The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-03-28
The Future OF Hungary.

What Is the meaning Of the tremendous
outburst OF enthusiasm with which the Hun
garian people are honoring the memory Of
KossUTH The Ministers. representing the
majority OF the Diet Of the Translei than
kingdom. have. 1t Is true. tried to reconcile
loyalty to the HAPsBURa dynasty with q
large measure Of concession to the popular
demand that the funeral OF the dead patriot
shall be celebrated on an extraordinary
scale OF splendor. They sanction, they say.
the demonstration. so far as the deceased
revolutionist personiiied the unity and in
destructibility Of Hungary; but they dis
claim any sympathy with the movement
for complete political independence. Of
which KossUTH remained the standard
bearer to his latest hour. Is 1t likely that
the mass Of the Magyars draw any such
distinctions Does not. rather the present
disclosure OF their deepest feelings indicate
that the regime OF dualism. which for the
moment binds together the possessions OF
the HAPsBURGs, is provisional and fragile.
sustained only by the singular tact. discre-
ton. and accommodating temper OF the
existing sovereign
1t Is hard TO believe that the Hungarian
people would acclaim with an ardor scarce
ly paralleled. the part played by KossUTH
In 1S4S-49 II. in their hearts. they wholly
disapproved Of the stand unwaveringly
maintained by him during the forty-fiye
succeeding years. The Ex-Governor of
Hungary contended that political indepen-
dence was the sole definite and durable 30
luton OF his country's difficult situation,
and that the sedulously cultivated loyalty
to the HAPsBURd dynasty. although it
might ostensibly be justified by the shrewd-
ness and amiabillty Of the present sover-
eign. would. II long continued. prove fatal
solvent OF the virile and self-sufficing ele-
ments OF the national character. He was
fond OF contrasting the position of Hungary
under the system OF dualism with that OF
England under the first two Kings OF the
house Of BRUNSWICK. 1t was great mis-
fortune for English Liberals. he was wont
to say. that GEORGE l. and GEORGE II made
no effort to assert royal prerogatives. al
lowed the veto power to perish by non-user,
and permitted the establishment OF the
principle Of Ministerial responsibility to the
House OF Commons. Had either OF them
attempted what GEORGE III. was to do. and
insisted upon appointing or Diminishing
Ministers at his will. the house Of BRUINS
WICK would have been dethroned. and re-
course would have been made to the only
alternative. a republican form OF govern
ment. But by l7G0. feelings OF unwarranted
confidence in the monarchs good intentions,
and OF blind. unreasoning devotion to a
royal family had taken possession OF the
English public mind. and the result was that
even the first step In the evolution Of truly
democratic institutions. the reform OF the
House OF Commons. was deferred till 1882.
KossUTH feared that like mischIsvous re-
suits might come to Hungary from the
growing tendency TO trust tho HAPsBURas.
resulting from the coneiliAtory spirit of
FRANCIS JOSEPH. and the temporarily
smooth working OF the dualistic system.
To those who pointed out that under the eK-
listing regime Hungary not only had exclu-
sive control OF her own affairs. but exercised
preponderant influence in the councils OF
the empire. he replied by asking: What
guarantee is there that this state Of
things will last, Is it not dependent
upon one mans life? The Magyars know
FRANCIS JOSEPH by experience. but what do
they know OF his destined successor? Is it
within the bounds OF probability that
German sovereign will always meekly obey
the dictates OF Hungarians, whose interests
are fundamentally incompatible with those
OF his German subjects on the one hand, or
those OF his Slavic subjects on the other?
Do Aagyars. Germans. and Slavs regard
one another with more friendship now than
they did when the house OF HAPsBURa was
still faithful to the policy Of Capitalization ?
Who can say that the next Emperor may |
not revert to that policy as the only safe |
guard against the utter disintegration Of |
his dominions
Prof. FREEMAN and other careful observ-
ers OF the drift OF things in Austria-Hunga-
ny have agreed with KossUTH in consider
ing the dualistie system mere mskeshift, |
adopted only for the purpose Of coping with |