SEPTEMBER 7, 190G
3
K
tlan church have been at war with each other,
for Hungary' has been the eastern, outpost of
Protestantism as well as a champion of Chris
tianity; and more recently Hungary has been
lighting for her political independence. Hers has
been a long, drawn-out struggle in which her peo
ple, time and again, have almost been extermin
ated, but she emerges from it all a strong, vigor
ous and militant nation. She is now a part of
the Austro-Hungarian empire, and her. people, form
the largest homogeneous group in the empire?
When we consider the numerous wars between
'Austria and, Hungary, the difference in race his
tory and language, and the dissimilarity in po
litical training, it Is not strange that there should
be a lack of harmony between the empire as a
whole and its largest single member.
When Hungary turned to Austria for help
.against the Turks and came under thb Hapsburg
line, she insisted upon a recognition of her. .na
tional rights and secured a promise that her
people should have control of their own affairs.
While this alliance did not save her from the
Mohammedans, it united her destiny to .that of
"Austria, but she has never surrendered her in
dependence. The crown of Hungary has always
been distinct from that of Austria, and the em
peror of Austro-Hungary must visit Budapest and
receive with the crown of St. Stephen the title
of king of Hungary. Joseph II., son of the be
loved Maria Theresa, was the first king to refuse
to receive the crown and swear fidelity to the Hun
garian constitution, and the Hungarians would
never call him their "crowned king' until on his
,deathbed he retracted his arbitrary measures and
permitted the restoration of the constitution.
In her struggle for liberty Hungary has de
veloped many patriots, among whom Louis Kos
suth is the best known. He and Francis Deak
were the leaders of the revolution of 1848 which
resulted in the constitution of that year. The
constitution of 1867 was not quite so liberal, and
these two constitutions form the basis of the
present political division in Hungary; all Hun
garians are jealous of the rights of their nation
but the majority of the members of parliament
Insist upon the recognition of the constitution of
1848, while the minority are content to adhere
"to the constitution of ,1867, which gives the em
peror a larger control over the army.
The elder Kossuth lived in exile after the
Revolution of 1867 and was, during his exile, en
thusiastically received in the "United States by
congress and by the people in general. Kossuth's
son is now a member of the coalition ministry,
and at a banquet to which I had the good for
tune to be invited, spoke feelingly of the treat
ment which his father received in the United
'States and of the high regard felt by Hungarians
for America and Americans. Count Apponyl, the
foremost orator of Hungary also paid his respects
to the United States and likened our country to
'the forwarding station in wireless telegraphy,
saying that the political current was so strong in
our country that its messages were carried to all
the world.
I happened to be in Budapest at the opening
of parliament and heard the speech of the now
premier, Dr. Wekerle. The independence party
has a large majority in the parliament, having
shown increasing strength at each successive
'election. The emperor, Francis Joseph, is resist
' ing one of the demands made by the Hungarians,
.'viz., that the army shall use the Hungarian lan
guage instead of the German language. Some
' years ago the fight was made and won for the
use of the Hungarian language in schools, in
the courts and in parliament, and the Hungarians
'feel that their nationality is endangered by the
fact that their army is taught only- the German
' -words of command. The emperor takes the posi-
tion that the use of the Hungarian language would
destroy the unity of the imperial army. To pre-
' vent a rupture he proposed the formation of a
' coalition cabinet to hold until the suffrage could
be extended and the question again submitted to
' the people. There is no doubt that the people
are practically unanimous in favor of their own
language and that an extension of the suffrage
' will not change the complexion of parliament.
