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 AUSTRIA 153 diet of Bohemia, however, in which the united Czechs and federalists had a majority, declined to elect delegates to the Reichsrath. Although an imperial rescript of Sept. 29 made, in reply to an address from a Czech deputation of the Bohemian diet, promises of large concessions, such as the coronation of the Austrian emeerors with the Bohemian crown and the indivisibility of the country, the Czechs persisted in their refusal. The government then ordered direct elections, hy which 24 Germans and liberals and 36 adherents of the " declaration " were deputed to Vienna. The latter at once resigned their seats ; but as both houses of the Reichs- rath had a quorum, they soon passed a resolu- tion declaring want of confidence in the minis- try, which consequently tendered its resigna- tion on Nov. 23. The emperor accepted the resignation, but the formation of a new cabinet was not accomplished until the beginning of the year 1871. The Czech leaders on Dec. 8 addressed, in the name of the " political na- tion of the Bohemians," a memoir to the Aus- trian chancellor, in which they explained their views on the foreign policy of Austria, and in particular declared their sympathy with Rus- sia in the eastern question. On Dec. 14 the chancellor returned the memoir, informing the Czechs that the expression of such views ex- ceeded their rights. On the other hand, a diplomatic correspondence of the most friendly character was begun in December with the government of Prussia, Austria waiving all op- position to the reconstruction of the German empire under the leadership of Prussia. The expected reorganization of the' ministry took place on Feb. 7, 1871, under the presidency of Count Hohenwart. The new ministry leaned on the support of the Slavs and the feudal and Catholic parties. The Reichsrath declared it- self dissatisfied with the policy of making con- cessions to the nationalities, but the emperor in stern words declared his approval. The majority of the Reichsrath, being divided in their opinions as to the best policy now to be pursued, granted the appropriations demanded by the ministry, and found some consolation in the fact that Chancellor Beust in the Ger- man as well as the Roman questions appeared to sympathize with the liberals. On the ad- journment of the Reichsrath, on July 11, Count Hohenwart made some important concessions to the Czechs and the Poles. The latter ap- peared to be contented ; but the Czechs insist- ed on the adoption of the whole of their de- mands. In August the ministry dissolved all the provincial diets in which the German cen- tralists had a majority, and ordered new elec- tions for the Reichsrath. The result gave to Count Hohenwart the assurance that now all the demands of the Czechs would be substan- tially granted, and the constitution as far as necessary be altered by the new Reichsrath. An imperial rescript to the Bohemian diet, which acknowledged " the rights of the Bohe- mian kingdom," caused unbounded enthusiasm among the Czechs. A deputation from the Bohemian diet officially presented in Vienna the fundamental laws on which they desired the Ausgleich (agreement) to be based. This presentation brought on a new crisis. A crown council, composed of the Cisleithan ministers, the ministers common to the whole empire, and Count Andrassy, was called to advise the em- peror. Both Count Beust and Count Andrassy so energetically opposed the policy of Hohen- wart that the emperor took sides with them. As the Czech leaders refused to consent to any modification of their programme, Hohenwart resigned on Oct. 25. A month later a new Cisleithan cabinet favorable to the German cen- tralists was appointed, under the presidency of Prince Adolph Auersperg. Again the diets opposed to the new ministry were dissolved and new elections for the Reichsrath ordered ; and again the ministry succeeded in securing a min- isterial majority in the new Reichsrath. The speech with which the emperor on Dec. 27 opened the Reichsrath announced that the government would accede to the wishes of Ga- licia in so far as they were compatible with the interests of the empire, and that measures would be taken to make the Reichsrath a com- pletely representative body. On Feb. 20, 1872, the ministry and constitutional party ( Verfas- sungspartei) gained a great triumph, as the Reichsrath by 104 against 49 votes adopted an additional clause to the electoral law which authorized the government to order direct elec- tions if delegates elected by provincial diets should resign their seats or be prevented from entering the Reichsrath. Another great tri- umph was obtained by the ministry in Bohemia, where it controlled a considerable majority in the new provincial diet. Of the 54 delegates whom the new diet sent to the Reichsrath, 40 were supporters of the ministry, which could now rely on a two-thirds majority in the Reichs- rath even if the Poles should not vote for it. The session of the diet was closed on June 23. The two great reforms, the introduction of which had been regarded as the chief task of the ministry, the substitution of direct elec- tion to the Reichsrath for the indirect election of the delegates by the provincial diets, and the Ausyleich (agreement) with the Poles, were not yet carried through. The ministry offered to the Poles far-reaching concessions, but at the same time declared that nothing would be conceded incompatible with the dualistic basis of the entire empire. The Poles in turn prom- ised that in their struggle for an autonomy like that of Hungary they would keep within the hounds of the present constitution of the em- pire. (See GALIOIA, and HUNGARY.) Among the best historical works on Austria are Mai- lath, ffeschichte des osterreichiseJien Kaiser- stoats (5 vols., Hamburg, 1834-'50) ; Lichnow sky, Geschiehte des JTauses Habsburg (8 vols., Vienna, 1836-'44) ; Springer, Geschichte Oes- terreichs seit dem Wiener Frieden (2 vols., Leipsic, 1864-'5); Bidermann, Geschichte der