THE QUARTERLIES.
WE dealt last week with one of the most important articles in the new Edinburgh, that on " The Future of British Railways." There - 'aro several other articles of considerable interest. " Austria and Europe," by Mr. Wickham Steed, is given ,the place of honour. It does what it is most deeirable that all articles on the reconstruction of the Continent after the war should do. It deals specifically with the alterations to be made, and is not content with vague and allusive statements or the mere laying down of principles without practical applications. Here is Mr. Steed on the future ssf the Dual Monarchy :—
. " Unkes the- sear is to end in a bad draw, oreworse, the western half of Galicia must be included in a reunited Poland and the (mainly Ruthene) eastern half, with the north-eastern or Ruthene counties of Hungary, must go to Russia. Bohemia, with Moravia and the north-western or Slovak counties of Ilungary,anust form an independent or at least a self-governing State, linked up, possibly, by some form of agreement a ith Poland. Transylvania and the Humane districts of Hungary, with the Humane section of Bukovina, must become Rumanian, duo provision being made for the fair treatment of the Saxon and Magyar minorities. The Southern Slav provinces must be united with Serbia. The Magyars would retain the central Hungarian plain, and, once freed from the rule of their oppressive oligarchy, would find it easy to maintain profitable relations with their neighbours. The Italians naturally belong to Italy. As to the Austrian Germans, little harm would be done should they elect to enter the German Empire with the"Hapsburgs at their head. The Allies are not seeking to crash the German people, or -even to prevent the union with it of outstanding German tribes.' They are seeking to break the power of Prussian -militarism—that is to say, of the Prussia- ridden Germany created by the wars of 1864, 1866, and 1871. How that Germany has turned the Hapsburg Monarchy into a formidable political and military weapon I have tried to show. The work done by Bismarck in the Hall of 'Mirrors at Versailles, and its consequences, require to be undone, and the ascendency of Prussia reduced to proportions compatible with the liberties of the other German States and of Europe. To this desirable end the only path leads through the dismemberment of the present Hapsburg realms."
We agree in the main with all these proposals, but have some criticism to make on details. They are indeed essential if the principle for which we arc struggling is to be carried out. That principle is that the oppressed nationalities of the Austrian Empire must no longer be oppressed, but must as far as possible be accorded the rights not merely of self-government but, if they so desire it., of complete independence. In our opinion, however, a slip of some moment is to be found in the wording of one of the sentences. Mr. Steed says that the Southern Slav provinces must be "united with. Serbia." We should have pre- ferred to say that Serbia, and those provinces of the dominions of the Hapeburgs which are inhabited by the Southern Slays, must unite in the foundation of an independent Jugo-Slav State. It should be made quite clear that the Austrian Serbs are not to be placed under the hegemony of Serbia, but are to unite with her on terms of equality in forming a new State in which no one section shall be in a position of predominance. Of what Mr. Steed says as to the Austrian Germans our criticism is more actual. He is quite right in saying that the Allies aro not trying to crush the German people, or to prevent the union with them of the outstanding German tribes. What 'we seek, as ho justly observes, is to break the power of Prussian militarism. We want, he goes on, to undo the work done by Bismarck in the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles. That is true ; but may not one of the most effective ways of doing it be to put the Hohenzollern dynasty under a ban except as regards Prussia, Red to use the Hapsburgs to preside over a new Teutonic Confederacy embracing the whole of the German- speaking race except Prussia ? To put it in another way: though we deem it absolutely essential to deprive Austria of her right-of misgovern- ing the Slays, whether Jugo-Slays, Slovaks, Czechs, Poles, or Ruthenes, we would not close the _door to the possibility of re-establishing the Hapsburgs as. authentic German Princes. They are out of place as harriers of the Slays, but the world need not, and does not, feel the sense of horror and.diegust in regard to them which it feels in regard to the Hohenzollcrns. Of course the young Emperor may be too foolish to make it possible to-do what we have suggested. He may.also have tied himself so t ightly to the Kaiser that he will be dragged down in a common ruin. Unless, however, lie has done this, it ^would be distinetly.gmed policy to leave the revivification of the Hapsburgs in a purely Teutonic State as one of the "eaptions " which can be taken at the Peace.
The Quarterly places first an article on " Immortality and Christian Belief," -by the Rev. J. Gamble.—An article which makes a pleasant diversion from the war ielfr. Charles Tennyson's account of that:great if somewhat wayward portrait painter, Zoffany. We do not think that Mr. Tennyson puts Zoffsny in the least too high. Nothing could be more attractive than his conversation pieces, his small-scale full-length figures, or his family groups. Zoffany was specially connected with the English stage, and brought on to his canvas David Garriek and his circle. It may be remembered also that in the middle of his career hetet ep as a painter in India,. and there not only did some of his -best work as a painter of such scenes as Colonel Moalaunt's cock-fight, but also executed some admirable -portraits. Mr. Tennyson notes how foie leaving England Zoffany painted for his patron, Charles Townley, the very attractive interior representing the great virtuoso among his statues in the museum in his London house, a house still in existence (No. 14 Queen Anne's Gate). The picture, which is in admirable condition and a most brilliant piece of painting, has passed by inheritance to Charles Towneley's collateral descendant and representative, the present Lord O'Hagan. In the picture, as in the well-known mezzotint from it, proof iagiven of Zoffany's carefulness and accuracy of drawing. The pattern used to decorate the skylight, which is still intact, is indicated with the utmost precision by the artist, and can be very easily recog- nized. It is to be hoped that some day a representative collection of 2offany's pictures will be brought together in London. They• could not fail to delight the public.—A timely article hi the Quarterly Is that on the development of the agricultural motor. Undoubtedly the ploughing motor and cultivator and also the agricultural tractor have come to stay, Even if, assome people allege, the motor-plough does not do its work as well as properly trained and controlled horses, it works much more quickly, and that in periods like the present is a vital matter. It cannot he, doubted also that experience of "English conditions, such as motor manufacturers are going to obtain in the present year• and until the war is over, will suggest all sorts of improvements. No doubt there would be a difficulty in small-holdings utilizing a motor-plough to the full, a difficulty which is always encountered when agricultural machinery is in question. In all probability, however, this difficulty could be met either by using very small and cheap motors, or else by schemes of hiring set in motion by the landlord or by a Co-operative Society.
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