Fraternity-Testvériség, 1982 (60. évfolyam, 1-4. szám)
1982-01-01 / 1. szám
KOSSUTH DAY March 15, 1982 was declared by Governor Dick Thornburgh of Pennsylvania as Kossuth Day. Rightly so! The observance of March 15 is deeply rooted, not only in the life of the American Hungarian community but in the history of this nation also. The very first March 15 celebration was observed in the United States in 1852, on the 4th. Anniversary of the 1848 fight for national independence by the Hungarian people. The principle speaker was Louis Kossuth himself, the great Hungarian patriot. He was so warmly acclaimed throughout the United States that he was the second foreigner who was extended the privilege to address the Congress of the United States. The scene of the first commemoration was St. Louis and we think it fitting on the 130th anniversary of his address to bring excerpts from Kossuth’s speech: “Today is the fourth anniversary of the Revolution in Hungary. Anniversaries of Revolutions are almost always connected with the recollection of some patriots, death-fallen on that day, like the Spartans of Thermopylae, martyrs of devotion to their fatherland. Almost in every land there is some proud cemetery... adorned on such a day by a garland of evergreen, the pious offering of patriotic tenderness. ” “Ipassed the last night in a sleepless dream. And my soul wandered on the magnetic wings of the past, home to my beloved bleeding land,... I saw... veiled shapes... kneeling down to the head of the graves... and after a short prayer... stealing away, because the blood-hounds of my country’s murderer lurks... and on this day... leads to prison those who dare to show a pious remembrance..." “And I saw more... I saw the honored dead ask, ‘are we not yet revenged?’. . . Such was the dream of my waking soul . . . However, none of those dead whom I saw fell on the 15th of March. They were victims of the royal perjury which betrayed the 15 th of March. The anniversary of our revolution has not the stain of a single drop of blood. ” “ We, the elect of the nation... passed our laws in short words, that the people shall be free . . . that equality of duties, equality of rights shall befundamental law . . . and civil, political, social, and religious liberty the common property of all the people... While we, in the House of Representatives, passed the laws of Justice andfreedom, the people of Pest rose in peaceful but majestic manifestation, declaring that the people should be free . . . Not a drop of blood was shed. . . Such is the memory of the 15 th of March, 1848. ” "One year later there was blood... over the land; the people, because free, fought like demi-gods... But Russia, having experienced by the test of its first interference, that there was no power on earth caring . . . and seeing by the silence of Great Britain and of the United States, that she may dare to violate those laws, our heroes had to meet a fresh force of nearly 200,000 Russians... Our struggle rose to European height, but we were left alone to fight for the world!” Kossuth’s warnings have gained tragic actuality in our time. The disaster which he sought to avert has engulfed Eastern Europe and threatens with annihilation all eternal principles for which Kossuth stood and still stands. Editor’s note. The Hungarian Reformed Federation throughout its history has identified itself with the principles which Kossuth proclaimed here and abroad by naming the three successive Home Office building in Washington, D.C. - Kossuth House. The American Hungarian fraternal family should remain steadfast in this legacy. UNIQUE DONATION RECEIVED The home office received a donation of cassettes of a unique 1976 year-long radio program “Our Hungarian Heritage” which was prepared and presented in southern California. The series was organized and directed by the late Dr. Frank de Balogh, Sr. and aired by Dr. Bela Boer on station KREL 1370, Corona, California. The subject matter of the radio series focused on major Hungarian contributions in American history — Colonial America, the Civil War, the roles of Hungarians in the arts, sports, music, science and the history of Hungarian institutions in America. A partial listing of titles are: Colonel Michael de Kovats; Hungarian generals in the Civil War; Pulitzer; John Xantus; Louis Kossuth in America; Hungarians in Hollywood; Albert Szent- Gyorgy; Maria Telkes; Leo Szilard; Sigmund Romberg; Bela Bartók; The Hungarian Reformed Church in America. This donation was made possible by Dr. Frank de Balogh, Jr. president of National Computer Management Inc., of South Pasadena, Calif. The cassettes are available to reproduce and may be used for educational purposes only. The cassettes are of good condition and the series is interesting. For further information contact: Dr. Frank de Balogh P.O. Box 211 South Pasadena, Calif. 91030 Editor's note: We wish to publicly thank Dr. Balogh for his donation to the Hungarian Reformed Federation in America and offer the series to interested groups. 5
