New-York tribune., 1867-06-10
BUyGARY AND THE HAPSBURGS

The coronation at Pesth, on the Sth INST, ot FRAN
els Joseph Emperor of Austria, King of Hungary.
having fully restored that ancient Kingdom TO the
position it occupied as an integral portion Of the
Austrian Empire, previous TO the memorable Hun
yaiiau movements OF 1888 and 1912 brief resume OF
the political history of Hungary, in relation to this
important event will be interesting to the readers OF
I'm TRIBUNE.
From the conquest of Hungary by the MagyaIs IN
the ninth century of the Christian era, the country
was governed by succession of Dukes, the heads ci
the different tribes until the beginning of the eeV-
enth century when the powers of those princes were
consolidated under Stenhen L. whose religious zeal
gained him from Pope Sylvester the appeiiatloh OF
SAINT and who is properly regarded as the oI
the hungarian Kingdom. hungary lnain'aheu i! Its
national independence, and was ruled Dy lts own
lnonarcs from that period till the year l2 but on
the death of Louis Ill. KngOf hungary, ms brother
in-law Ferdinand J. of Austria, succeeded 70 the
Hungarian throne by virtue OF compact made with
fOuis during his life ine lnsllng the Succession 10
ms Imperial relative. lhS family aIlaLgthleJ gave
rise 10 a series of civil connections and conflicts IN
Hungary extending over considerable period OF
time; hut in the end the work commenced by nego-
tiation was completed 10y force OF arms anu hungary
became a portion of the Austrian Empir" retaining,
however. the title of Kingdom and IT'S own laws anu
Institutions ~.
dom has not been an undstuTbcd one, even since the
Acknowledgement of their authority by the HuhgaIi-
ans In the early part OF the eighteenth century te
IersecUtions of the PrOtcStants of Hungary, under
1eOpOld L., led to a revolt, which ended dlSaStrOusy
for HUnpaTlanS.
of the famous Maria Theresa, pursued so harsh a
course toward Hungary governing II by edlcts ana
imposing heavy burdens OF taxation on tne people
that discomfort became general. and civil war was
on the eve of breaking ont when he recalled ms
edcts and promised 10 his Hungarian SUBJECTS the
speedy redress of their grevanees-a pOnnSo WliC4
his sudden death prevented him from running put
which faithfully carried out III It's spirit ny nlS
brother and successor Leopold, who confirmed the
manner than any of ms predecessors had done
In tho struggles of Austria with rance;
under the first Napoleon Hungary contributed
largely both in and means. 10 the defense OF the
Austrian Empire but the HungaTiaS llet WIN NV H
poor return for their sacrifices seeing Una! ai.e se
final ciose of the lN5, III answer 20 certain
complaints and remOnStrauc"s OF theirs relative 10
the heavy weight OF taN.,,iOn which they Were re
,ontuu, the holding Of the Diets thereby depriving
the people o the only constitutional means they hau
of ex pressing their grievances and seeking redress
The SySiem Of governing the country without lets
which was continued for several years. created Suc
general discomfort and ~ length So seriously threat
ened evil war that i'm lS3j the monarch was Obliged
10 convene the Diets and to meet ms subjects 10
spirit OF eOnciliatOn. eNculpang himself before them
for the course he had pursued II WAS aDout TINS
time thai the Reform movement IN Hungary com
Inenccd. which resulted IN 1915 IN the abolition Ol
feudaiity. and other important changes
The history Oi the Hungarian Liberal movement Is
of a deeply Interesting character but space VIII not
permit 0f our entering int0 II here at any leugii'
Still II has too close auu important c"htciin ION WIN
the event which has inst taken place al ItSth "a
allow Of our dismissing II u a few bud sentences
The objects which the Liberals proposed 10 them
selves will be best IN the programme Put forth
by theni in 1871 of which the following were the
fundamental points: l. Reform IN he fruda system.
.. Due representation of the tOwIS %. Equality
before the law. 4. General taxation for 2ll CLASSES
mobiles and commOners . Publicity IN the conits
q. Reunion of TTansyvauia with Hungary. e Liberty
of the press and s. responsible ministry. In TINS
document they particularly appealed 10 the laws "l
179O. sanctioned by Leopold H.. which distinctly
declare that in Its own administration Hungary Is AN
independent country, having nothing IN common
with the laws and institutions OF the other parts
composing the Austrian Empire.
