The Daily News. SATURDAY, JUNE 2, 1917. THE HUNGARIAN CRISIS.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 June 1917, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, JUNE 2, 1917. THE HUNGARIAN CRISIS.

The two outstanding factors in the Hungarian political crisis are the fall of Count Tisza and tho evidence of the growing wave of democracy that is spreading over the country. Those acquainted with the political conditions nominally and actually in vogue in Hungary will have no difficulty in tracing the connecting link between Tisza.'s downfall and the pressure of democracy. Although Hungary has its Parliament it must not be imagined that members govern the country. Despotic autocracy is just as dominant in Hungary as it is in Germany, and the army is made to play a similar part in both Empires. The late Emperor Franz Josef and Count Tisza both regarded parliament as a necessary evil—a kind of national safety valve, put of a population of over twenty millions nearly one half are Magyars, whose language is compulsory on the railways, in the schools and law courts. Theße Magyars Tide the Southern 'Slavs with whip and spur, and in a parliament of 413 members there are only five who are not Magyars. Some surprise may be felt at such a dominance of one race over all the others, bub Count Tisza has either been able to bar an extended franchise to other than Magyars, or has been able to control the elections. How easily this latter was achieved only those who are acquainted with the methods used can tell. As an instance of the grossest abuse of autocratic power it is worth while stating somei of the chief means of blocking voters by such unscrupulous men as Tisza. In the fust place non-Magyar voters were disfranchised not only by a high property qualification, but by violence and treachery. Only twenty-five per cent of tho adult male population enjoy! a vote. Tlie larger tho constituency the further from the centre would bo the solitary polling place. At election times bridges are frequently broken down or declared unsafe for vehicles. All horses in the outlying villages are placed under veterinary supervision at the last moment. Then the voking is by word of mouth in public, so that non-Magyars are terrorised publicly into voting for Magyars. But that by no means touches the depth of autocratic iniquity. At election times Hungary mobilises lier whole army in j order to terrorise Opposition voters, 1 those who insist on tJiair riehti to votel

being frequently attacked by armed Riolia or shot down by the gendarmes or military. This terrorising does not eeuso at the polls. Tisza. .should be u man after the liaiser'a own heart—and for a time ho was—a ruthless, determined and fearless oppressor of the people, an unswerving supporter of autocracy, with a corresponding contempt for the people. When commanded by the late Emperor to reduce the (Hungarian Parliament to order, Tisza used the army for the work of dragging out all offending members. On another occasion, in order to prevent opposition to increased naval and military expenditure lie had armed men placed at the doors of the Mouse to prevent the entry of all members likely to prove refractory. Xew inlanders may well ponder over these methods, for they are the means that would be employed here if ever our present enemies should annex the country. As time passed the Hungarians strongly clamored for general suffrage and even a few members were elected on that ticket, but when the claim was voiced in Parliament the iron fisted Tisza called in the soldiers, who chased the offending members into the street at the point of the bayonet. Up to a point lie had the Kaiser's help, -but when the latter ha<; no further uso for his dupe he was promptly dropped, the iKaiser now desiring to conciliate the Slavs and establish an independent Poland. With the aB- - of the new Emperor the hopes of tiie people for a largely extended, if not universal, suffrage revived. Tisza, however, brought forward proposals extending the franchise to 30,000 men only, and this the Emperor refused, the Premier's resignation following. To get rid of such a dominating opponent to reform clears the way for further progressive action. It will not give the people , a democratic Government, for nothing but a successful revolution will secure that privilege. Tho Hungarians may now hope for better days than were possible under the grim', stern, iron rule of Tisza. There may be, and probably are, other forces at work affecting the Hungarian j crises, but they have not filtered through the strong guard of censorship. Food troubles, an increasing desire for a speedy peace, and war losses cannot fail to tell on the people, and the rapidly 'growing feeling against Germany's dominance may also have its influence, but the crisis need not be regarded as having any direct effect on the war. j