A PASSING EMPEROR.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 61, 14 October 1907, Page 2

A PASSING EMPEROR.

THE EMPEROR JOSEPH OF AUSTRIA. Received Oct. 13, 4.14 p.m. Vienna, October 12. The latest reports state that the Emperor Joseph's health is rather unfavorable. ?' Emperor Francis Joseph I. was born on 18th August, 1830. He was the son of the late Archduke Francis Charles, and succeeded his uncle, Ferdinand 1., ■ as Emperor of Austria on 2nd Decern ■ , ber, 1848. He was crowned King of ( Hungary on Bth June, 1867. Me has had a strenuous and remarkable piign, and is in many ways one of the remarkable men of the century. The beginning of his reign was marked by important events. Hungary was in a state of rebellion, which was quelled by the help of Russia. His Italian dominions were saved by the genius of General Radetzky. The Emperor made strenuous efforts to ' prevent the Crimean war, and refused - > to join France and England. After the ; Austro-Frencli war ('SB) lie was com- ® pelled to fign the treaty of peace of ' Villafranca, by which Lombardy was ceded to Italy. lu 'Bfi he lost the Duchy of Holstcin, and in the same year, as the result of the war wtyh Prussia, ' Venetia also. That year was fatal to | the supremacy of Austria in Germany, ■ the contest being decided in favor of Prussia by treaty. In '54 the Emperor [ married Princess Eugenie of Bavarh, ' who was murdered by an Italian anarchist at Geneva in '9B. The death nf ' the Crown Prince Rudolph made the Archduke Francis Ferdinand, a nephswof the Emperor's, the heir to the throne. The Emperor has faced many very seri- ; ous disruptions within his empire, aris- . ing mainly from the past incompatibility , of the many distinct peoples of Austria and Hungary; but no man has done more to bring the discordant elements into a line of national aspiration than the old Emperor, who of late years has . shown a growing disposition to yield to ; the demands of the democracy. Much, however, still remains to be conccdod, ; but non.e can read the history of Austro- [ Hungary without recognising the 1 strength, personality, and wisdom of I the old Emp»ror, whose days appear to 1 ! be numbered.