For wears the Liberal party had been gradually
gaining ground in the nation, until at length the
time arrived when they felt themselves strong
enough To take some decisive action In ls41 kos-
sut OF the most prominent leaders of the party.
elected 10 the Diet as representative OF Festh
and 0n the l1th November of the year the Diet
opened by King Ferdinand v M person. hos
sutn lost no time In proposing extensive reforms.
and was ardenuy supported by the House OF Depu-
ties and the nation. a conflict with the Government
seemed imminent when the French Revolution OF
iSiS came, OverthrOwng the rule of Mctternlch, anu
compelling Ferdinand from fear iOr the safety Of his
throne. yield 10 the demands of ms hungarian
subjects. lie accordingly lost no time ID appointing
new Ministry, IN which hossutll held me poftl0o
of Finance, and Deak was Minister Oi Justice. Inc
Ministry and their cOmpatriOts m the Diet set to
work with a will. and III a short time laws were
passed abOlishing feudality. making taxation gen
eTa for all classes extending the franchise I" com
monrrs, recognizing the equality ol aI received
religions. securing the reunion OF lransN wanna WIN
Hungary giving liberty 70 the press. aud establish
ing trial by jury On the llth of April, ls4s klng
Ferdinand repaired To Presburg and closed tins
memorable Diet amid the enthusiastic acclamaliOns
OF the people.
Tile sequel OF these proceedings tOllnS one OF Inc
usual painful chapters IN modern history. How the
party OF Reaction and the Cabinet Of euna. pIactlC
ing the baseSt dssimuatOn. clandeStlnclY employed
their utmost efforts 20 provoke civil Wa III hungary,
in order that they might have pictcGt for destroy
ing the work the Diet had just dUnc: now kOssuth
and his couutTymen appealed tO arms against the
treachcTy which aimed at despOlline them of the
fruits of the constitutional victory they had
won: how IN battle after battle the Ilungariaus
hghtiIg under the inspiration Of patriotism defeated
the AustrIans inglOTOusly: now Austria braien aud
hnnhied' was compelled To cail upon h'Ssa 10 dlN
HmgaUans. OyerpOwered 10y numbers gave up the
fight S,IiRe of then leaders finding safety IN exile.
aud hers perShng bp the hands Of the cNecutI0ncT
all this forms most exciting story, the interest Of
which nO lapSe OF time can ever impair
It at tl$hight of the struggle shat the present
EmPri0r OF Austria and Ming ~ hungary. lianfls
Joseph mounted the throne a. the sucre>S"r oi hIs
uncle Ferdinand. who was made tO resign and give
place 80 him. The new Emperor siTalIed his arces-
sOu tu power by putting forth manifest" annonnc~
ing the reduction OF Hungary. while al the same
time the Diet declared this dyuastc change uncou-
sttuttisl and illegal and adopted with accamatOr
PROPOSAL made by kOsSuth ion the dctlIouement of
the Hapsburg dynasty The substance oi the Act OF
Iutep.ndelee passed 18th April. ls4!i rum To the
fOllOwln effect That the House ot Hapshurg bay
ing trtsscherOusly levied against the nation.
broken up the integrity Of the Kingdom and called in
the AID of foreign power 10 accomplish It's aims has
by those acts destroyed all the treaties that hound II
TO Hungary and IA therefore declared Tor ever "a
cuded from the throne of the Hungarian Kingdom"
The form of government 10 be fixed afterwaTd,
and KOSsutb was. III the mean time, nominated Gov
eTnOr. and Responsible Ministry formed. |
But the egiOns which Russia poured into Hungary
caiised the scales to turn IN favor OF Austria
and made Francis Joseph master of the situation. |
The Hun9arians were crushed A new regime was !
established in Hungary, based on the runs OF the /
ancient institutions OF the country POlltcaI ngntS
municipal privileges and religious liberty were all
swept away Francis Joseph declined to undergo the
ceremony of coronation, and from q Kingdom Hun |
gary slnk INTO province OF the hnstIiah EnlpIe.