Új Magyar Út, 1953 (4. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1953-06-01 / 6. szám
CONTENTS ELEMÉR BAKÓ, former associate professor of the University of Debrecen (Hungary) and Munich (Germany), presently editor-in-chief of this review, announces in his article entitled “Two and a Half Centuries” the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the beginning of Francis Rákóczi's heroic fight for freedom (1703-1711) by the publication of one of the next special issues of this review to be consecrated to the memory of this hisorical event. Rákóczi’c uprising marked a new era in the social-political history, literature, music, etc. of the Hungarians and also of the neighboring nations. It was born out of love of freedom implanted in the hearts of these nations. The Hungarians fought against Viennese absolutism in alliance with France. Western Europe began to appreciate the virtues of the Hungarian soldier. French cavalry was developed on Hungarian models and even the Hungarian uniform became a fashion. After two hundred years of heroic fight against the Turkish invasion, the Western nations saw again the Hungarian nation as a defender of the ideals of freedom and Christian faith. BÉLA T. KARDOS gives a short background of Rákóczi’s determination on May 12, 1703, for an uprising against oppression, and quotes his solemn proclamation and devoted prayer by which he started the fight for freedom and sent the first flags to Hungary with the inscription: “Cum Deo Pro Patria et Libertate”. The historians of present-day Communist Hungary confiscated from this text the words “Cum Deo Pro Patria”. Neither is there left much from the idea of liberty in their system. Yet the unadulterated spirit of Rákóczi lives in all true Hungarians. OTTÓ TÁBORSZKY, historian, at present on the staff of the Library of Congress, held a lecture on ■“The Uprising of Ferenc Rákóczi II, Prince of Transylvania, 1703-1711” at the festival of the Washingtonian Hungarians on May 10, 1953. He pointed out, among others, that Rákóczi was the first who really united all strata of Hungary for a fight, including the non-Hungarian nationalities, especially the Ruthenes and Slovaks, too, and organized them for a remarkable political and military action. Secondly, the defeat suffered by Louis XIV in the Spanish Succession War <1705) brought immense difficulties to Rákóczi’s armies. Thirdly, Rákóczi sacrificed his immense wealth and landed estates, and refused to accept any compromise which did not include guarantees of liberty in the form of an independent Transylvania and the signature of the two Western Protestant powers, England and Holland. Rákóczi who died in exile in Turkey (1735) remains the symbol of an exemplary Christian hero and a far shining idea to all Hungarian emigrants scattered all over the world. STEPHEN KERTÉSZ, professor, University of Notre Dame, a former high ranking officer of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in Hungary, continues his study of German expatriation from Hungary in this issue. In this installment, the writer proves with documents how the official political and high ranking religious leaders delayed and what steps were taken to delay the complete execution of expatriation, what countersteps were taken, and, finally, how it was possible that one-half of the German populace in Hungary, bypassing the radical actions of the initial period, escaped expatriation. JÓZSEF CSEGEZY (Cleveland, Ohio), a former officer of the Hungarian army, continues his analysis, published in previous issues, of the principles on which “A Future Hungarian Army” may be organized in a new Europe. He investigates all three possibilities: a) the possibility of a United Europe; b) a Regional Confederation, and c) the continued existence of independent national states. The author believes in a coming era of confederation which will need also a confederate army. He urges, therefore, the organization of such an army in the spirit of true democracy and mutual common interests. The education of such an elite is important in order to safeguard the realization of the idea of federation. BÉLA PANTO, poet and writer, our New York collaborator, publishes his interesting remembrances about the foundation of our review and analyses, the values and effects of its world-wide influence on the consciousness of Hungarians in emigration. CHARLES BARTHA reviews the “Correspondence” and literary relics of Béla Bartók, Hungarian folklorist, pianist and composer, published in two volumes, also his posthumous work on the folksongs of Southern Slavs, published by Columbia University. ÚJ MAGYAR REGÉNYEK! WASS ALBERT Elvész a nyom $2.00 Ember az országút szélén 2. kiadás 80 cent Kiadta és terjeszti a KOSSUTH PUBLISHING CO. 4134 Lorain Ave. CLEVELAND, OHIO, U.S.A.
