A Hajdú-Bihar Megyei Levéltár évkönyve 20. 1993 (Debrecen, 1993)

Tanulmányok - Bényei Miklós: Kossuth Lajos Pesti Hírlapja és Debrecen

A debreceni szabadelvűek csekély köréből sem verődött szilárd tábor a Pesti Hírlap mellé. Noha mind többen akakadtak, akik a nemesi reformerek törekvéseivel, a polgárosodás és a nemzeti önrendelkezés programjával egyetértettek — olykor meg is szólaltak —, Kossuth és a Pesti Hírlap iránymutatását csak részben tudták követni. Más megnyilvánulásaikból is az látszik, hogy a reformmozgalomnak inkább a mérsékeltebb áramlataival, elsősorban Széchenyi István gróf politikájával rokonszenveztek.7"

THE „PESTI HÍRLAP” (NEWS OF PEST) OF LAJOS KOSSUTH AND DEBRECEN

Miklós Bényei

The „Pesti Hírlap” was edited by Lajos Kossuth for three and a half year (between the 2n<i of January, 1841 and the 30№ of June, 1844). The newspaper urging for bourgeois transformation and national autonomy was well-known also in the most densely populated Hungarian town that was Debrecen. The writings of some authors of Debrecen also appeared in the paper and a lot of local information could be found amongst the advertisments and announcements. The number of so-called small news was small since the „Pesti Hírlap” hasn’t permanent contributor from Debrecen. At the beginning there were some press-correspondents who covered the development and public life of the town, but such articles soon ceased. During the preparation of the Protestant union the newspaper frequently criticized the reluctant behaviour of the leaders of the Calvinist Diocese of ^Tiszántúl”. Lajos Kossuth in his several articles urged the building of the railway to Debrecen. From the beginning of 1843 the name of Debrecen came up the most frequently in connection with the debates about the reformation of free royal towns. Kossuth published the suggestion of the magistracy of Debrecen, commented upon it and gave place to further remarks. The polemics in press continued on the Parliament in Pozsony. Debrecen was frequently mentioned by the reports of the discussion. The „Pesti Hírlap” published the second speech of the deputy od Debrecen regarding opponency of the emancipation of Jews in full extent together with the disclaimers. It was impossible to recincile the point of view of the conservative leadership of the town and of the liberal conception of Lajos Kossuth. The small group of the broadminded people of Debrecen didn’t become near to the newspaper neither.

79 A korabeli Debrecen eszmei-politikai arculatáról Id. Bényei Miklós: Debrecen reformkori művelődéstörténetének néhány kérdése. = Hajdú-Bihar Megyei Levéltár évkönyve I. Debrecen, 1974. 196—198. p. uő.: Széchényi István és a debreceni Polgári Casino. = Hajdú-Bihar Megyei Levéltár évkönyve XIX. Debrecen, 1992. 154. p.

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