This clemency does not, however, meet with the approval of the Cubans. The pardon states that it is extended to all those whose crimes are against the state, but not to those criminals who should be punished by military law. It therefore amounts to little more than the releasing of the prisoners who are in the jails; the insurgents who have taken up arms against Spain have all been declared outlaws, and their crimes are punishable by military law, so the pardon does not apply to the soldiers who are or have been fighting in the war, and they are liable to be put to death for outlawry whenever caught.
Reference was made, in The Great Round World No. 49, to the disgraceful proceedings which were taking place in the Austrian Parliament.
Unfortunately the members of that legislature have not yet seen the shame of their conduct, but have continued to grow more violent and add to their scandalous behavior in every possible way.
The use of the Czech and Magyar languages by the officials in Bohemia and Hungary has again been under discussion, and the scenes that have occurred in the Austrian Parliament day after day are almost beyond belief.
Instead of discussing the matter in hand, the deputies fell to calling each other names like a lot of vulgar street-boys, and would eventually have fought if a few of the cooler-headed members had not forcibly restrained them.
When the din would reach its highest point, the President would adjourn the meetings; but frequently the uproar was so great that the deputies did not know that he had done so.
These scenes have continued for over a week. On one occasion when a member rose to speak on the Austro-Hungarian compact, which is also unpopular in the House, Herr Wolff, the young Bohemian who recently fought a duel with Count Badeni, the Prime Minister, began to pound loudly on the lid of his desk, and calling his friends to aid him, sang, shouted, and read from the newspaper at the top of his voice, until, after an hour and a half of confusion, the member who was trying to speak gave up the attempt in despair.
At the present moment there are three important matters which have to be considered by the Parliament, all of which have their bitter opponents. One is the language question, another the calling to account of the Prime Minister for the various acts which have displeased the people, and the third is the important question of renewing the Austro-Hungarian compact.
We told you in an earlier number that this was an agreement by which Hungary paid thirty per cent. of the money needed by the Government, and Austria the remaining seventy per cent.