The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1919-01-29

way, indeed. for Germany's mastery
of Asia, which would give her that
world supremacy which is the goal Of
the kaiser.
Repairing Great Wrong.
II must never be forgotten that in re-
storing sovereignty and independence
to the Czecho-Slovaks we are not Gre
ating anything new, but merely repair
ing Il great wrong. Few nations have
contributed more to the prosperity and
to the progress of central Europe than
Bohemia, whose people were in an ad-
venced state of civilization when Ger
many was region of boys and of rob-
Der barons.
Their university at Prague, founded
in 134S, is the oldest seat of learning
east of the Rhine, and it served as a
model of most of the universities sub
sequently created on the continent.
The CZechs are an ancient race. They
were flOurishing in Bohemia away back
in the fifth century before Christ, and
they have always been noted for their
progressive spirit, for their longings in
the direction of liberalism and democ-
racy, and above all for their indus
trial and commercial enterprise, thanks
to which they have been for the past
400 years the economic backbone of the
Hapsburg monarchy.
They were independent I'd there
fore unfettered, until they foolishly
elected Emperor Ferdinand of Austria
as their ruler in 1920, not only because
he was married to the daughter and
heiress of their last king of the dynasty
OF st. Wenceslaus, but also because he
sOlemnly pledged himself to respect
their national rights and liberties.
Needless to add that Ferdinand l fail
ed to keep his promises. This is
popularity Of the house of Hapsburg.
When he found that his powers, which
were absolute in Austria proper, were
restricted in Bohemia he proceeded to
| abolish the latters national privileges
one by one.
Nearly hundred years later the
Cz:ths, led hy their territorial aristoc-
racy, organized a revolt against the
despotism of the Austrian emperor.
Ferdinand II, who had shown himself
far more dangerous and hostile to Bo-
hemia as an ally than as an open en-
envy. The CZechs We're defeated in
the memorable battle of the White
Mountain, which marked the end of
the independence Of Bohemia as a ma.
| ton.
Always Oppressed by Teutons.
From that time forth the Czecho- Slo-
walks have been constant subject of
oppression and tyranny of the govern
ments OF Vienna and of Pesth encour-
aged and abetted by the Hohenzollern
dynasty, which has ever seen in
CZecho-Slovak nationalism and eco
nomic Importance an obstacle and q
barrier to its openly avowed designs
OF extending its sovereignty from Ber-
lin to the Mediterranean, at the head
Of the Adriatic. Well nigh every rul.
err of the dual empire has pledged him.
J self ut one period or another of his
| reign to restore to the CzechO- SlOyoks
their national independence and their
autonomy on the same footing as Hum
gary and to have himself crowned ot
fITgue with the crown of st. Wences-
laus and invested with the sceptre, the
orb and the mantle of that famous rul.
er and patron saint as king of Bo.
hemia. In no case have these promises
neeh Kept, not even by the present
Emperor Charles, who gave an under.
taking of this kind on his accession n
! the throne of the dual empire.