William Penn Life, 2003 (38. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2003-03-01 / 3. szám
Branching Out with Endre Csornán Lajos Kossuth The Father of Hungarians, Political Reformer and Leader of the 1848-49 Revolution for Hungarian Independence LAJOS KOSSUTH WAS BORN THE son of a noble family on April 27, 1802, in Monok, Zemplén County, in the northern region of Hungary. Having finished his primary and elementary education, he enrolled in the college of Sárospatak as a law student, passing the examinations with excellent grades. He began practicing law in Monok, and in a short time became well known and respected. He was soon commissioned, in accordance with the provision of an old law, to fill the place of an absentee member of the National Diet, Baron Pál Vécsey. Nobody paid particular attention to a young "Zemplén" attorney as he took his seat in a remote part of the Great Hall. The position of the representatives of absentee members of parliament carried little weight, as they were not allowed to vote. However, the time Kossuth spent in the National Parliament in Pozsony brought him in close touch with many of the leading figures of the liberal party, including Ferenc Deák, Ferenc Kölcsey and Baron Miklós Vesselényi. Kossuth was arrested in 1836 and thrown into prison for the publication of a municipal bulletin. He was set free in 1840 when speaker after speaker at the Diet raised their voices on Kossuth's behalf. During that same year he became editor of the "Pesti Hírlap." It was not much of a newspaper, but more of a political review and guidebook for political thinking. Vienna viewed Kossuth's popularity through his editorship of the "Pesti Hírlap" as a dangerous situation. After his three-year contract expired, Kossuth was offered a new contract that he deemed humiliating and one he could not accept. So, he resigned as editor but kept up his spirits. "If nine roads will be blocked before me," he said, "I shall find the 10th that is open." Kossuth was elected to Parliament in 1847 to represent Pest County. His election to Parliament made it a forgone conclusion that the Diet of 1847-48 would bring huge changes to the nation's political life. Indeed, the changes to the throne Kossuth proposed were unanimously carried. Hungary suddenly emerged as a fully democratized constitutional kingdom. A few days later the revolution began in Vienna. There were demands for the dismissal of Metternich and the introduction of constitutional reforms. The news of the Vienna revolution was received in Pest with great joy. The date was March 15, 1848. The people of the city filled the streets, and a large public demonstration got underway. Sándor Petőfi, the great lyric poet, stood in front of the national museum and recited his national song, "Nemzeit Dal." A crowd of 10,000 people shouted the refrain with him: By the God of the Magyars we solemnly swear The tyrant's yoke we will no longer hear. Ever since, March 15 has been observed by the Magyars wherever they may live as the Magyars' Liberty Day. The ink was barely dry on the newly sanctioned laws, when the Magyars had to resort to arms to defend their liberties against the armed forces of the King who knew no honor. Then, the Russian invasion against the democratic Hungary began on May 4. On Aug. 13, General Görgely ordered his army to lay down its arms before the Russian General Rüdiger at Világos. The war of Magyar independence was over. On Aug. 18, Lajos Kossuth, along with some 5,000 followers, crossed the frontier at Orsova onto Turkish soil. He visited the United States from 1851 to 1852, traveling to several states, speaking before state legislatures and being entertained at banquets. The great Magyar apostle gave back his soul to his creator on March 20,1894, in Torino, Italy. He is still considered to be the father of the Hungarian nation. KOSSUTH APANK! |M1 William Peoi Life, March 2003 3
