Meaning of "emphasis" in this context

I have a problem with this sentence:

If the world was dominated by emphasis, the Monarchy preferred discretion, restrained passions, a calm tone of voice.

I can't get the first part. What is the meaning of "emphasis" here? And what is the meaning of "If the world was [were?] dominated by emphasis"?

In order to get a proper answer, I think this question needs more explanation, therefore I decided to write the whole paragraph here. It is about Joseph Roth, a great Austrian writer of Galician descent, and his good experience in his Austro-Hungarian fatherland. He says:

Everything in this world was continuously in a state of constant change: familiar and strange, quotidian and remarkable, ‘that, which was strange, became familiar, without losing its colours, and the homeland had the pleasing charm of abroad’ [ . . . ] It was thus a cheerful and bright place, downright innocent [ . . . ] If the world was dominated by emphasis, the Monarchy preferred discretion, restrained passions, a calm tone of voice. It was often irresistibly funny, very much like an operetta put on by third-rate actors.

Solution 1:

I have problem with this sentence: If the world was dominated by emphasis, the Monarchy preferred discretion, restrained passions, a calm tone of voice.

I can't get the first part. What is the meaning of "emphasis" here?, and What is the meaning of "If the world was [were?] dominated by emphasis"?

The article seems to be a light hearted (amusing) piece of writing, where the author uses opposites to illuminate his script. As seen in the example below.

Everything in this world was continuously in a state of constant change: familiar and strange, quotidian and remarkable,

familiar vs strange.......... quotidian vs remarkable,

Therefore it is safe to presume that emphasis is used as an opposite to

discretion, restraint, calm

The definition of EMPHASIS, Webster's noun In rhetoric, a particular stress of utterance, or force of voice, given to the words or parts of a discourse, whose signification the speaker intends to impress specially upon his audience

I believe the author has exercised his poetic license and modified this definition to a more general context where everything has a bold, brash, outstanding, vivid and extrovert quality. A world, dominated by flamboyance and force of voice best suited to convey their "importance"

flamboyance noun Cambridge English Dictionary

the quality of being very confident in your behaviour, and liking to be noticed by other people, for example because of the way you dress or talk:. ​ the quality of being very noticeable in style, colour, etc.: