Verhovayak Lapja, 1937. július-december (20. évfolyam, 27-53. szám)

1937-12-30 / 53. szám

VOLUME XX

ENGLISH EDITION

December 30, 1937.

PAGE S

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Kossuth, the leading genius of the War of Liberty in 1848

(Cont’d from last month’s issue)

Today’s installment, THE

THIRD, continues with Kossuth’s philanthropy during the

ravages of the cholera in 1938.

* * *

In the autumn of 1815, the Polish insurgents fled across the Carpathians into Hungary. The sacrifice of the Magyars who sent them money and supplies had been in vain. In vain countless Hungarians had slipped across the frontier to fight in the ranks of “heroic Poland.”

The new Russian Marshal, Raskiewitch, had annihilated the Polish army, and put an end to Poland’s independence almost for a century to come.

Now the Hungarians, particularly the gentry, vied with one another in offering hospitality to the refugees and helping them in their distress. If they had failed to help them in the field, they at least aided them in defeat.

Kossuth’s father took two Polish fugitives into h i s house as guests, sharing with them his meager fare and chatting in the evenings of the battles of the past and the battles that were still to come. The words “liberty” and “independence” were often spoken there and in every house in Upper Hungary that sheltered a Polish soldier. The idea of freedom was a bond between these neighboring people; and hospitality, a sacred tradition in Hungary, was offered more sincerely for this fact . . .

P> u t with the foreign guests, in 1831, came the cholera; its ravages spread through the country, just as Pozsony had predicted.

The story of the cholera epidemic in the remoter peasant districts of Upper Hungary is a catalogue of horrors. The aftermath was even ghastlier than the plague itself. Medical science was still in infancy. The doctors were helpless. There was no sanitation fit to speak of. And there was one dreadful, murderous ally

of the pestilence: — stupidity !

The towns unprotected and unarmed, were in terrible danger. The menace swept towards Satoralja-Ujhely. So did the cholera.

The so-called “Asiatic Cholera” was a strange and awful visitant, and its havoc was like the resistless march of the plague. The peasant sickened in the field and hovel, and suddenly lay down to die. The nature of the terrible pestilence was unknown; and there seemed no cause in the customary tranquillity and apparent purity of the elements, for its mysterious wrork of death. It touched the strong man, and the child, and they fell gasping, “Water! Water!” tó quench the thirst that attends this fatal disease . . .

Kossuth Junior’s three sisters had A'olunteered aS nurses at the commencement of the outbreak. The news of the approaching Slovaks threw the little town into a panic. After the atrocities they had committed in the country houses, they were spoken of as the “maniacs.” The County of Zemplén was the most threatened, f o r it had harboured the greatest number of Poles and the cholera was ripest there!

When the “maniacs” entered the town of Satoralja- Ujhely, they were joined by a cheering rabble from the poorer quarters. The raving mob, now composed of beggars as well as cholerastricken serfs, armed with scythes, guns and flails, marched through the streets.

Kossuth hurried from Terebes to the town. What steps had been taken by the municipal council, by the county sheriff, or the magnates to save the townsfolk? None! — Every one of them who had been able to escape

had fled. But the townspeople cowered in their houses, hale and sick alike, paralysed with fear, waiting resignedly for the moment when these lunatics should break into the house and wreak their fiendish revenge.

Kossuth was horrified at the supineness of his fellowtownsmen in the face of the danger. No one did anything. And so he who held no official position in the town, the family solicitor of Countess Andrassy, made up his mind to save the situation.

The astounding thing is that Kossuth actually did. In the face of a crisis there are many who say, “We should,” “We must” ... Between thought and action there is only the brief moment of decision. The man who takes it must be adjudged a leader.

Swiftly and confidently Kossuth set about the work of organizing a defense. He

did so in the simplest way: by mounting the steps of the church and rallying the running townsfolk. In a few hours the town was under arms. But when the hastily organized militia begged him to take over the command, Kossuth refused. He found a retired officer, a Captain, and handed over the command to him.

This is significant. It shows the character of the man. Kossuth entrusts the military command to a military leader. He recognizes that leadership is a thing that must be learned. He accepts tbe responsibility for the idea of resistance, but one for its success.

The insurgent mob was surprised to find itself up against an armed, and a wellarmed, resistance. The captain of the volunteer militia gave the order to fire. But Kossuth intervened. He advanced towards the rabble and spoke to them. He spoke in Hungarian and then translated his short and pointed senteces into Slovak:

“T h e cholera.” he said, “is a plague of heaven. Not wicked men have brought this plague upon us , but God. The disease takes every one, as God wills. Do you not see that towns, the landlords and the nobles die of it as you do? Go home, trust your doctors and wait!”

The mob laid down their weapons and went home — ashamed. Kossuth’s first incursion into the history of his country was as a pacifier of rebels.

His name soon became known in every part of Hungary. “Kossuth?” people said. “The young lawyer who quieted the band of murderers? We shall hear more of him!”

. . . Presently the epidemic ran its course. The cholera plague was over.

But this gruesome episode left on young Kossuth A DEEPER AND DECISIVE IMPRESSION: he had seen for the first time human misery in all its ghastliness. And, more than that, he had seen misery great and menacing. The poor, the slaves, the robots: threatening. A picture in miniature of the dreadful power of a people that has broken its chains, the power that stormed the Tuileries, and overthrew a dynasty!

(Cont’d in next month’s issue)

Very Happy New Year!

At midnight we shall be through with the old year and on with the new — and no one sorry to see 1937 slip away to join all the millions of years through which our old earth has passed.

There is always hope for the future and as 1938 is ushered in with prayer and praise, in the churches, and revelry excitement outside them, OUR PEOPLE WILL BE LOOKING EAGERLY FORWARD TO A BETTER DAY IN THIS OLD WORLD AND A PARTIAL RETURN AT LEAST, TO NORMAL TIMES.

The departing year encouraged us toward the end of its career to indulge in opitimism. Business has improved and there is a brighter outlook, which even the confirmed pessimist is forced to believe.

With youth and vigor embodied in the young 1938 and with a general tendency toward better conditions here and abroad, we in our corner of the world, as we join the nations of the earth in welcoming the New Year, feel that we may look forward to improvement in national and international conditions and relations, while rejoicing at such betterment as we have seen already and trusting that war and strife, jealousies and bickerings, selfishness and greed, envy and hatred may turn into the ways of peace and toward a true fellowship among individuals, the people of our nation, and of those of all the world during the coming year.

WE ARE GOING TO WELCOME 1938 JOYFULLY AND HOPEFULLY AND WE WISH FOR ALL MEMBERS OF OUR ASSOCIATION AND ESPECIALLY THE YOUNGER GENERATION EVERY GOOD THING AND A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR ! ! !