Fraternity-Testvériség, 1961 (39. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

1961-03-01 / 3. szám

2

FRATERNITY

These people were dreaming great dreams. They saw the time when a closer relationship could exist between America and Hungary. The erection of the Washington statue was not to be a passing event, but rather a historical marker, which would tie Hungary closer to America. Furthermore, they felt, that the later American-Hungarian generations would be directed toward Hungary in thought, in concern and in appreciation through such a symbol.

In 1905 the sculptor, Gyula Bezerédy, arrived in America from Hungary and exhibited the model of the George Washington statue at a populous meeting of the Budapest Washington Monument Association. With the approval of the artist’s rendering and then having overcome

many obstacles concerning the acceptance of the statue by the City of

Budapest and the designation of a site in the City Park, the financial campaign got under way. In a year the total fund climbed to a record $8,629.00, which was sufficient for every forseeable expense.

A few months and even a few days before the statue was to be unveiled in Budapest, numerous dark clouds of misunderstanding and ill-appreciation confronted Kohányi when he was making final arrangements in Hungary. He almost had to persuade anew the official circles of the Hungarian government that there were no political overtones, nor background to the offer of the statue. He and his fellow Americans of Hungarian descent did not want to propagandize a republican form of government. He sought to persuade the Hungarian government that it should be represented at the unveiling on September 16, 1906.

Yet, it was impossible to conceal the fact that the silent statue of

George Washington would express a lesson, namely, that a nation is

able to gain its freedom and independence as the thirteen colonies did, even if it had to pay the price by revolution, as the American War for Independence did.

Those in the royal government who were afraid of the statue knew full well that once the bronze figure of Washington had its feet firmly set on the soil of Hungary, the “father of the American people” will continue to bring a friendly message to the Hungarian nation. This

message was represented in all that Washington worked for, fought for and achieved for his country.

Fortunately, there were many important figures like the Mayor of Budapest, István Bárczy, and Jenő Rákosi, the outstanding journalist and literary figure, who in large measure were able to answer and silence the opposition, and thus bring their prestige to bear in deciding the

controversy.

September 16th, 1906, arrived — the day of the unveiling of the

George Washington statue. The day filled with festivities began with

church services in St. Stephen’s Basilica and at the Calvin Square Reformed Church. By ten o’clock that morning a tremendous crowd had

assembled in the City Park around the site of the statue. Then a

parade of 10,000 persons bearing some 500 flags made its way to the

statue.

The government officials, the cabinet ministers were on hand. The popular U. S. Consular General Frank Dyer Chester, who already sDoke