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Show A DISTRACTED KMFIRB. Since the ascendency of Prussia in Germany, beginning In lfOd, an empire which for seven centuries occupied tho foremost place in Europe and which today to-day ranks in population second only to Russia and Geimany, has dropped into comparative obscurity so far at least as the L'nitod States are concerned. Wo mean the dual empire of Austrian-Hungary. Austrian-Hungary. Today it is recalled by tho news that the lower house of the Austrian Aus-trian parliament was rather unexpectedly unexpect-edly dissolved, the elections for tlio new house to be held in March noxt. The trouble with the ancient possessions posses-sions of tho llnpshurg crown is that they are divided into three distinct anil hostile nationalities, namely the German, tho Magyar and the Slav. After the disastrous war of lH(i(i, and I to prevent the disruption of the ein-j ein-j pile, a compromise between tho Ger-! Ger-! mans anil the Magyars was effected by which tho latter secured their auton-i auton-i oniy or home rule. They established an independent government ' with all ! the paraphernalia pertaining thereto, i such us a parliament, cabinet and ; judiciary, leaving to a mixed delega-j delega-j tion chosen from this and tho Austrian j parliament, and to three ministers, i I appointed for that purpose, tho admin- j istration of the mutual interests of the . two halves. Francis Joseph, while j emperor of Austria ruled the Magyars j of Hungary only under tlio title of I king, as which ho was crowned after the compromise in 107. Vol, agreeable us this settlement proved, prov-ed, it only incited tho third nationality which is numerically the strongest, to similar demands which the government has hitherto most strenuously opposed. This is due partly to tho fact that the Slavs do not form a compact mnss, but arc widely distributed among the Germans Ger-mans and Magyars, and principally to their differences among themselves. While nominally pertaining to the same race there is really no community of interest, history or even language between such divisions as the Czechs, Poles and Slovenians, lleuce to satisfy ono would displease tlio others, and to satisfy all would create an empiro of at least live distinct parts, held together by nothing save the waning supremacy of the crown, and a perfect liabel would be the result. re-sult. It is due to this condition that for many years no cabinet in Austria was able to maintain itself; and it is duo to this cause also that the third largest country in Europe is relegated to a subordinate sub-ordinate and really humiliating position. posi-tion. Count Taafe, the present premier, by dint of shrewd manipulation and half promises, has alone kept himself at tho head of the government for a long time, but his resort to the extreme policy pol-icy of dissolving parliament shows that even ho is at last at the end of his resources. re-sources. When Turkey Is driven back into Asia, Austria will take her place as tho "sick man" of Europe, if indeed some tinforseen event docs not nicto out to her the fate of Poland. |