William Penn Life, 2002 (37. évfolyam, 1-11. szám)
2002-03-01 / 3. szám
The Magyars’ War of Independence ON MARCH 15,1848, the Hungarian Nation, under the leadership of Lajos Kossuth, the great statesman and champion of the people's rights, took up arms in defense of national independence and human liberties. Ever since, the Magyar people have observed March 15 as a national holiday, viewing it with the same significance as Americans view the Fourth of July. Between 1830 and 1848, a period of political reform took place in Hungary. But, it was still a time of feudalism during which peasants and small farmers were suppressed. The peasants paid high taxes and tithed to the Catholic Church and the landowners. All official communications were written in German or Latin until 1844. The Hungarian National Assembly finally convened in Pest and not in Vienna. It was 1848 when Metternich's regime collapsed in Austria. Hungary took steps for complete reformation of their government. The news of the Vienna Revolution reached Pest, the capital of Hungary. The people of the city filled the streets and public demonstrations got underway. Sándor Petőfi, the great lyric poet, recited his "National Song" ("Nemzeti Dal") for a crowd of 10,000 people who had gathered in front of the national museum: By the God of the Magyar we solemnly swear the Tyrant's yoke we will no longer bear! The crowd took possession of the Länderer Printing House. The nation's demands were printed and a copy of the circular was presented to the city council. The Magyars' freedom was short-lived. In September 1848 the Austrians invaded Hungary, the new government was forced to resign, and the parliament became a temporary institution. Under the direction of Kossuth, the Magyars defeated the Austrians and ejected them from Hungary. Kossuth was elected president, but the success of the Magyars' struggle for freedom was cut short again by the Russian czar. He sent division after division to invade Hungary. (History repeated itself on Nov. 4,1957, when the Soviets invaded Hungary after the October 1957 revolt.) On Aug. 12,1849, Kossuth transferred civil authority to General Görgely. Kossuth and several thousand of his followers fled to Turkish territory. On Aug. 13, Görgely's army laid down their arms at Világos, near Arad. Kossuth later went to England, then to the United States. He was given a royal reception by the masses everywhere he travelled, but he could not get the official support of any foreign government. Disappointed in his hopes, forsaken by his friends, Kossuth refused to return to the land he loved so much. Hungary and the Hungarians never forgot him. He has remained the hero of his nation and father of the Magyar people. [Ml William tan Life, March 2002
