A USTR1 A-H UN G AR Y. 



of the Reichsrath. The conservative Czechs, 

 called the Bohemian Feudalists, maintained the 

 *ame views as to the historic rights and the in- 

 tegrity of the Kingdom of Bohemia and the politi- 

 cal a lid administrative equality of the Czechs with 

 the Germans. They differed mainly from the 

 Young Czechs on the question of methods, con- 

 demning every form of obstruction. 'and going so 

 far as to projH>se amendments to the procedure of 

 the Keichsrath that would enlarge the discipli- 

 nary powers of its president so as to prevent in the 

 future the scandalous scenes that paralyzed the 

 normal functions of the Chamber in 1000. Ihe 

 elections in Bohemia turned on this question as 

 to whether obstruction is justifiable or expedient. 

 The language conflict increased the strength in 

 Hohcmia and elsewhere of the Pan-German party, 

 which looks forward to the incorporation of the 

 t;erinan-s|N>akiiur lands of Austria and of Bohemia 

 as well in the (German Empire. The result of the 

 elect ion-: was the dwindling of the moderate and 

 conciliatory elements without shifting the balance 

 ln'tween the aggressive parties. The Young Czechs 

 gained the victory over the Old Czechs; the Pan- 

 (iermanists won several seats; the Polish faction 

 was strengthened considerably; the once domi- 

 nant German Liberals continued to decline in 

 numlMMs: the Social Democrats increased at the 

 exjM>nse of the Christian Socialists, or Anti- 

 Semites, and of the Catholic Populists. The most 

 striking feature of the contest was the setback re- 

 ceived by the Viennese Anti-Semites, which the 

 (German Progressists helped to bring about by giv- 

 ing some of their votes to Social-Democratic can- 

 didates. The Clericals, as well as their Anti- 

 Semite allies, lost heavily. In Bohemia the Cler- 

 ical vote showed considerable gains, and the So- 

 cialists lost C seats to the Young Czechs and the 

 Pan-<iermans. The number of the latter in the 

 Keichsrath was increased from 5 to 21. Half of 

 these subserilied to the program of Dr. Schon- 

 erer, who advocated emancipation from Rome in 

 order to prepare for the entrance of the German 

 provinces of Austria into the German Empire, 

 since the German Government would not favor 

 the annexation of German Austria at the cost of 

 bringing about Catholic preponderance in Ger- 

 many. Sehonerer and his principal lieutenant, 

 Wolf, had actually changed their faith and en- 

 tered the evangelical communion. The Pan-Ger- 

 man members held a meeting to discuss Schon- 

 erer's program, which they accepted, with his 

 leadership, with the proviso that it did not. in- 

 volve the renunciation of the Catholic religion, 

 but was to be taken as signifying only emancipa- 

 tion from the influence of the Roman curia in 

 political and national affairs. The Pan-Germanic 

 joined hands with the German People's party, 

 forming a strong group of over 60 members. The 

 Czechs of all shades gathered together into one 

 dub. The German Progressists also adhered to 

 the object of establishing German as the state 

 language. The Catholic People's party and the 

 (enter party united in a club pledged to uphold 

 Catholicism, the dynasty, Austrian interests, and 

 parliamentary government. 



The Keichsrath was opened on Jan. 31. The 

 Pan-fJermanic union, the Socialists, and the ex- 

 treme faction of the Czechs had absented them- 

 selves when the Chamber was called upon to cheer 

 the Emperor. The speech from the throne offered 

 a list of important social and economic reforms, 

 in which Dr. von KJirber hoped to awaken suffi- 

 cient popular interest to bring about a truce be- 

 tween the nationalities. The necessity was recog- 

 nized of a clearer definition of the extraordinary 

 powers of the Government in cases of emergency, 



so that the rights of popular representation should 

 be safeguarded, and the responsibility of the Gov- 

 ernment clearly understood. At a calmer period the 

 revision of parliamentary rules of procedure could 

 be considered whereby the business of the Reichs- 

 rath would be expedited without infringement of 

 the freedom of discussion. An administration inde- 

 pendent of political influences was declared neces- 

 sary in the interest of the people and the state. 

 The abolition or alleviation of some taxes was an- 

 nounced, also the relief of certain provinces whose 

 revenues were insufficient. Measures were needed 

 for the regulation of the currency. The necessity 

 of preserving Austria's position in the world's 

 markets brought economical questions to the 

 front. The expiration of most of the commercial 

 treaties entailed a revision of the customs tariff. 

 A bill for the promotion of industry and commerce 

 would be brought in immediately. The comple- 

 tion of the railroad network of the state, espe- 

 cially by a second line to Triest, would be spread 

 over several years. Another measure was in- 

 tended to secure to the laboring population dwell- 

 ings conducive to health and morality. Means 

 were required for the development and equipment 

 of the superior schools to conform with the latest 

 advances of science. Reforms in other parts of the 

 educational system were in preparation, as well 

 as in various other departments. 



The settlement of the language question by. 

 legislation was the only safeguard for the continu- 

 ance of the system of government in Austria 

 which had produced a powerful army, flourishing 

 finances, high public credit, and universal educa- 

 tion. The Constitution afforded ample autonomy 

 to the lands of the Austrian Crown, while securing 

 the unity and strength of the empire. The feud 

 of the nationalities was the disturbing cause that 

 had interrupted the normal activity of the Reichs- 

 rath and hindered the establishment of old-age 

 and invalid insurance and other projects for the 

 material and intellectual development of the em- 

 pire. The Government intended to do all that it 

 could to cure the evil, but was bound to preserve 

 intact the unity of language in certain branches 

 of administration in which it constituted an 

 old and established institution. The cooperation 

 of the Reichsrath would be indispensable in the 

 approaching settlement of the commercial rela- 

 tions between the two halves of the monarchy. 



Among the projects of legislation, which were 

 enough to occupy several sessions of a Reichstag 

 working in perfect order, were measures for the 

 protection of workmen, for the development of the 

 commercial marine, for the construction of har- 

 bors, for the improvement of the .army, and for 

 Bosnian railroads. The Reichstag in the early 

 part of the session was the scene of disorder and 

 violence worse than any exhibitions of the pre- 

 vious Parliament. Missiles were thrown at the 

 president, and several times the Czech and Ger- 

 man members came to blows. The president of 

 the Chamber had to decide how to receive inter-* 

 pellations in other languages than German. The 

 Czechs demanded the recognition of the absolute 

 equality of languages; the Germans insisted that 

 no language be used but German. Formerly every 

 member could speak German, but in the present 

 Parliament there were illiterate Slavs who knew 

 no language but their own. The Government en- 

 deavored to bring about a compromise, but con- 

 sultations with the party leaders were fruitless. 

 The Czechs appealed to the article in the Consti- 

 tution establishing absolute equality of languages, 

 the Germans to the traditional and necessary use 

 of German and the impossibility of discussion car- 

 ried on in the eight different languages of the 



