will be stopped. He has been fined 40 crowns . . . and [on another summons] the punishment goes up to six months' prison and a fine. I spoke with the judge that he should impose the maximum on him . . . write you to him also in this matter, for Mocza must be squashed.
It must not be forgotten that the Magyar race in Hungary, which forms the dominating political party there, is in fact representative of but a minority of the people of the country. Their political power depends very largely upon electoral corruption— a corruption so extensive, and at the same time subtle, that it has been described by a competent authority as incredibly loathsome and oppressive. The following is told as illustrative of the view the Magyar candidate takes of his position when at length he is elected:
"Not many years ago a noble count stood as a candidate for a West Hungarian constituency, and was in due course elected. Soon afterwards a deputation of the electors visited him in Budapest, reminded him of his promises at the time of the election, and begged him to act in accordance with them. 'Why do you come to me?' asked the count. 'Why, because you are our representative,' the astounded electors replied. 'Nothing of the kind,' said the count. 'I bought the constituency for £2,000. You all had your price—free lunches and free drinks into the bargain. I'm damned if I do anything for you. We are quits!'" And in a moment the deputation found itself in the street.
We have already referred to the advanced age of Francis Joseph. But this has been and is an important factor in the progress of events to their present position. His death has been looked forward to as the moment when his Magyar kingdom may seize the opportunity to endeavour to break through the present dual system, and when also the Slavs may strike a determined blow for freedom. He and the Kaiser have been now for many years firm allies in the struggle for autocratic Germanism. It was, therefore, to the Kaiser, an imperative necessity that any action of his, such as an aggressive Pan-Germanist war like the present one, should be taken before the death of the monarch. The late Archduke Francis Ferdinand could not be depended upon by the Kaiser as an ally to this end. There was also the possible disruption of the Dual Monarchy, or internal difficulties there, to consider. Hence the present moment, during the lifetime of Francis Joseph, as the time for the Triple Alliance to strike.
