Jasper County Democrat, Volume 3, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 March 1901 — FROM FOREIGN LANDS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

FROM FOREIGN LANDS

The student of events in tlie old world cannot fail to be impressed with the gravity of the crisis ntrw confronting the Austro-Hungarian empire. Probably no government -iu Europe has so precarious a footing. Certainly no government in Europe faces so many complications. Parliamentary government has been suspended in Austria since Feb. 1, 189!). The government since that date has been carried on under the provision of article 14 of tlie constitution, an emergency clause giving the Emperor and his cabinet advisers absolute control in default of legislative notion. The government lias made persistent efforts for more than two years to return to parliamentary government, but without success. - Racial and religious disputes have engrossed the attention of the population to the exclusion of all else. For weeks the Iteiclist'uth lias been the scene of disgraceful personal encounters between tlie members. Treason is openly avowed nnd the man who claims to be loyal to the dual empire is denounced in so many words us a fool. The difflealty of maintaining a stable government when members of Par Lament openly demand disintegration of the empire may be better understood when it is’stated that the population of Austria is made up of 8,500,000 Germans, 5,400,000 Bohemians, Moravians and Slovak's; 3,750,000 Poles, 3,000,000 Ituthenians and 1,000,000 Slovenes. Here are nearly 22,000,000 persons—B,soo,ooo Germans against 13,300,000 Slavs. Tint Slavonian nationalities, it will be seen, are divided into six branches, each of which at one time in its history enjoyed independent government. There is no national spirit. The German hopes for tmiou with Germany—the Slav with Russia. At the present time nothing but the strong personality of Emperor Franz Josef stands between the Austro-Hungarian empire and disintegration. After the Emperor—chaos.

The situation has rapidly cleared in China. Two of the prescribed anti-for-eign leaders were publicly executed in Pekin, nud a third one, it is declared, has been beheaded. The allies are already making preparations to leave the country. There are many difficult matters to be arranged, however, chief of which is the question of indemnity to the powers. THe amount has not been agreed upon, hut from reports emanating from IVkin there seems to be a disposition to place the figures high, some of the powers favoring n demand for $500,000,000. It Is apparent to the practical render, that China will be unable to pay so large an indemnity. The Chinese debt is already enormous and the revenues are taxed severely to meet the interest due on the foreign loan. An additional burden means additional duties on imports, umf the powers who have large commercial interests in China would necessarily have to bear the expense. The newest thing in the South African war is the oldest—De Wet has not been captured. There are rumors that Botha is ready to surrender, but De Wet-is the same uncompromising, elusive foe of England. Sunday De Wet's forces met with n disaster. The Boer leader was compelled, it was announced, to abandon his baggage, ammunition, artillery, horses, and even bis breakfast, ntid make his escape across the Orange river in a frail boat. Later news, however, seems to indicate that De Wet still has a fomi of 11,000 men in Cape Colony, nnd that if he has any present purpose of being hemmed in or captured his HggrSksive movements fail to show it. Automobiles have couquered the Alps. A German has made his way with a lienziae’motor from Frankfort to Italy over the Brenner Pass, with no great trouble. Mine. Sanson, n grnnddalighter of the composer Boicldicu, has lx«iuouthcd her country estate and INK),000 francs to establish n retreat for musicians and men of letters. Manchester, England, has had a municipal scandal. An alderman who had just been elected Mayor was shown to have shared in city contracts. He resigned at once nud a new Mayor was selected. MpaHish Carlists have an eye to business. The first thing done In the recently suppressed little uprising was to iseue a postage stamp. It, is blue, with the head of the pre'tender and the inscription, “Dios, Patria y Don Carlos Bey."