Verhovayak Lapja, 1944 (27. évfolyam, 1-52. szám)

1944 / Verhovay Journal

Page 2

Truths Versus Half-Truths

Beware of false prophets from Central Europe who pervert facts to their own secret ends ,

By STEPHEN HUZIANYI

From the Danubian Basin a secret weapon is being launched against Americans that may decide the war long after the weapons have been silenced and armies have ceased to deploy. This secret but by no means new device i« PROPAGANDA and may well destroy again, as in 1919, the structure of peace in Central Europe by an arbitrary reshuffling of boundaries based on lies and falsification of history. The sly agents who direct Central European propaganda against us are here in our midst. They wear the disguise and protective coloring of allies and friends of the United States but machinate against the long-term welfare of Americans and the world at large. They spread propaganda for a new and powerful world state, a Slav empire, in a cunning and innocent manner by filling columns and pages of ostensibly disinterested and respectable magazines and periodicals with seemingly ‘impartial” and “analytical” essays and articles. I will use excerpts from these articles to show samples of the lies and distortions of the truth with which we are being bombarded. We hope that Americans will learn to recognize these hifalutin and documented “analyses,” “editorials,-” “criticisms,” etc., no matter in which high-sounding magazine or periodical they find them, as just so much sophisticated baloney and plain hooey.

POINT 1 (PART 2) — INSTALLMENT III

“ ... Magyar nationalism awoke in the realm of the Habsburgs ... Rumanian nationalism in Transylvania had the support of authors like Sinkai and Major .,.”

Anti-Magyar propagandists.

. RUMANIAN SECTIONALISM

The propagandists are incomplete concerning Rumanian ’’nationalism” in Transylvania. From this brief remark one would be in the right to believe that the so-called '“nationalism” ©f the Rumanians burst forth at one and the same time within Hungary as did the sectionalisms of the other peoples. These propagandists, therefore, do not tell us the other side of the story.

The reason for this outburst was the political agitation instigated by the tyrannical Habsburg family in 1848 within Hungary by playing the non-Magyar citizens of Hungary against the Magyars. The political creed “DIVIDE ET IMPERA” pursued by the Habsburgs in 1848, and throughout the course of their history, was the same as the Nazi creed of today: You play one race against

the other and (for a while at least) you come out to the good

in the long run.

The Hungarian citizens of Rumanian descent were incited to

revolt; they were instigated by Habsburg army officers who were

in Transylvania at the time. This was done against the Magyars in order that they should have their hands full, coping with the revolts within Hungary, and would not be able to risk battle with, the Austrian Imperial armies. However, the Austrian armies were utterly defeated by the Magyar armies and the Habsburg rulers had to call in several hundred thousand Russians to invade Hungary, to snuff out the light of freedom, so «that the tyranny of despotism might reign in Central Europe.

Like the other settlers in Hungary, the Rumanians also migrated into the Magyar province of Erdély, or to use the more frequently written name, Transylvania. In the early 13th century several hundred thousand settlers arrived from Moldavia. Countless others filtered into Hungary later, during the Mongol invasion, or when famine broke out in the principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia, or when the Túrks, in their mrach into the heart of Europe, forced them ahead.

These refugees naturally remained in Hungary and became its citizens, allowed by the Magyars to develop their own culture and literature—at the expense of the Magyar state. They retained their mother tongue and the Magyars encouraged Rumanian literary efforts. Their publications, including the bible, were printed at the Hungarian University Press in Budapest. One of the many Magyar benefactors was Prince George Rákóczi II, who founded many schools for these settlers, and it was he who had the bible translated into Rumanian. And so it was no less with the advent of Protestantism than with the renaissance of Catholicism that Magyar aid was given to encourage Rumanian cultural activities.

Now a word or two about the name “Rumanian,” which is comparatively of recent origin. For in Hungary and across the borders it was either Moldavian or Wallachian. The Wallachians of Transyvania in 1791 petitioned the Habsburg king for recognition of their nationality, and for granting them rights and privileges on the same basis as other nationalities had under the sovereignty of the Habsburg crown. This petition the Wallachs titled: “SUPPLEX LIBELLUS VALACHORUM.” And so, in the word “Valachorum,” there is the definition of Wallachian—and not Rumanian. Only in 1859 were Moldavia (the ancient Muntenia) and Wallachia joined in a union, consented to as such by the Great Powers in 1861. At the Congress of Berlin in 1878 these two principalities were finally recognized as Rumania and in 1881 the Rumanian Kingdom was founded. But even when these two areas were united, the Hungarian citizens of Rumanian birth, living in the adjacent Magyar province of Transylvania, were far better off than were their “free” brethren in either Moldavia or Wallachia.

Through Hungarian citizens of Rumanian tongue, indowed with educational and cultural facilities in Hungary, was ushered

Anniversary and Portrait Presentation in Akron, Ohio

On the 29th of October, 1944, Sunday afternoon at 12:30, Branch 91 of Akron, Ohio, will celebrate its ► 35th anniversary. Before going any further, we should stop here for a moment. Thirty-five years is a long time. Branch 91 has, during these 35 years, extended a helping hand to many a widow, to many an orphan, to many a stricken brother. If we would make a record of all the fraternal deeds that have come through Branch 91 in these thirty-five years, then we would have a real picture of what fraternalism means to suffering mankind. For thirty-five years, Branch 91 has been a brother to those who needed a brother. Now the membership of this branch will celebrate the 35th anniversary of its existence, of its activities on the field of fraternalism. On this 35th anniversary, the Verhovay Fraternal Insurance Association sends to Branch 91 and to every member of this Branch, its heartiest greetings. We hope that every member of that Branch will realize how much the Verhovay has meant throughout those thirty-five years of its existence to those who have benefited by the existence of that Branch and we hope that this Branch will continue to be active in helping its suffering members and in serving the nation.

