Page:Guide to the Bohemian section and to the Kingdom of Bohemia - 1906.djvu/12

10 which was to have full powers to elaborate a new constitution, never met, though the election of its members took place on May 17th. In consequence of the universal national movement, so characteristic of the year 1848. it was decided to hold at Prague a Slavic congress, to which Slavs from all parts of the Austrian empire, as well as many belonging to other countries were invited. The deliberations were interrupted by serious riots, that broke out in the streets of Prague. They were repressed after prolonged fighting and considerable bloodshed. The Austrian commander prince Windischgrätz bombarded Prague and the city finally capitulated unconditionally.

The nationalist and liberal movement in Bohemia thus came to a sudden end, though the Bohemians took part in the Austrian constituant assembly, that met at Vienna and was afterwards transferred to Kroměříž (in German: Kremsier). By the end of the year 1849. all constitutional government had ceased in Bohemia as in al the other parts of the Habsburg empire. The reaction that now ensued was felt more heavily in Bohemia than in many other parts of the empire; not only were al attempts to obtain liberty and selfgovernment ruthlessly suppressed, but a determined attempt was made to exterminate the national language. The German language was again exclusively used in the schools and government-offices; all Bohemian newspapers were suppressed, and even the society of the Bohemian museum—a society of Bohemian noblemen and scholars—was for a time only allowed to hold its meetings under the supervision of the police.

The Italian compaign of 1859 rendered impossible the continuation of absolutist government in the Austrian empire. The authorities now attempted to establish a constitutional system, which, while maintaining to a certain extent the unity of the empire, would yet recognise the