THE 'TIMES' ON HOME RULE IN HUNGARY.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume I, Issue 47, 21 March 1874, Page 10

THE 'TIMES' ON HOME RULE IN HUNGARY.

(' Dublin Freeman,' Dec. 6 ) Yesterday the ' Times ' contained a very eloquent article on a subject recently discussed in our columrs — the twenty-fifth unnirertarv of the ascension of the Emperor Francis Joseph. The 'Times' truly points out that the real cau?e of the happiness and prosperity which'have in recent times fallen to the lot of Austria and its Imperial master is the full concession to Hungary of those rights of self-governmeut for which she had so long and so bravely struggled. The cause of the early misfortunes of Francis Joseph were, the 'Times' adds, with perfect accuracy, his misconception of the demands of Hungary. Hun* <rary asked for self-government. The Emperor Francis Joseph honestly believed that her demand meant treason ; aud, acting ou that belief he brought the Empire 10 the verge of ruin. Tho Emperor's mistake was, the writer in the 'limes' says, that ho believed that "to recognize the constitution of Hungary would be to concede the demands of traitors, >vhose real obj-ct was the disruption of the Empire." A grave mistake, truly, of the Kaiser Francis Joseph j but did the writer in the * Times ' reflect that the " leading organ "is at this moment counselling a whole nation to commit the very error which brought such misfortunes on the head of the Austrian Emperor? Iceland is maintaining the self-same demand which Hungary madfc and the 'TiireV is trying to persuade the English people that Home Rule is asked for by "traitors, whose real object is the disruption of the Empire." Surely England, instead of listening to sucb advice, ought to take heart and counsel from the history of the Austro-Hungarian difficulty. Granting Home Rule to Hungary gave peace, prosperity and happiness to a distracted land, and reconciled one of the largest and bitterest cf feuds. In the loyal throng that assembled around Francis Joseph on Monday last was many a grey-haired Hun"urian now the loyal subject of the prince who gave freedom to his country but who five and twenty years ago, sword in hand, opposed that prince in many a stricken field.