The Eighth Tribe, 1974 (1. évfolyam, 1-7. szám)
1974-04-05 / 1-2. szám
Page 4 THE EIGHTH TRIBE April 5, 1974 tion such as that of St. Bartholomew’s night in France. History shows 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. Interpreting 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 remaining in the old ramparts could rise again to the challenge of this present hour! Among the contributions of lasting significance by Hungarians are those in the creative arts and letters. Mankind’s largess of cultural treasures would be poorer without the artistic works of Michael Munkácsy. His trilogy of Christ pictures, hanging in the art galleries of Wanamaker’s in Philadelphia, draw lovers of art from all over the world. We meet with Hungarian names again and again among the painters who exhibit in our country. In the realm of music many a bright Hungarian star adorns the firmament. We think at once of Ferencz Liszt, the immortal, and of Béla Bartók who, in our day, is achieving wider and wider recognition for his genius. The field of letters is richer because of the continuing contributions by Hungarian writers. For a long time our writers were limited in their audience to those who could read Hungarian, but in our time more and more have found their success in the international scene. Questing after the enchanted stag has truly been a marvelous inspiration in the Hungarian tradition. Whether we speak the language of our fathers or not, every son of Magor should keep alive in his soul the meaning of this enchanted stag and strive after that which is true and good and beautiful — really in the highest interest of mankind. THE FIRST HUNGARIAN ON AMERICAN SOIL The first Hungarian to set foot on the soil of the New World was a 16th century humanist and Protestant scholar, Stephanus Parmenius Budaeus. He accompanied Sir Humphry Gilbert to Newfoundland in 1583 to acquire “any remote, barbareous and heathen lands” by the command of Queen Elizabeth of England. Parmenius was born in the fortified capital of Hungary, Buda, then in Turkish hands. Seeking education abroad, like many other Hungarian youths, he went to Oxford, and to London, where the famous collector of autographs, Master Hakluyt, introduced him to Sir Humphrey. Upon his arrival in Newfoundland, Parmenius wrote to Hakluyt, this was the last word heard from the explorers, as they were shipwrecked on the return voyage. Among those who were lost, was noted, “was drowned a learned man, an Hungarian, borne in the citie of Buda, called thereof Budaeus, who in pietie and zeale to good attempts, adventured in this action, minding to record in the Latine tongue, the gesta and tilings worthy of remembrance, happening in this discoverie, to the honour of our nation...”. Parmenius Budaeus wished to report to the wealthy European nations an unknown, new world, about which contemporary Hungarians knew hardly more than that it had been discovered “for the great glory of Christianity”. Almost 400 years have passed since Stephanus Parmenius stepped on the soil of this new Continent, called America, and since then over a half a million Hungarians emigrated to this new land to find a new life. They and their children had a small part in building America to become what it is now.
