Bethlen Naptár, 1951 (Ligonier)

William Toth: Our historical quest

promising, as they did so, to adhere to strict principles of equalitarian rule. Only a few centuries pass by when what is called the Golden Bull is adopted by the rulers of Hungary in 1222. This is only seven years later than the adoption of the Magna Charta in England. This document, which I had the privilege of viewing, touching and studying as a university student in Hungary some twenty years ago, contains substantially the same principles of freedom as are embodied in the Magna Charta and, like its English peer, became the foundation of constitutional government for Hungarians throughout subsequent history.

A highlight in the development of this same democratic tradition was the Diet of Torda in 1572, where was declared the inviolable right of religious freedom to all peoples. This happened long before the Pilgrim fathers came to these shores seeking the same privileges against English tyranny. Indeed, it happened in the year when the face of the European continent was ghastly because of religious persecution such as that of St. Bartholomew’s night in France.

History shows, I know, that this democratic spirit was often obscured. Too often was it kept under. But it is also true that Hungarians fought for this tradition and were never content to allow it to be snuffed out. These struggles for basic human rights make the pages of Hungarian history glow with glorious fascination, and the memory of them, we believe, is bound to generate a spirit of resistance in our day against the imperialism of the Kremlin.

If I interpret correctly the historical role of Hungary in the past, it seems to have been the mission of setting up a wall of resistance against elements that were foreign to the genius of western peoples. This mission arose out of the geographical position of the Hungarian homeland. It was also rooted in the decision which King Stephen made to ally the fortunes of his people with those of his western neighbors. So it came about that the Magyars constituted a buffer against Balkan influences to the south and Russian influences to the east. So it happened that for over two hundred years Hungary resisted the onslaughts of the Ottoman Turks who were bent upon extending their power over entire Europe. Once the struggle became so fierce that every woman and child was enlisted to fight and there they were on the battlements pouring molten tar and throwing firebrands upon the enemy. Like a mighty bulwark Hungary buffeted the onslaughts of the pagan hordes — at great price to her own vitality and cultural advancement, it is true, but she did not flinch before the role assigned to her by destiny. Would that the people still re-BETHLEN NAPTÁR