The Daily News. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1916. THE PASSING OF AUSTRIA'S EMPEROR.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 November 1916, Page 4

The Daily News. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1916. THE PASSING OF AUSTRIA'S EMPEROR.

The news of the Emperor Franz Josef's death will not conif, as a surprise to the world at large, for lie had passed the allotted span of three score and ten years by an additional sixteen, and it ha? been manifest of late that his 'lays were numbered. lew sovereigns have experienced more troubles and tragedies than those which fell to the lot of the late Emperor of Austria •Hungary. He commenced his reign at a time when a revolution had brought about the abdication of his uncle, and he has ended it in the throes of the most terrible war in history. We leave it to history to demonstrate how Franz Josef fulii'lei his sacred trust. This is no time for prying into records of cruelty; rather is it opportune to discover, if possible, the good lie has accomplished. The tragedies of his family life have been exceptionally severe, and it could alm:-t be said that he lived under a curse. V.r brother Maximilian CJ-s executed by tie Mexicans, His sop 22A heir (Rudolph) committed suicide) fe'ls wife was assaui'

nated; his son Archduke Jolm was drowned at sea, and his heir, the Archduke Francis Ferdinand and wife, were assassinated at Sarajevo, from which DM'iit the present war had its origin. The death of Fran/. Josef will not !.e likely to have any inlineiiee on the war, for is entirely dominated by Ucrmany, but Ids great age and extraordinary, eventful life mark him as one who will take a place in history. Austria is already in a desperate plight, pr,tl the death of the Emperor will naturally increase the gloom and depression that overhangs the country. At any other time and under other cirmunftuncps great sympathy would have been felt for the unfortunate Austrians, but it would be sheer hypocrisy to formulate such sentiments under existing jriid'lions. The utmost that can be done, in decency, is to express the hope that under Franz Josef's successor Austr'aIlimgary may be freed from German influence and work out their destiny eiilwr together or separately, so as to became of some use and good to the world at large.