provinces. Sky
Two and seven tenths per cent of me
burden of Austrian taxation wac borne
by the Czech countries, while the rest
of Austria carried only $50 per cent
And now. freed from oppressive tax
alton discriminating in favor of finan-
cially passive" Austrian lands. the
Lzechs Wall be even richer.
/ 1t Is worth while to call particular
attention to Czccho- Sioyak resources,
stated by standard authorities:
The Bohemian lands surpassed
what were once the other Austrian
lands in the production of gram.
Lnfty-eight per cent OF the grain
lands of the former Austrian Empire
is found in bohemia; of the coal
found ia Austria, 50 per cent is min
ed IN the Bohemian lands, so per cent
| of the Austrian iron is found there.
30 per cent Ii not more. of the sugar
factories OF Austria are located in the
lands OF the Bohemian Crown; the
textile industry is one ob large pro-
portions, and leather. paper. furniture
and cleo technical industries are
of importance.
3 This is important to bear In m md, in
view OF the possibility and, indeed,
probability OF the future trade rela-
tons between C1echo-Slovakia and
America There is no need. and there
should be no possibility of resort to
| German middle men, as was the case
prior to the war With prohibition
! In effect we cannot expect any import
of Pilsener beer, of course, nor of
hops. But simply as an Illustration
! of the trade relations between The
two countries, let me call your atten-
ton TO the fact that the 1913 con
sular figures show that American
dealers purchased buttons in Bohemia
to the amount of S7o5, III. This is
followed by the trade in chinaware,
of which Bohemia sold to America in
that year &1Di,49 worth. In addition,
it sold also ss23.4lh worth of glass
ware, and almost $4,000 worth of
An important item of trade between
bohemia and America. and one which
has an excellent chance of growing, is
that of linen goods; figures for 1913
are sloS.0b5, Bohemian linen, laces.
and embroidery are found sold In
/ his country as Irish linen and French
or Belgian laces, because they are
not so well known. but their quality
Is equal to anything produced in
western Europe. Another important
object Of trade which could easily be
increased Ia in ladies' gloves. produced
principally In Prague itself The
amount sold In 1913 was $274,52l.
Vienna also manufactures gloves and
Prague has the opportunity now OF
capturing the business of it's rival
A very promising item of trade also
is the export of musical instruments,
PRINCIPALLY victims. but. Also brass and
reed instruments; the last figures are
l$2o0,lls Bohemia has The opper-
tun,y now 10 get The big American
market which was before the war
supplied principally from Germany
and during the war by not very sails
factory instruments manufactured in
Japan. And C2echo Slovakia will also
compete now with the Germans for
the American toy market Musical
toys especially have been exported
J II