The Eighth Tribe, 1979 (6. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1979-03-01 / 3. szám
Page 8 THE EIGHTH TRIBE March, 1979 lasich leads the Croations invading Hungary, which was paid by the Vienna court. The invasion was repelled, but the weakened Hungarian army retreated before the Austrians to the Tisza River and both sides waited until spring to renew the offense. In the spring of 1849 the Hungarian army defeated the best army of Europe, destroyed it completely. On April 14, 1849, in Debrecen the independence of Hungary was declared. Austria did not take this lying down. It asked for help from Russia, a partner in the “Holy Alliance”. Russia was eager to help for her own expansion’s sake. On May 4 the Russian invasion began by an army of 300,000 men against 135,000 Hungarians. Even then there were many smaller individual battles which spoke of Hungarian victory, but the overall picture was that of a retreat. On August 13th General Görgey laid down the arms against the Russians. The War for Freedom and Independence was lost. Kossuth left Hungary on August 18 and went into Turkish exile. Austria demanded extradition. Turkey was not willing to do this even though the Russian power was hanging over her head. As a partial appeasement, Kossuth was regarded as in captivity. Meanwhile England and America demanded to free him. Kossuth left Turkey in September 1851 on board the battleship Mississippi. After a short stay in England he was brought to America (December 4, 1851). It was a triumphant march through the cities and states; he was hailed as a truly intellectual giant, an apostle of world democracy. He left America on July 14. Besides financial help, he received very little encouragement for intervention. Back in England, Kossuth set himself to a policy of watchful waiting. Opportunities presented themselves, but allies proved unfaithful or selfish, as power-politics go, as in the Russian-Turkish conflict, the Crimean War, when France promised support for Hungary against Austria. Napoleon III, 1858, makes a secret treaty with Victor Emmanuel II of Italy. Italy receives freedom from Austria, but Hungary is forgotten. Yet they used Kossuth as a master statesman whenever they needed him for their own sake, always promising help for Hungary. Kossuth is disillusioned, spends his last years in Torino, dies in 1894. What history cannot tell about him, he himself does so in his excellent addresses. They reveal his true greatness. While he was a great Hungarian, he was, in the truest sense, one of the greats of mankind. His views are being quoted even today, his prophesies about Russia sound unbelievable, if we consider they were uttered one hundred years ago. His views on liberty, world government, freedom of press, freedom of religion, free enterprise, the role of women, eastwest struggle are found in textbooks. His whole life is devoted to secure political and social freedom not for a class, not for a race, but for mankind. In serving this cause, he would not be ashamed to go begging. He feels he is the incarnation of his people’s wishes and hopes, and carries in his breast the concentrated woes of millions of Magyars. Ambition never troubled the peace of his mind and he despised to become rich; so much like Jesus of Nazareth. He pleads the cause of common human rights! And “for Magyars, live wherever they may in this wide world, Kossuth’s name will unfailingly remain an everlasting symbol of unblemished Magyar aspirations. It is the hallmark of their destiny burnt into their hearts by God himself.” (Endre Sebestyen, Kossuth, Pittsburgh, 1950). Asmodeus KOSSUTH’S ADDRESS TO HIS COUNTRYMEN Down-trodden men of Hungary, Awake! and rend your chains; To arms! to arms! ’tis Kossuth calls — Wipe out ignoble stains. Your fatherland, your liberty, Shall be your battle cry; Uprouse ye then, and shout again We’ll conquer or we’ll die! Slavoonians, Croats, Moravians, Wallachians, brothers all — Our tyrant despot’s threats are vain, He totters to his fall. Bondsmen, I come to set you free, Your tyrant to defy, Uprouse ye then, and shout again We’ll conquer or we’ll die! Let haughty Russia dare advance, We’ve freemen on our side; Though Austria league with foolish France We’ll meet her in her pride. Brothers, I’ve roam o’er lands that’s free, Your master I defy, Uprouse ye then, and shout again We’ll conquer or we’ll die! Though governments refuse us aid WE rivet a people’s hearts, Whose will is power — MUST be obeyed If WE but play our part. Shout Fatherland! Shout liberty! And let our tyrants know That there are men who could be free, Who dare to strike the blow! Pittsburgh, Pa. Gazette, Jan. 23, 1852.