The relati6ns between the emperor and Hungary
1 have become very much strained, and the aver-
- slon to the German language is so pronounced
that Hungarians who can speak the German Ian
1 guage will often refuse to answer a question ad
' dressed to them in German. For Francis Joseph
himself the Hungarians have a strong r.ffection,
and they would be glad' to contribute to the hap
piness of his closing days, but they feel that
the interests of their nation are vitally con-
1 cerned and they are anxious to have the point
- at issue" settled before a new sovereign ascends
nthe throne. If the emperor were left to himself,
The Commoner.
ho would probably conclude that a Hungarian
fighting force attached to tho empire and grateful
for consideration shown their country would form
a more effective part of tho joint army, oven
though the Hungarians spoke their own languago,
than troops compelled to learn a languago hateful
to them. History furnishes many examples of
successful armies made of corps, divisions and
regiments speaking different languages, but loss
numerous are tho instances of nations success
fully held together by force when one part of
the empire was made subservient to the inter
ests of another part. Hungary is being alienated
by insistence upon requirements which do not
in reality strengthen the empire while she might
bo drawn closer to the throne by a more liberal
policy The end is not yet.
Copyright.
JJJ
THE SHALLENBERGER BILL
A. C. Shallenberger, democratic and popu
list nominee for governor of Nebraska, while a
member of congress introduced one measure bear
ing upon the great issuos now before tho pooplo
which measuro at tho time attracted widespread
attention. This measuro provided for the ap
pointment of a commission to bo known as tho
foreign and internal commerce commission. The
bill further provided that corporations proposing
to engage in interstate commerco should file a
statement showing stock, liabilities, indebtedness,
etc., and applying for authority to engage in in
terstate commerce, and tho commission was not to
be allowed to grant such authority if the statement
shows any watered stock or if the corporation is
attempting to monopolize or control the manu
facture, product, sale or transportation of any
article of trade or merchandise. The president
was authorized, upon the recommendation of this
commission, to suspend wholly or partially for
such time as he may direct, the collection of im
port dues on such articles as compete with art
icles produced by any corporation which is at
tempting to monopolize an industry. If any offi
cial of a corporation or member of an association
of individuals is guilty of perjury in making the
statements provided for in the bill he was to
bo subject to the penalties provided for perjury.
All corporations attempting to engage In Inter
state commerce without first complying with the
conditions of the act and obtaining a license from
the commission were to bo required to pay a tax
of ten per cent on the capital stock issued and
outstanding, and tho same annual tax was to bo
levied upon all stock issued in excess of the actual
money Invested In the enterprise.
Writing in The Commoner of February 6,
1903, Mr. Bryan referred to tho Shallenberger
measure as "a bill which more nearly than any
other measuro that has been brought to tho edi
tor's attention carries out the Kansas City plat
form plan." Mr. Bryan added: "The Shallen
berger bill places the entire matter of interstate
commerce under the control of the commission
to be dreated. Corporations organized for the
purpose of engaging in a purely state industry
are not at all interfered with or embarrassed,
but a corporation organized to engage in interstato
commerce must secure a license before going out
side of the state of its origin. The attempt to en
gage In Interstate commerce might be more ac
curately defined as the use, or attempted use,
of railroads, telegraph lines or the mails for any
business outside of the state in which tho corpor
ation is created. This bill does not Interfere with
the right of the state to create any corporation
It needs for its own use, but it makes It Impos
sible for a state to convert itself into a den of
' thieves and organize great industrial combina
tions to prey upon the rest of the country. The
bill ought to provide that the license issued by
the commission is not to interfere with the right
of every state to regulate foreign corporations
doing business In the state. The license con
templated is simply a license that permits the
state corporation to engage in Interstate com
merce It can not leave the state of its origin
without obtaining this license but when the
license is obtained it does not protect the cor
poration, or should not, from the laws deemed
necessary by any state for the protection of Its
vown people. In other words, the federal remedy
should be added to' the state remedy, not substi
tuted for it. The bill ought to go a little farther
in the way of penalties. The tax to be collected
is all right, but there should be a criminal pen-
alty imposed upon any corporation official who
attempts to engage in interstate commerce before
the license is obtained, or who In any way takes
part in the Issue of watered stock. The bill
should also provide for the revocation of tho
license by the commission whenever the corpora-
tlon violates the conditions upon which tho Iiconflo
was granted, and when the license is revoked tho
Intorstato business of tho corporation must bo
suspended until a now liccnso is issued. Tho
Shallenberger bill is sound in principle and would
be offectivo in practice. Instead of compelling
tho government to search tho country for viola
tions of tho law it would compel tho corporations
to seok the government and obtain a license be
foro engaging in business. Tho system proposed
by tho bill Is similar to tho liccnso system now in
operation, but much more easily enforced. If tho
government attempted to collect a tax from each
liquor denier aftor ho had sold liquor, or attempt
ed to enforce provisions against porsons who sold
without first requiring a license, it would find Its
task a very difficult one. But when it requires
tho payment of tho liccnso fee In advance tho
work becomes much easier. In tho cane of a cor
poration it could not do much Interstate business
without being detected. Under such a law It
would bo Impossible for a corporation to do
any real harm without tho fact coming to tho
knowledge of tho government."
