Körmöczi Katalin szerk.: Historical Exhibition of the Hungarian National Museum 3 - From the End of the Turkish Wars to the Millennium - The history of Hungary in the 18th and 19th centuries (Budapest, 2001)

ROOM 14. Endurance, Compromise and Economic Boom "The Repudiation of That Which is Illegal is No Mere Option, But Rather an Obligation" (Ferenc Deák) (Katalin Körmöczi - Edit Haider)

the Klapka Legion; and a list with the names of those refugees who went from Istambul to America. There are also the stops and mementos of Kossuth's journeys in Britain and America. During his years in exile, Kossuth drew the lessons of his controversial and tardy nationalities policy of 1848-49. In his Kiutahia draft constitution, formulated in 1851, he outlined the 19th century's most progressive nationalities policy and at the same time sketched out a bourgeois democratic state order for Hungary. He also worked out a plan for a Danubian Confederation, which can be seen as an alternative to the Austro-Hungarian Compromise. However, when it was unexpectedly published in 1862, it was rejected by Hungarian public opinion, the emigres, and by great numbers among the nationalities involved. After his American tour, Kossuth settled in London with his family. From 1862 onwards, he lived in Turin, Italy. He attempted to link the emigration with European politics, wishing to utilize international crises in the interests of Hungary. He established links with Mazzini and his circle, with Cavour and Napoleon III, and with every anti-Austrian movement. Kossuth's policy, based on his stance in 1849, was opposed to the political processes in Hungary in the 1860s and out of line with the power relations then taking shape between the Austria and Hungary, and in Europe more generally. This is symbolized by the argumentatively-positioned, English-made mahogany desk used by Kossuth in exile, and by the socalled Cassandra Letter placed on it. The letter, which opposed the Compromise, was addressed to Ferenc Deák. "IF NEED BE, THE NATION WILL ENDURE" (Ferenc Deák) SOCIAL ATTITUDES IN THE YEARS OF NEOABSOLUTISM AND DESPOTISM With the exception of the narrow circle represented by the conservative aristocracy, every element of Hungarian society was excluded from political activity. A limited number of aristocrats who at the time of the revolution and independence war had declared their loyalty to the Court and who had distanced themselves from the events in Hungary asked for, and were given, positions. During the years of absolutism, the members of this circle represented the only link between the Viennese Court and Hungarian society. On a number of occasions they expressed their dissatisfaction to the emperor, as well as the indefensibility of the situation. With their plans, which Minister of the Interior Bach regarded as constituting a revolutionary programme, they wanted to a state of affairs more tolerable than despotism, on the basis of the one existing in 1847. "Our country is prepared to do anything for the monarch, except to be untrue to itself," they declared. The leading political and social force during the Reform Age and the war of independence was the lesser nobility. Disappointed in its patriotic feelings after Világos and denied the opportunity to assert itself politically and socially, it adopted the political stance known as passive resistance. The leading figures had lost their lives, had become exiles or were locked up in a lunatic asylum. Only one major figure from the great time remained on Hungarian soil: Ferenc Deák (1803-76) (Fig. 47). Because of his personality or because of his good luck (or possibly be-