Századok – 1993

Tanulmányok - Sándor Pál: Deák Ferenc a történelmi személyiség I/3

DEÁK FERENC A TÖRTÉNELMI SZEMÉLYISÉG 35 FERENC DEÁK, THE PROMINENT HISTORICAL FIGURE by Pál Sándor Summary The author, while concentrating on the relevant questions, describes Ferenc Deák's political career and, in connection with it, gives his portrait as an individual as well. He demonstrates what unique position Deák's moderate liberalism occupied among the ideas of the major politicians who were sensitive to the vital Hungarian problems during the last centuiy. It was the period when heated debates on constitutional law raged in the country, when talking politics concerning laws had a tremendous impact upon the nobility in the counties and when it was possible to exert a strong influence upon the public with this method, that is the early years of the 1830s. The author emphasizes that Deák assumed a carefully considering observer's point of view who never lost track of the current state of the political struggles. He adjusted the various weapons of using laws in his political fight to this characteristic starting point of his. He did not usually take the initiative in the Diet and did not Usually make a speech first, either. He let these roles be played by others. However, when he thought it opportune to modify the course of debates or the ever-changing balance of power the political forces, he stepped in to support or defend the reforms by means of using laws as political weapons. Deák was an outstanding orator, whose speeches were dominated by a love of mankind imbued , with humanism and a logical way of thinking that shed a light on the given question from different points of view. The jovial man, who was a master of story-teller in the family circle or among friends, did not ( stand any nonsense in public life. Ha had a marvellous ability to suppress his emotions if it was necessary, without losing his dignity. He rarely resorted to mockery in his speeches delivered against his opponents I and he studiedly avoided sharp polemics that might hurt other people's feeling. He always concentrated on issues, not on individuals. He defended the reforms either by pointing to existing laws, or emphasizing the need to create new ones or the prohibitive force of laws or even the lack of this force with flexible determination. When his comrades' efforts proved to be fruitless, it was Deák who found ways again to keep the reform ideas alive and who supported and helped them survive by means of natural lay, which stands above all other laws. His political flexibility was extended to such an extent that he even retired when he deemed it necessary. Nevertheless, retirement did not mean giving up his ideas. Quite the ; contrary: it meant waiting for the opportunity to renew his fight later under more favourable conditions. From this point of view, his political stamina was unparalleled among his comrades, the essay is divided into three major sections. The author describes the starting on Deák's career between 1824 and 1840 in the first one. He discusses the mainlines of Deák's policies in the mirror of the events in the '40s in the second part; while the protagonist's political activities are analyzed between the revolution and war of independence of '48 and the Compromise in the last section. The author lays stress on providing a short description of the international scene in each of the sections. Finally, he succinctly describes the old Deák's last years, his illness and the conditions of his death. Pál Sándor FERENC DEÁK LE PERSONNAGE HISTORIQUE Résumé Eauteur se bornant aux questions essentielles — donne la vu d'ensemble de la carrière politique de Ferenc Deák dans son étude, y dessinant son portrait humain aussi. Eauteur présente comment l'attitude libérale modérée de Deák trouvait une place particulièrement individuelle dans les rangs des politiques importants: ouverts aux questions décisives de la Hongrie du siècle passé, et tout cela dans une époque historique pleine des débats de droit public fulminants, où la politique par lois trouvait une grande résonance au milieu de la noblesse départementale, où avec cette manière on pouvait vraiment influencer la vie publique hongroise au début des années 1830. Eauteur souligne que Deák prenait toujours une attitude sensiblement attentive aux combats politiques, mais il les appréciait à la fois. Deák adaptait toujours des moyens différents de la politique par lois à cette position de base caractérisant son