The thirty-fifth anniversary of this Branch will be celebrated under unusual circumstances. At this time, the Verhovay Fraternal Insurance Association will present the second portrait of one of its heroic dead members, that of JOSEPH FOLDY, who paid the supreme sacrifice in the service of his country. SUPREME PRESIDENT JOHN BENCZE AND SUPREME ORGANIZER ALEXANDER GYULAY WILL REPRESENT AT THIS OCCASION THE ORGANIZATION AND WILL PRESENT IN BEHALF OF THE 52,000 MEMBERS OF THE VERHOVAY, THE PORTRAIT OF THE HERO, JOSEPH FOLDY, TO THE PARENTS. There will be a great program and a banquet that begins at 12:30 P. M. We invite all Verhovayans in Akron and in the vicinity to attend this banquet.

The presentation of this portrait to the parents of JOSEPH FOLDY will symbolize the sympathy of all Verhovayans to the parents who have suffered the greatest loss.

The portrait will remain with them and it shall remind them not only of their son but also of the gratitude of American-Hungarians whose loyalty, love of liberty, and deep patriotism has been exemplified by the sacrifice of JOSEPH FOLDY.

Verhovay Journal_____________

into life what Mr. Vambery calls Rumanian “nationalism.” For numerous Wallach scholars attended the Balasfalva College in Transylvania. They stressed more the Latin influence of thought rather than the ecclesiastical ties with Orthodox Russia; they became the leaders in Transylvania; they, held thousands of good civil service jobs in Hungary.

Leaders like George Lazar, George Sinkai and Petru Major, all were from Transylvania. The latter wrote the “History of Rumanian Origins” and the Rumanian review “Bibliotheca Romaneasca.” Both of these publications, as many others, were published in Hungary—and not in Rumania. And it was Major who formulated in 1800 the theory that the Rumanians are of Daco-Roman origin, which Rumanian historians have steadfastedly maintained.

And so in eastern Hungary was given the impetus to Rumanian sectionalism that later was to be defined nationalism. As the sectionalism developed, the Rumanians did not know what they really wanted. Consequently, they changed their attitude with the change of time. But the majority of them were well disposed towards the Magyars, even as late as 1918, when politicians from Bucharest were already promised the province of Transylvania for good behavior. Only a few radical leaders popped up, now and then in Transylvania, urging excessive demands upon the Hungarians, and it was their example that the Bucharest politicians followed.

Only with the coming of the 20th century did “the consciousness of national unity and political solidarity” of the Rumanians become a trait that was more or less characteristic. A. Lapedatu, Professor of Rumanian history, himself made that statement in the Rumanian ”Desvoltarea istoriografei nationale,” in ANUARUL 1NSTITUTULIU DE ISTOR1E NATION ALA 1921—22.

Installment TV. in next issue.

October 26, 1944

Verhovay Heroes’ Portraits

Attract Attention

The presentation of the portrats of our heroic dead to their parents attracts the attention of America’s fraternalists as shown by the following reprints. Say# the “Fraternal Monitor:”

Verhovay of Pittsburgh Will Present Portraits to Gold Star Parents

To the parents of members who lose their lives in the armed forces the Verhovay Fraternal Insurance Association, of Pittsburgh, will present portraits of their heroes painted by a competent artist. It is another evidence of the unusual acts of the societies for the comfort and assistance of those sustaining loss.

“The Fraternal Age” follows suit with the following write-up:

Verhovay Honors Heroic Dead

Desiring to honor the members who have given their lives in this war, the Board of Directors of the Verhovay Fraternal Insurance Association has decided to do so in a generous and unusual way. At the meeting held in the new Verhovay building at Pittsburgh on September 18th the board members stood in silent prayer in honor of the 80 Verhovay soldiers making the supreme sacrifice, but they wanted to do more.

The officers submitted a plan which was adopted. The Verhovay will have a portrait made of each and every heroic dead member by a nationally known artist. The portraits will be framed and presented to the families.

The first portrait made was that of Edward Horvath, a former member of branch 83^ New York City, who was killed in action in New Foundland, February 18, 1942.

The artist is Hugh M. Poe, a professor at the “Pittsburgh Art Institute.” He has many nationally known portraits and battle scenes to his credit. He was the artist who portrayed the heroic dead students of the Culver Military Academy in Indiana. At present he works on a series of portraits of military and political leaders, for the Roberts Jewelry Company.-----------V----------WHAT BETTER COURSE?

In a Philadelphia family recently, the engagement of a daughter was announced. A friend, calling, was met at the door by the colored maid, who announced: “No’m, Miss Alice ain’t home dis aft’moon—she gon down to de class.”

“What class?” inquired the visitor.

'•You know, Miss Alice is gwine to be ma’ied in de fall,” explained the maid, “an’ she’s taking a cou’se in domestic silence."