Fáklyaláng, 1964. június-október (5. évfolyam, 1-10. szám)
1964-10-23 / 10. szám
FÁKLYALÁNG 3 WHOM TO LOVE? (A PRE-ELECTION MEDITATION) BY DR. DEZSŐ SULYOK Former President of the Hungarian Freedom Party The presidential elections of November 3, 1964, created such a new situation and such a grouping among the Americans of Hungarian descent which is quite unusual — at least, it was unusual so far. Up till now it was the proper practice that Americans of Hungarian descent took individual stand for or against the candidates and even if they formed some kind of a group or organization, they never tried to support their candidates under the pretense that they do so on behalf of all Hungarians, in their general interest, asserting that whoever is not on their side does not serve the real interest of the Hungarian people or even harms them. In the past times the so-called old-Americans who came to this country in their youth as members of the working class, generally became democrats because it was Franklin D. Roosevelt who introduced the labor legislations which improved their conditions, which made their life more secure and humane (primarily by the Social Security Law). On the other hand those immigrants who were in professions (white collar workers) at home — if they were really Hungarians by nationality — joined mostly the Republican Party because they believed that this party represents much more the world they have lived in in Hungary for which they have never ceased yearning in their hearts and which they refused to renounce even if they earned their living as industrial workers in this country. A new picture has now, however, developed in the attitude of Americans of Hungarian descent. The extreme right wing elements of the emigres set up an organization with a considerably forceful and distasteful membership recruitment and this has been put in the service of the conservative wing of the Republican Party as the representative of general Hungarian interest. They expect from the extreme Republican Party program that it will restore a free, independent, democratic and happy Hungary of their style, and with it, Hungarian political life will be put back on those rails from which it was derailed in the spring of 1945, by the end of World War II. On the other side a Hungarian language weekly published in New York unwarrantedly purporting to be the organ of “democratic Hungarians” — although for unknown reasons — disseminates the unacceptable opinion that all honest Hungarians’ moral duty is to support the Democratic Party. This Party seemingly pays well for the propaganda services but this is all that can be registered as fact in this regard. The paper publishes the same pictures now for weeks intended to make the ignorant and not completely independent-minded readers believe that the editor is the intimate friend of the President and not even the daily menu is prepared in the kitchen of tire White House without consulting him. All that may be concluded thereof is that the leaders of American parties should select more carefully with whom they let themselves be photographed. Both selfish attitudes are harmful to the interests of Hungarians. It can be accepted that election campaign funds may provide good possibilities for a come-back for those politically, materially, financially and morally broken — and from this point of view the Republican and Democratic dollars have the same wonderful scent. It is also believable that those who fell off or missed all other trains want once again to climb on at least the buffer of the supposed “band-wagon.” It is also acceptable that there are still former Nazi-Hungarians whose political ideals today still reflects those of 1944 at home. These are, however, subjective illusions without any material bases and it cannot be accepted at all that such attitudes can be developed and regarded as universal Hungarian interest going beyond the personal interests of the individuals involved. Therefore it cannot be approved that anyone wants to conceal his own ambitions and aspirations behind the curtain of Hungarian national interests. There will most obviously be people of adverse intentions who will feed the American public and Government circles one hundred varieties of accusations that the Hungarians once again joined “subversive trend” or became the late supporters of old-fashioned political trends depending on who will have won in the elections and to whose bandwagon was bound the cause of the Hungarian people without their consent. Hungarians were accused — warranted or unwarranted — so many times with similar charges that no one wants them experienced any more. In this presidential election only individual Hungarians may fall with one of either of the candidates and not the “Hungarian cause’’ cherished so dearly by us all. * * * Hungarians with American citizenship must make up their mind for whom to vote in this presidential election by keeping in mind the interests of the Hungarian people and these decisions must be based on solid objective reasons. And if the American citizen of Hungarian descent is, indeed, really a self-conscious and thinking citizen he cannot vote all the way along Party lines but must seek the man beyond the politician in the case of each of the candidates to any office. Because there are people in each of the Parties who deserve to be elected and there are also those whose support is not warranted at all. In the case of candidates to the highest offices realities must be observed after emerging from the mystic fog surrounding them — if there are still realities in the present ideological confusion. These realities seem to be: The policy of the United States towards the Hungarian nation in the twentieth century is characterized subjectively by one of the most serious
