The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-12-12
THE CULTURKAMPf IN HUNGARY.

The victory won on Monday by Premier
Wekerle of Hungary will go on the his
toricaI record as one of the great Jriumphs
of religious liberty in modern times. Until
now, the various religious churches into
which the Hungarian people have been
divided have insisted on the exclusive con-
trol of marriages, baptisms aud registra-
tions of birth among their own members,
and. as besides Protestants. Catholics and
members of the Greek church, there are
half a dozen other sects in Hungary, much
confusion has resulted. Four years ago an
attempt made by Premier Tisza to intro
duce uniformity led to the passage, after
two years of strife, of compromise meas
ure, by which the birth of children by
mixed marriages was to be registered by
the state and civil marriages were author
lied, but the dignitaries of the Roman
Catholic and Greek churches, who are
members OF the House of Lords, assisted
by the hereditary peers. fought it to the
bitter end. and the result was a refusal of
the Catholic Bishops to obey the law. This
led to the resignation of the Ministry, and
DR.. Wekerle, who had been Finance Min
lister, became Premier.
He announced his policy to be one of
concession on non-essentals, but of
firm adherence to the principles of his
predecessors on the question of religious
liberty. A bitter contest ensued But In
the end he succeeded in getting a bill
passed which legalIzed civil marriages.
transferred to the state the registration of
births, and recognized Jews as religious
sect on an equal footing with Catholics.
Protestants and Greek Christians. In
other words, he placed the politico-
religious coda of Hungary On the same
basis as the politco-religious codes of all
European countries except Russia. The
Emperor has now signed the bill and it has
become law, greatly TO the satisfaction of
the House of Representatives and the peo-
pie generally.
To understand the Importance OF the
reform the curious condition of Hungary
must be rememb ered. The Hungarian
constitution bears some resemblance to
The constitution of Great Britain. The
Legislature consists of House of Repre-
seniatives, which responds to the Brit
sh House of Commons, and of House of
Magnates, corresponding to the House of
Lords, and in which forty Catholic and
Greek church bishops have seats as ex-
mates are much more active politically
than the English peers. They occupy the
position which the English peers filed be-
fore the passage of Earl Grey's reform
bill Their influence Is almost paramount.
Popular feeling must be very strong, in
deed, to pass any measure In opposition 10
their wishes. They are almost the sole
survivors Of the ancient feudal nobility.
They owe allegiance TO the Emperor of
Austria-Hungary. but 1t is an allegiance of
their choice and which they claim the
right of Withholding when they choose.
Hence 1t needs Infinite tact and dexterity
on the part of the Emperor to handle
them. They are quite capable of break
Ing out in rebellion at the head of their
vassais If they object to the imperial pol
Icy. and. on the other hand, as Maria
Theresa proved. they are amenable to i'm
pulse and quite ready to die for a sovereign
! who appeals to their hearts
| A sufficient number OF them seem on
this occasion to have been won over by
Tlsza and Wekerle to let the religious lib
cry bill pass. The influence of the court
| was probably exerted to good effect 1t