The republic., 1851-12-18
THE REPU BLIC.

tism OF the Austrian dynastY--l saYs nnxious to
oppose this design by cheerful public life of tho
people itself, begun in the year 1890, passed laws
in tho direction that by and by, step by step, the
Latin language should be repacedin the public pro-
cecdings OF the Legislature and oI The government
by living language, familiar to the people itself.
And Hungary being Hungary, what was more ma
tural than that, being in the necessity 10 choose
one language they chose the Hungarian language
IN and Tor Hungary; the more because that was the
language spoken in Hungary, not only by COM
paratiye majority of the people, but almost by
absolute majority; that Is, those who spoke Hupga
rian were not only more than those who spoke
Whatever one OF the other languages, but, if not
more, at least equal to all those who spoke several
other languages together
BE 80 kind TO mark well, gentlemen, no other
language was oppressed-thc Hungarian language
WAS upon nobody enforc ed-whereyer another Lam
guage was in even in public life for instance,
OF whatever church, whatever popular school,
whatever community, II was not replaced by the
hungarian language. IL was only the dead Latin,
which, by and by, became eliminated froCa the di-
plomatic public life, and replaced by the living
hungarian in Hungary.
la Hungary, gentlemen, be pleased to mark it,
never was this measure extended into the munich
pal public life of Croatia ana Sclavonia which,
though belonging for eight hundred years to Hun
gary, still were not Hungary, but a distinct
ton, with distinct municipal public life
They, themselves Croatians and Scavonians, re-
Peatedly urged il in the common parliament TO af
ford them opportunity to learn the Hungarian lam
guage; that having the right they might also enjoy
the benefit OF being employed 10 common govern
mental offices of Hungary. This opportunity was
afforded them but nobody forced to make use
oiiti he desired not 10 do so; but with their
ncipal and public life, also with the domestic,
cial religious life, OF whatever other people In Hun
gRry itself, the Hungarian language did never in
eriere, but replaced only the Latin language,
which no people spoke, which to no living people
belonged, and which, therefore, contrary to
liberty, because il oxcluded the people from any
share in the public life. Willing to give freedom
to The people, we eliminated that Latin tongue,
which was an obstacle to its future. We did what
every other nation in the world did, clearing by it
the way to the peoples common universal liberty.
Your country is happy one even in that
spect; being young nation, you did not find in
your way the Latin tongue when you established
this Republic, so you did not want law to elimi-
nate it from your public life. You have living
diplomatic life, which is spoken in your Congress-
in your State Legislatures, and by which your
Government rules. That language is not the ma
tive language of your whole people-scarcely that
of majority; and yet no man in the Union takes
il for an oppression that Legislature and Govern.
ment is not carried on in every possible language
that ID spoken in the United States and yet
found in your common law, inherited from Eng
land, some Latin expressions the affdavits, &c.
and, having found ii IN law, you felt the necessity
to stimulate it by law, as you really did
And one thing have to mention yet. This re-
placing of the Latin guage by the Hungarian was
not work of our revolution-it done before,
step by step, by and by, from l7Sl. When we
ried in lS4S our democratic reforms, and gave po-
tical, social, civil, and full religious freedom to
the whole people, without distinction of relig gon or
tongue, considering that unhappy excitement ofthe
question of languages prevailing through Europe in
consequence of the Russian plot, which uevel-
oped, we extended our cares to the equal protec
ton of every tongue and nationality, affording to
all equal right to all aid out of the public funds
for the moral, religious, and scientfc develop
ment in churches and IN schools. Nay, revo-
luton extended this regard even to the political
development Of every tongue, sancioning the free
communal corporations, well as in the admins
tration of justice ITSELF The PRONUNCIATION of the
laws in every tongue, the right to petition and to
claim justice in whatever tongue, the duty of the
government TO ahswer accordngly-all this
granted, and thus far more. done in that respect
also than whatever other nation ever accorded to
the claims of tongues; by far than the United
States ever did, though there is country in the
world where 30 many different languages are spo-
ken as here.
1t is, therefore, the most calumnious misrepre
sentaton to say that the Hungarians srugg gled for
the dominion of their own race No; VIC strug-
gled for civil, POLITICAL social, and religious free
dom, common TO all, against Austrian despotism.
We struggled for the great principle OF self-gov
ernment against Capitalization, and, because GEN.
absolutism. Yes, Capitalization is
absolutism; ID is inconsistent with constitution
al rights. Austria has given the very proof of
1t, The house of Austria had never the slight
est intention to grant constitutional life 10 the
nations of Europe. | will prove it another
occasion. Ii hates constitutions as hell hates the
salvation of human souls But the friends of the
Hapsburgs say it has granted a constitutional
March, lS49 WE'LL whore is that constitution
now! IL was not only never executed, but it was,
three months ago, formally Withdrawn. Even the
word ministry ID boted out from the dictionary of
the Austrian government. SwartZenberg is again
House, Court, and State Chancellor, Metternich
was; only Metternich ruled not with the iron rule
Of martial law over the whole empire of Austria.
Swarzenberg does. Mettcrnich encroached upon
the constitutional rights of Hungary, Transyvania,
Croatia, and Sclavonia Swarzenbcrg has abolish
ed them, AMI the young Nero, Francis Joseph,
melted all nations together in a common bondage,
where the promised equality of nationalities ia
ried most literally to be sure, because they are
all equally oppressed, and all equally ruled by
absolutstical principles in the German language.
And why was that illusory constitution withdrawn?
Because it was lie from the beginning because
it was an impossibility. And why so2 Because it
was founded upon the principle of Capitalization,
and centralized thirteen different nations which
now groan under Austrian ruie F.; and yet to have
constitutional life IL more than an impossibility
II is an absurdity-it is an oppression augmented
by deceit.
/ cannot exhaust this vast topic in one speech SO
go to the end. only state clearly my own and
nay nation's ruling principle, even in respect to
the claims OF the nationalities of languages; and
that is, we will have republican institutions
founded universal suffrage; and go the majority
Of the sovereign people shall rule in every respect
IN the village, in the city, in the country in the
congress and government-in all and everything.
What to the public concerns of the village. of the
;ity'ot the country, OF the congress belongs-sclf
government everywhere-the people sovereign
every where-and universal suffrage and the rule |
IF the majority everywhere. That is princi-
pie. for which we live, and are ready to die This |
s he cause for which / humbly request the pro. |
ecting aid of the people of the United States, and
chiefly your aid and protection, gentlemen--you, |
The mighty engineers of the public opinion of your
glorious land
Let me entreat you. gentlemen to accord this pro-
lection TO the cause ofmy downtrodden land il s the
curse OF oppressed humanity on the European con-
nent. 1t is the curse of Germany, bleeding under |
he scourge ofsome thirty petty tyrants, all leaning
upon that lea ape of despots the basis of which is
Petersburg. 1t is the curse of fair but unfortunate
tally, which, in go many respects, is dear TO my /
leort We have common enemy; are |
orothers in arms for freedom and independence. | |
know how Italy stands; and dare confidently de- |
are there is hope for Italy but in that great
publican party at the head of hch Mazzini stands
L has nothing to do with commonistcal schemes /
,r the French doctrines of socialism. But il villa
Italy Independent, free and republican. Whittier
'ould Italy Look for freedom and independence il |
not TO that party which Mazzini leads1 To the
King Of Naples, perbaps1 Let me be silent about !
hat execrated man. Or to the dynasty of Sardi.
lia and Piedmont 1t processes to be constitu.
onnl, and it captures those poor Hungarian sol