AMERICA, GERMANY, AND CHINA 1899-1902 187 



that of Austria, and this, as was shown by the Hungarian 

 journals, had an excellent effect. By this meeting, no 

 doubt, the Triple Alliance was somewhat strengthened, and 

 the chances for continued peace increased, at least during 

 the lifetime of the Emperor Franz Josef. As to what 

 will follow his death all is dark. His successor is one 

 of the least suitable of men, unprepossessing, and even 

 forbidding, in every respect. Brought up by the Jesuits, 

 he is distrusted by a vast mass of the best people in the 

 empire, Catholic and Protestant. A devout Catholic they 

 would be glad to take, but a Jesuit pupil they dread, for 

 they know too well what such have brought upon the 

 empire hitherto, and, indeed, upon every kingdom which 

 has allowed them in its councils. His previous career has 

 not been edifying, and there is no reason to expect any 

 change in him. The Emperor Franz Josef is probably 

 as thoroughly beloved by his subjects as any sovereign in 

 history has ever been. His great misfortunes fearful 

 defeats in the wars with France and Germany, the sui 

 cide of his only son, the assassination of his wife, and 

 family troubles in more recent times have thrown about 

 him an atmosphere of romantic sympathy; while love for 

 his kindly qualities is mingled with respect for his plain 

 common sense. During his stay in Berlin I met him a 

 second time. At my first presentation at Dresden, two 

 years before, there was little opportunity for extended 

 conversation; but he now spoke quite at length and in a 

 manner which showed him to be observant of the world s 

 affairs even in remote regions. He discussed the recent 

 increase of our army, the progress of our war in the 

 Philippines, and the extension of American enterprise in 

 various parts of the world, in a way which was not at all 

 perfunctory, but evidently the result of large informa 

 tion and careful observation. His empire, which is a 

 seething caldron of hates, racial, religious, political, and 

 local, is held together by love and respect for him; but 

 when he dies this personal tie which unites all these dif 

 ferent races, parties, and localities will disappear, and 



