Fáklyaláng, 1965. október (6. évfolyam, 1-10. szám)
1965-10-23 / 10. szám
FÁKLYALÁNG 5 Gloria Victis How shall we thank the men and maids heroic Who faced with valiant hearts and empty hands A saurian monster from the Mesozoic, An armoured dragon from the darkened lands? Out of the schoolroom and the busy smithy. Out of the kitchen and the draper’s shop, They swarmed exultant into Vulcan’s stithy, In Freedom’s name they bade the horror stop. Then for a moment from the beast malignant There came no rip of claw, no gnash of tooth, Attentive lest a wakened world indignant Should rouse from sloth and strike a blow for Truth. The W'est was silent; and the Brontosaurus, Bellowing down the streets of those dark days, Trampled to blood and death the youthful chorus That sang but now in Liberty’s high praise. Yet who can lock to love the grave’s black portal? Deep in the anguish of the poet’s mind The Magyar spirit shall abide immortal And rise triumphant to redeem mankind. Watson Kirkoonnell SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1956 RADIO FREE KOSSUTH 2100 “Cardinal Mindszenty, Archbishop of Esztergom and Prince Primate of Hungary, will speak to the whole world and to the Hungarian people: “ ‘Nowadays it is often emphasized that the speaker breaking away from the practices of the past is speaking sincerely. I cannot say this. I need not break with my past. By the grace of God, I am the same as I was before my imprisonment. I stand by my convictions physically and spiritually intact, just as I was eight years ago, though prison has tired me sorely. . . . “ ‘There is no country which in the course of its thousaand years of history has suffered more than we have. Hungarians have had to wage incessant struggles for our independence, mostly in defense of the Western countries. These struggles interrupted the continuity of our development and we always had to rise again by our own efforts. In the course of history this is the first occasion that Hungary has enjoyed the sympathy of all other civilized nations. We are deeply moved by this, and every member of our small nation is joyous in his heart that, because of our love of liberty, the nations have taken up its cause. . . . “ ‘Yet we, even in our extremely grave situation, hope that we have no enemies, for we are the enemies of no one. We wanat to live in friendship with all people and all countries. . . . We Hungarians want to live and progress as the standardbearers of the family of peaceful European nations. We want tot live in a spirit of friendship with all the people of Europe and not on the basis of an artificially-created friendship. And turning our eyes toward more distant parts, we, a smll nation, want to live in friendship, in undisturbed, peaceful and mutual esteem with the great United States, as well as the powerful Russian Empire, and in goodneighborly relations with Prague, Bucharest, Warsaw and Belgrade. In this regard I must refer to Austria as a country enshrined in the heart of every Hungarian for the brotherly understanding shown during the suffering of our present process of maturing. “ ‘Our position and future now depend on what the Russian Empire, consisting of 200 million persons, intends to do regarding its military forces within our frontiers. Radio reports say that this military force is increasing. We are neutral. We did not give the Russian Empire cause for bloodshed. But has the idea ever occurred to the leaders of the Russian Empire that we would respect the Russian people far more if they did not opress us? “ ‘Usually it is the attacked that hurls himself against the enemy. However, we did not attack Russia, and we sincerely hope that Russia will withdraw her armed forces from Hungary soon. “ ‘As a result ofthe above-mentioned struggle, all work and production has stopped throughout the country, making our internal situation all the more critical. It is a nation worn to the bone that fought for its liberty. We are facing starvation. Work, production and restoration must immediately be resumed for our own sake as well as for the nation. This is essential if the nation is to continue to live. Everyone in the country must know that this fight was not a revolution, but a fight for freedom. “ ‘In 1945, after a lost, and for us, a pointless war, a regime was forced on us which now disgusts its heirs and they condemn it wholeheartedly. This regime was swept away by the entire Hungarian people, and its heirs should not ask for a proof of this. With the younger generation at the head of the nation, the fight for freedom will remain unparalleled througout the world. This fight was fought because the nation wanted to be free to decide how it was to live, to work, and to run the State. The people themselves will not permit the distortion of this fact to the advantage of unauthorized powers for hidden motives. “ ‘Now we need general elections, free from abuses, in which all parties can nominate candidates. The elections should be held under international supervision. “ 1 am, and will remain, independent of any party, and because of my office, above it. I take advantage of my authority to warn every Hungarian not to give way to parly strife and disagreement after these days of beautiful unity. Our country needs many things, but it does not need many parties and party leaders. The nation’s existence and daily bread, not politics, is our main worry. “ ‘Personal revenge must be avoided and eliminated. Those who have participated in the fallen regime are responsible for their activities, omissions and defaults. If things proceed decently and according to promises made, my task will not be to make accusations. “‘However, I must stress that we have a classless society and a State where law prevails. We support private ownership which is rightly nd justly limited by social interests. This is the wish of the Hungarian people. “‘As head of the Hungarian Roman Catholic Church I declare . . . that we do not oppose the justified development of our country. We only desire that this development should be sound. (Excerpts from “The Revolt in Hungary Issue”)