JJJ - .Mifj
A SPLENDID PLAN "
One plank of the Tcxa democratic platform
demands tho establishment of statdepartment
of agriculture, and adequate .agricultural equip
ment for the various institutions of learning in
order that Industrial thought in tho schools may
be encouraged by teaching the elements of agri
culture and tho Industrial arts. Tho plank Is a
good one. The establishment of agricultural
schools Bhould bo encouraged In every possible
way. Minnesota and Nebraska are two splendid
examples of what may bo dono for tho develop
ment of agriculturo and kindred pursuits by tho
maintenance of good stato agricultural colleges.
Nebraska is just beginning to realize upon her
Investment In a great state agricultural college.
Tho number of students increases each year, and
tho result Is an awakening of Interest In farm
pursuits, the interesting of boys and girls In agri
culturo, bettor methods of farming and consequent
Increase in tho returns from the soil. If a stato
agricultural experiment station can produce seed
corn that will withstand early spring conditions
one week longer than tho average, and cure one
week earlier In tho fall than tho average, that
ono result alone will more than repay all tho
money spent in experimental work In a decade.
If the expenditure of $1,000,000 will breed a new
species of wheat averaging ono moro kernel to tho
head, the Investment will be immensely profitable.
And if a well conducted agricultural school in
duces the rising generation to stick to the farms
instead of flocking to tho already over-crowded
cities, Its cost will be a mere bagatelle compared
with resultant benefits. Texan's are to be congratu
lated upon their determination to establish agricul
tural schools. The Minnesota agricultural school
has made Minnesota the greatest dairying stato in
the union. The Iowa agricultural college has
caused Iowa to run Minnesota a close second, if
not to a "tie." Nebraska, the youngest of the
three, is. coming along third with prospects of get
ting into the bunch at the wire. And every dollar
expended by these three great states in the con
duct of agricultural colleges has .already been
returned an hundred fold.
JJJ
FAVOR TO AMERICAN INDUSTRY
The republican administration bought for
tho Panama canal two American ships of 5,700
tons each for $1,300,000 when It was offered two
foreign ships of 6,000 tons each for $750,000.
The republican administration awarded to the
American Steel company the contract for two
dredges at $362,000 each when a' foreign concern
had offered to build these two dredges for $70,000
less.
Wo arc told that this was done by way of
showing favor to American industry.
But when the government finds it necessary
to purchase an amount of silver for small coin,
tho republican secretary of tho treasury adopts
unheard of methods in order to prevent silver,
a great American commodity, from obtaining
common advantages resulting from an increased
demand.
JJJ
THE FACT
The Minneapolis Journal says The Commoner
wants to bet that the purchasing power of the dol
lar has decreased since 189U The Journal seems
to take a delight in being consistently wrong. The
Commoner does not want to bet, will not bet, does
not countenance betting and advises against bet
ting. But the purchasing p'ower of the dollar has
decreased since 1896.
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