The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-01-29
HUNGARY and the reviewer.

There is such thing as confusing peo-
ple's ideas upon very plain subjects; and
we are quite sure that person would rise
from the perusal of the much talked-of
article on Hungary, in the last number Of
the North .4merican RevieW, with the feel
ing that Mr.. Bowen is man Of sufficient
ingenuity to do thing Of this sort.
Now, we take it, there is no disputing
that there has been war in Hungary.
We presume we are safe in starting upon
this as fact. Mr.. Bowen, himself, will
not deny it. This writer begins his long
article by expounding, at length, the gen
eral idea that there is variety of people
in Hungary, numbering some ten millions,
of whom the Magyar race counts little
over four millions. And, further, that this
Magyar race were the only malcontents in
the recent struggle. Moreover, that they
entered into the contest, in the remarka-
BILE language of the reviewer, for the sole
purpose of retaining these races (that is,
the Sclavonians, the Wallachians, and
Saxons !; in other words, the remaining
people of Hungary in their former state
OF subsection and dependence. That is
to say, according to Mr.. Bowen, the late
war has been carried on, on one side, by
four millions of Magyars, for the sole pur-
pose of keeping sir other millions Of Hun
garians in subsection.
One other indisputable fact of the case
is, that the power in arms against Austria,
whether called Hungarian or Magyar, was
in fact successful against Austria, and
would have established their independence
of that government, but for the interposi-
ton of Russia in the contest, who came
to the rescue Of Austria, and turned the
tide Of war in her favor.
There has been then rebellion in Hun
gary, which all Austria could not quell,
and which was crushed by Russia, acting
in conjunction with her despotic ally.
Here are two facts which even Mr..
Bowen will not dispute, from which we
will take our departure. The general idea
of the war is, that it was Hungary con-
tending against Austria for national inde-
Pendence MIR. Bowen says no; it was
the Magyars against the Croats and Scla-
vonians, "for the sole purpose of retain
ing them in subsection" 1t was four
millions Of Hungarians against six millions
of Hungarians; Austria being the ally and
hacker of the majority against the minority.
Yet, it appears that that minority carrie d
all before them, whipping brother Hunga-
rians and Austrians all out of the field to-
gether. Besides, according 10 Mr.. BOWEN,
these four millions were the "aristocracyv
of Hungary (rather a numerous aristoc-
racy). They were the oppressors of a
majority of their countrymen, and fighting
with bloody and unparalleled heroism
"rgainsf the reforms demanded by The spirit
Of The age" We quote the language Of
the reviewer himself, and of course are
doing him no injustice.
The valor Of the Hungarians or Magyars
has not been so much vondered at as adj
mired, because of the belief that they were
engaged in struggle for liberty. But
under the North Americans view Of the
case, We may well begin 10 express as
tonishmeat at the selfsacrifcing intrepidity
of men who were merely fighting TO retain
ill-gotten power, "and against The reforms
demanded by the spirit Of the age"
Now, we submit that the aspect Of the
case, as here presented, is simply very re-
markable. IL we are to believe our re-
viewer, there has been no struggle for
liberty, none for national independence.
II has simply been contest on the part Of
four millions of Magyar " aristocrsts," to
keep the upper hand Of six millions Of
brother Hungarians and not only to put
them down, but TO pile ten millions Of Aus.
TRANS on the top of them.
Now, we do not propose TO comment
upon or even TO go over the long and tedious
historical and critical statements running
through fifty or sixty dismal pages Of the
review, upon which this view of the sub.
ject rests. We look upon il as one Of
those cases in which a good deal Of in.
dusiry, ingenuity, and plausibility, ha:
been exerted for very peryerse purpose.
We simply desire to express our own
views in as few words as possible. The
original causes of the Hungarian move.
ment were, perhaps, Of mixed character
But no man possessing any knowledge o.
the ordinary motives Of human action
can pretend, with reason, that the people
Of Hungary could have been reused &c
such pitch Of enthusiasm and desperate
valor as they have lately exhibited, with
out there having been an idea of indepcnd-
ence lying at the bottom, and running all
through the fabric of whatever other inn
mediate and more temporary motives
might have influenced and precipitated