The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-08-01
THE EUROPEAN WAR.
An Address from Louis Konruth.

KOssath published in the Hungarian language,
soon after the victorious invasion OF Bohemia by
the Prussians, an address to the Hungarian
nation" of which the following were the princi-
pal passages;-
''There are historical moments in the life of
nations when the question of their existence is
decided forever, such is the present moment
for Hungary and Transylvania, well as Tor
Croatia, Dalmata, and SclavonIa. The war
already begun VIII solve many questions beyond
those IN which 1t originated. The future tate OF
Hungary, not less than that OF Croatia, Dali
malta and Sclavonia will be determined by il.
IL is, indeed, self evident that il Austria we're
10 retain them under her sway, by achieving
success in this war, she would press
down upon these countries with the whole
weight OF her reinforced strength, ia order to
realize by their complete absorption, the unity
of the Austrian empire; while a defeated aud
diminished Austria would employ more cratIly
than ever all her won,ed arts to bring about the
assimilation of her unlost provinces, in order
that by their fusion into the same one rule the
family OF the Hapsburgs may still mold the rank
OF a great power. But in either case the exist
enCe OF Hungary, and of Croatia Dalmatia, and
SClavonia, as States and nations, would be at an
end. Races and nationalities they might re-
maln-nations, never. Here, then, is an abso-
Lutte alternative, unalterable like .iate between
the necessity OF committing national suicide, or
OF fighting for national independence. Who
would choose to die when life may be won by
q bold determination?
THE Hungarian question is no longer misun-
derstoCd by the clear-signted among the great
powers of Europe. May It be understood at last
also by the public at large! May t'no more be
COnfounded with mere revolutionary restless.
ness The Hungarians are not revolutlOnists.
We are not men fond OF political or social eX-
periments. We are people addicted to order
and tranquility, ana loyal too, even to excess,
ready to sacrifice much always, but not our
country at any time. RehgiouIy attached to
what good our predecessors lett us as national
inheritance, we are the devoted partisans of
nrna m oil Inv
The monarchiCal sentiment runs through our
whole body national. Buta nation we are and
a nation we Will remain; free nation to be
ruled by no laws save our own; developing
freely tnat national lite which is our own. And
we wish to be a State subject to no foreign
people, to no foreign interests; a self
governed State, such as we have right to be,
entitled as are to it by a constitutional exist
ence one thousand years old; by international
Compncts: by the extent of our territory, as
we'll as by the mum Der and genius of our popu-
lation, the sixth by rank among the nations
that may claim place and voice in the European
council of Independent States. This is what we
strive for, since such is our right. Our claims
are on a level with our rights. But, then.
between the realization of our rights and the
rule OF the House OF LoraineHapsburg there
is an nsuperable antagonlsm; and naturally,
too, since OF all the reigning houses the Aus
trian Emperor is the only Cne which as a soye-
reign has neither country nor nation that he
can call his OVID, and Is merely the pOssessor OF
certain lands. The Austrian Emperor is not
chief of nation; he is only chieftain in a
family, the clan Of Hapsburgs.
LET, then, the public opinion of
Europe he penetrated with this truth, that II the
Hungarian nation raises the flag OF l849 again.
1t is moved by no revolutionary restlessness
but merely by the instinct OF self.preseryation
And she Will raise It, since it would be her
death not 10 raise 1t, and since II Is evident that
now or never is the Tune to rise and live. 1t
would be SIN, shame, madness, suicide il she
would neglect this favorable opportunity given
her by Providence. The will of God reveals itself
in historical events-and these are uncommonly
propiuous The demeanor OF hungary has
always been OF paramount Importance in all
wars which the House of Austria was engaged
in by choice or necessity. In the time OF
the first French empire Austria saw her
provinces, Vienna ltselt occupied OY her enemy; !;
vet tor all that and merely because the resources
of Hungary we're at her disposal, she came out
OF That long struggle strong Pr than ever, while
the great Emperor died an exile IN st. Helena.
But on no previous occasion was, perhaps,
Hungary of such WEIGHT in the scale OF fortune
for or against Austria as in this present war.
The strateeica Importance OF her position now
10 OF the utmost consequence And never has
Austria dragged TO tue battle ield so many
Hungarian and Croatlan soldiers as now. in
bitter derision of the Diet, then yet sitting in
Pesth, recruits were levied, taxes were raised
continually at an unheard-of rate, without the
assent of the Diet; and by this exercise OF
despotic power, crowned with mockery, the
Austrian army received a 1ehtiug host of thirty
three Hungarian and one Croatan regiments OF
the line, fourteen regiments OIL hungarian nus
sars, and more than seventy thousand greuzer-
in all force OF above Two hundred and forty
thousand men. | can assure my nation that
the weight OF her attitude in the scale of events
is being understood aud appreciated wherever
il is desirable it should be. The year of lS49
with its fur.reaching lessen, has not been Tor
gotten. 1t is remembered that the proud House
OF Austria, so defying now towards two great
powers, was then unable to stand a single cam
paign against unprcpared, unarmed Hungry
without feeling constrained to mplore the hell
OF two hundred thousand Russians TO rescue il
from certain ruin. And grateful she proved her
self Tor the rescue, IN the true Hapsburg style.
"0penly nave | spoken, not in the
daI kness of conspiracy-the millions OF the peo
pie must save their country in the broad day
light. Let the nation be well penetrated with
the thought that IT she were to neglect availmg
herself of this favorable opportunity for sell
emancipation, she would herself pronounce hel
own doom forever-she would perish by he1
own hands-dg her own grave, and sink INTO i
tetO de Sea dead nation in that vast cemetery
the Austrian empire. Who would dare to say
that my nation deserves to die by such death
She shall live!
"My own native land! thou has
suffered much and long since saw thee We
banished rom, not by, thee-We too, have sui
tered much and long. have grown grey with
age, with inconsolaole grlet and with mourning
for manv losses, thine and mlne in the dOlefu
land OF exile. But no aching pain, no dir,
affection, has ever diminished the sense OF duty
| owe to thy holy cause. This sense of dut!
lmpcls me even now 20 be up and doing. AnC
with the calm rejection OF ponderating thought
with the warmth OF hope, to which my Oyles
heart does not easily yield, and withal with The
denomination OF the strong VIII, | say-Vha
these seventeen years I never yet said BE o
good cheer, my nation! we shall meet again.
"HossUTH.n