Verhovayak Lapja, 1937. január-június (20. évfolyam, 1-26. szám)
1937-03-27 / 13. szám
V ' MARCH 27, 1937 PAGE 9 In a supreme crisis it can be seen whether the sentiment of patriotism is devoutly cherished in the hearts of the people. This is weighed when a nation is chained, when its territories are under foreign invasion that its people, both at home and abroad — no matter to what corners of the globe they have gone — that they treasure and foster the work begun, the task of their forefathers. We turn to the history of the Hungarian nation during the last hundred years for it is those mournful events which have transpired that we feel the bitter pain of agony. The first Hungarian War for Independence in 1848-1849. Instantly, we link the great heroes — Kossuth, Petőfi, Kölcsey, Batthyányi, Csanyi and others -— for such patriots can never be seperated from Hungary; thev have left this world but their undaunted souls remain with us. They enkindled the spark in the hearts of the Hungarian nation; they lit that spark which moved the people desiring armed expression against the despotic Habsburg dynasty, the reigning House of the Austro- Hungarian Empire; fo.r the Emperor of Austria was the King of Hungary. It was a sad misfortune that befell the Hungarian nation in 1527 when the St. Stephen Crown of Hungary was transferred upon the unworthy heads of the Habsburg rulers who are characterized by perfidy and faithlessness. All their promises of adherence to the Hungarian Constitution of 1222 was treacherous and black as were their very souls. These so-called rulers of Hungary — these Habsburgs w'ere heartless, following despotic principles and governed by the Austrian Camarilla. Each ruler in turn, found a way to plot and to exterminate the ideals for which Hungarian patriots had for centuries so nobly given of their lifeblood for humanity. Each Habsburg ruler in turn, like a dragon, encircled Hungary from where w'ailings and tears of the lacerated echoed into the very abode of the despised Habsburgs. But the spark of Hungarian freedom — that freedom which was trampled uuon bv these| form that it escaped the eyes saw; every plan and scheme foreign rulers — the spark j of the Ilabsbuigs' censors, against Hungary that they of Hungarian freedom took Thus, bv voycing the desires i made was thwarted, was form; it set with unswerving. of the Hungarian people.; frustrated by Kossuth. His aims in the hearts of eaHv Kossuth became recognized I name was on the lip, was in In the Board of Directors’ room of the Verhovay Fraternal Insurance Association Dr. Louis Alexy Royal Hungarian Consul General and Joseph Doragó Supreme President unveil the gift of tFe Hungarian Government: A miniature replica of the artistic creation of György Zala, (he statue of Árpád, first leader of the united seven tribes of Hungarians. as a inan cf influence — even recognized by the Aust. ian ruler who then, imprisoned him in the fortress of Buda. Here, Kossuth vas denied any communication whatsoever. Even af'er hi two year term expired, the 'labsbuig ruler, fearing this -'•reat Hungarian p t it t '■ode new fauBs a "An;i 3'iin. thus sentencing hin K four more years in the dungeon. But upoi his release f -om prison, Kossuth recruited his ill health and commenced a work that was a rising tear in the Austrian. Camarilla. Every move they intended to make for the suppression of Hungary, Kossuth forethe heart cf every freedomloving Hungarian. Kossuth was recognized — he defended the noble Hungarian cause.; he became consecrated in tlie soul of the Hungar- I ian nation. At the head of j; delegation to Y-ienna in : March.. 1848, Kossuth w'as given his demands; lie reobj mined possession of the j Hungarian Constitution and immediately formed a Hungarian cabinet, which was composed of such outstanding Hungarian patriots and : leaders as Count Louis .Bat! tli^myi , Francis Deals, Count Stephen Széchényi and others. j it seemed that the Austrian ruler had at last suecumbed to the intense feelings of the Hungarian wishes, but such was not the case; for underhand, the Austrian Camarilla stabbed Hungary in the back; they enticed the Croatians and Serbians and then the Wallachains into revolt against defenseless Hungary. During the middle of May 1848, the insurrection started and every horror of human imagination was perpetrated upon the Hungarians. Austria remained stern. The situation in Hungary grew tense. Croats and Serbs had sent an army against the Hungarians. What cohid he done to stem the tide of this wild outburst? Kossuth addressed the Hungarian people. He related to them what was being done; that an uprising had commenced in the outlying districts of Hungary, that the Austrian Camarilla committed perjury, that an Hungarian army wa> necessarv and provisions for this army bad to be had; and that the Hungarian treasury was without funds. It seemed that at this moment Kossuth’s voice failed him —silence reigned in the hall. Then Paul Xyarv stood up and raising his right hand, exclaimed in a loud voice, “Megadjuk,” or “We grant it.” Following his. words four hundred hands were raised and in one voice the Deputies shouted '‘Megadjuk.” Honvéd — Home Defense —. troops were immediately called for and organized, equipped and put into the field against, the marauding Croat and Serbian invaders. Hungarians from cities, villages and farms, rallied to the red, white and green tricolor. Even many of Prince Esterhazy’s private soldiers in Vienna, escaped that city and came to Hungary to fight for the sacred cause of Hungarian freedom. The life-blood of the Hungarian people was concentrated in vain efforts to prevent the despotic Habsburg ruler and his paid emmissaries from precipating Hungary to doom. For many months Hungarian soldiers fought courageously and had almost defeated the Austrians in every one of the late battles, but an ill omen appeared. The north"‘V-ntiff-I 1 8 4 8.ee TRIA IN O N . . . 1 9 2 0 Stephen K. Huzianyi Hungarian generation that passed after the fateful year of 1527. In 1802, on April 27. in Monok, ZemplenmegVe, was born Louis Kossuth. Hi? education was in a sein < 1 at Ufhelv. and later at the C alvinist college ok Sarorpat ■ k then the study cf. H'-** . r ,1v' Lutheran college of Eperjes. And finally, this future statesman, vent to' attend the High Courts of Law. In the meantime, the seeds of hatred, distrust and vengeance against the F' bsburgs, grew7 in Louis Kossuth. He was indignant to the Jaw of the despotic rulers and in 1832 he published reports of the Diet and in such
