Page:The History of The Great European War Vol 1.pdf/44

 without a murmur to his persistent tyranny and revenge; because he regarded the assassination of his nephew, the Archduke, as a protest by the Slavs against the selfish autocracy of the Hapsburgs. Francis Joseph has been variously called "great" and "good." He is not, and never has been, either. Until 1867 he ruled openly and unashamedly as an absolute autocrat. Since then he has continued to rule as an autocrat, but, either through shame or fear, under a thin and transparent guise of constitutionalism. From his succession to the throne in 1848, for about twenty years, he plunged his country and others in a sea of constant and bloody warfare. During that period he suffered defeat after defeat, lost territory after territory, including a part of Italy which all free peoples were glad to see restored, and ultimately reduced his country to a state of absolute financial and political bankruptcy. Then falling back upon the Magyars, he gave them a constitution which permitted Hungary to oppress the other races of that country, the constitution being given and accepted with that object. This he did, coward-like, to save himself and his House. So came into existence such freedom of the people in the territories of the Dual Monarchy as exists to-day, and that is, for all practical purposes, none at all. So far as there is any "freedom" in Hungary for any others than a few of the ruling class, it is solely and simply a licence to oppress.

The settlement of Austria in her present position as a State independent of and separate from Prussia and the German Empire was the result of the defeat of Francis Joseph in the Prusso- Austrian War of 1866, and the consequent Peace of Prague. It is interesting to note, in connection with the present war, that the cause of the war of 1866 was almost identical with the differences between Austria and Servia which resulted in the declaration of war upon Servia by Austria in July of this year. Bismarck then alleged that Austria permitted one of her then states, Holstein, to become a bed of revolutionary agitation against the policy of Prussia. The reply of Austria was that Prussia had no right to criticise or interfere with the internal affairs of Holstein. Friendly relations between the two countries thereupon came to an end, and ultimately Prussia declared war upon Austria. Sadowa settled the matter.

In private life and in his private and domestic relations, Francis Joseph may be even unselfish, generous, and just, and ready to redress an injury or to alleviate distress. As a ruler, however, no monarch could be harder or more callous. In everything governmental he shields himself and his responsibilities behind his bureaucracy. His one and only true affection is for