56 AUSTRO-HUNGARIAN MONARCHY. 



BACON, EZEKIEL. 



position. The Tyrolese deputies adopted the 

 same policy for similar reasons. After a long 

 debate in the Lower House, the address was 

 carried by a vote of 92 to 61. 



Among the working-men of Vienna and 

 other large cities socialistic views have found 

 numerous adherents. Some of the leaders 

 were prosecuted by the government for high- 

 treason, and their trial, which was concluded 

 at Vienna on July 19th, attracted great atten- 

 tion. The Public Prosecutor, in his opening ad- 

 dress, explained that the prisoners belonged to 

 a committee which was engaged in spreading 

 a socialist-democratic agitation in Austria; 

 that they were in communication with trades- 

 unions in foreign countries, and, in conjunc- 

 tion with the latter, aimed at the overthrow 

 of all social and state institutions. During 

 the trial a large number of working-men gath- 

 ered in front of the court-house, but there was 

 not the slightest disturbance of order. One 

 of the leaders, Oberwinder, was sentenced to 

 six years', and three others to five years' close 

 confinement for high-treason. Others Avere 

 condemned to imprisonment for periods vary- 

 ing from two to six months for taking part 

 in public disturbances. Oberwinder and Mos 

 were ordered to leave the country on the 

 expiration of their sentences. In October, 

 another leader of the workingmen was sen- 

 tenced to five months' imprisonment for in- 

 citing a revolt. 



Even since the reestablishment of constitu- 

 tional government in Austria, the several min- 

 istries and the great majority of theReichsrath 

 have regarded the abolition of the Concordat 

 of 1855 necessary, since in their opinion it 

 granted to the Roman Catholic Church undue 

 prerogatives. After the virtual abolition of 

 several provisions of the Concordat by special 

 laws, passed in former years, its total and 

 official repeal was, in 1870, resolved upon in 

 consequence of the doctrine of papal infalli- 

 bility, adopted by the Council in Rome. The 

 Official Journal of July 80th contained the 

 following note: "In consequence of the defini- 

 tion of the dogma of infallibility, the Govern- 

 ment has resolved no longer to maintain the 

 Concordat with Rome, which will therefore 

 cease to be valid. The Chancellor of the Em- 

 pire has consequently taken steps to notify the 

 Roman Curia of the formal abrogation of the 

 Concordat, and the Emperor, by an autograph 

 letter, has instructed the Minister of Public 

 "Worship to draw up the necessary bills to be 

 submitted to the Reichsrath for that purpose." 

 In consequence of the abolition of the Con- 



cordat, Monsignor Falcinelli, the Papal nuncio, 

 was, in August, recalled. 



In June, the German teachers of the empire 

 held a convention in Vienna, to express their 

 views and wishes with regard to the organiza- 

 tion of public instruction. The attendance was 

 very large, and a novel feature was the presence 

 of a number of female teachers, some of whom 

 took an active part in the proceedings. The con- 

 vention adopted a resolution in favor of the ex- 

 clusion of doctrinal religion from the schools. 



On the outbreak of the war between Ger- 

 many and France, the Austrian Government 

 declared itself in favor of a strict neutrality. 

 The Germans of Austria were unanimous and 

 enthusiastic in their demonstrations in favor of 

 Germany, which the Government repeatedly 

 disapproved and checked. The Poles sym- 

 pathized more with France than with Germany, 

 but their leading organs declared that in the 

 progress of the Avar their attitude would be 

 chiefly determined by that of Russia. They 

 Avould, at all events, oppose that belligerent 

 power which might be favored by Russia. The 

 Czechs declared that in this, as in all other 

 questions, they would pursue a policy which 

 they would regard as most beneficial to the 

 interests of their OAvn nationality. 



The demand of Russia for the abolition of the 

 Treaty of Paris created a great commotion in 

 Vienna. Baron von Beust, in his reply to 

 Prince GortschakoiF, insists on the force of the 

 obligations contracted in 1856, which are not to 

 be evaded or annulled. Deference only exacts a 

 reply. The fact that Turkey can sustain a fleet 

 where Russia cannot, is not sufficient for ar- 

 bkrarily dissolving the treaty. The action 

 of Russia endangers all existing and future 

 treaties. Turkey is not responsible for the 

 union of the principalities. Turkey asks that 

 we shall not give our sanction to-a breach of the 

 treaty. The occasional excursions of frigates 

 into the Euxine, with princes on board, were 

 perfectly harmless. Russia should have shown 

 her dissatisfaction and spoken at the proper 

 time. Austria deplores Russia's determination, 

 and expresses her surprise at it. She points 

 out to Russia the inevitable consequences of 

 the step she has taken. In a second note from 

 Von Beust to the Austrian ambassador, Count 

 Choteck, he denies having taken any initiative 

 in 1867. He proposed a joint action of all the 

 powers, but no independent action. Now the 

 greatest apprehensions exist. Excited as the 

 Christian subjects of the Porte are, they Avill 

 think the occasion is opportune to undertake 

 the solution of the Eastern question. 



B 



BACON, EZEKIEL, LL. D., an eminent jurist 

 and political leader in Massachusetts in the 

 early part of the present century, born in Bos- 

 ton September 1, 1776; died at Utica, N. Y., 



October 18, 1870. Born in Boston in the natal 

 year of the republic, he inherited patriotic 

 instincts, and his knoAvledge of the events of 

 the Revolutionary period Avas very thorough 



