New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-01-23

ert, beyond the precincts Of bis city. While
the nobility were represented by their county
DEPUTIES in the Diet. and by special instructions
n them took an immediate legislation, the Free
Cities were represented only by single col
lective vote, and even OF this vote the BODY OF
citizens exercised not the slightest influence
Ofthe peasantrv, who composed the great mass
o., the population, We will say only word
namely. that while it had to bear all the pubic
burdens Of the State and the private burdens OF
Seiquory. il was excluded from al the rights Of
citizenship, and even from the possibility OF
acquiring them. Its destiny was to obey and TO
suffer. and in the iurdical sense OF the word, no
peasant could be regarded as person.
Opposite TO this Constitution. stood the Aus
iran Government. whose sole purpose for 300
wears was to reduce Hungary, under her bu-
reaucracy. that j., to deprive the nation OF It's
Constitution, and lts independence guaranteed
~ fourteen royal oaths The purpose of Austria
was greatly facilitated blythe social and polltl-
eel divisions, which distracted the country and
made all progress impossible The Govern
mcnt, for instance, had only to exert It's ntu-
ence on the free cities, and declare itself the pro-
=
Constitutional attempts of the nobility. Besides,
the superior clergy and the greater part OF the
magnstes strengthened the party of the Govern
ment and it was evident, that with so many
hostile elements the Constitutional nobility,
which formed small minority, could not save
the Ship of State from destruction
This had been seen for long time by the re
fectinc portion of the Hungarian nobility be-
fore the appearance of Kossuth on the political
arena and after many frutless struggles the
liberal part of the Opposition finally resolved TO
reform the Constitution itself. as the source Of
an tho evil from which the nation was suffering
The programme of Reform comprised the fol-
lowing articles
I. Abolition OF ali Feudal Relations.
Proportional taxation of all classes.
p Introduction Of Se.EGovernment on the basis
of universal suffrage, and popular representation
ir the Diet.
Other reforms were also attempted, smos. as
auatter of se.-such as Responsibility of the
Government. Freedom of the Press, Trial by
jury. &c..-which however would have been
realized as the natural consequence Of the other
reforms
This policy for many years was regarded as
he only means Of saving Hungary from utter
ruin, and Of erecting firm aud permanent bar
ner ia the nation itself against the oppressive
POLICY Of Austria
These principles, it will be perceived, are es
sentially democratic The liberal party were
relfccty aware Of this. They well knew that
he freedom Of their country could only be pur-
chased az the price Of their privileges. They
aue'y. that the mouldy and worm eaten fOunda-
ton Of the State was no longer to be endured
ard that there could be no future FOR Hungary
except on q new, aud an essentially democratic
basis
m every Diet from 1925 to lsi7 and 1919 the
liberal Opposition was inspired with the pur
pose Of realizing these principles and the Aus.
THAN Government could not have failed to sus
pect that their Absorbing system was in great
part from this quarter For while they showed
no special hostility to the previous Constitutional
Oppc sition they pursued the supporters Of the
new movement with envenomod hatred, AS was
shown IN the convictions and imprlsonuents Of
| 1896 and 1877
kosSuth was himself a victim of these per
secutions Still he was not the originator OF
the principles in question. He only lent them
the powerful support of his vote and his genius
These reforms grew out of the demands of the
age. kossuth merely reduced them to shape,
bot IN such an eflectual manner, that through
him the ideas became the common property of
the nation. 1t must be said, 10 he honor of
Count Casimir Batthyany, that next to the
murdered Count Louis BaIthyany, it was he. Of
all he higher nobility who in several Diets
mos, earnestly supported the new movement.
The thing was no secret, as all this had been
stated for many years in numerou. journals aai
pamphlets, 90 which the two Bat,hyanys gave
Their earnest support.
Such was the state Of public affairs in Hunga-
ryWhen the February revolution suddenly broke
out Animmense excitement took possession of
the whole nation time pressed not q moment
vas to be lost the general storm, which arose
Oh all sides was only increased, and could not
be allayed by proitless negotiations the high.
spirited young men " Vienna had blown the mis-
cradle system Of bureaucratic despotism " sky
high Austria was without leader, aud de-
serted on al sides. It vas Kossuth then, who
took the hint Of the times IN the Pressburgh
/ Dlet, introducing series OF NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.,
which provided for democratic basis for the
/ Hungarian Constitution, and for the Indepen-
ceuce OF the people from The oppression Of
/ Austria. On this basis, the ministry OF Louis
/ Battlyany was formed, Of With Kossu,h was
! again the guiding genius
/ This sudden change, through which the'dan
ger Of civil war was set aside, and people eIe-
waited from serfs TO ireemen, seemed for mo.
meat to have reconoiled Hungary with Austris,-
the old grudge DYING out IN the universal enthu-
siasm. But even then there were men who
though. that IS soon as the first excitemen,
/ should subsde, Austria would leave no stone