Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-01-09
HUNGARY WINS IT'S INDEPENDENCE
Way the Great War Goes the Magyar Dream of Freedom
Coming True-The End of the Thousand Years of Waiting
By VANCE THOMPSON

was to be wiped out. And war against Rus.
sa was popular-for the Hungarans had
not forgotten that she aided the Austrian
Emperor to fasten on their shackles That
was the first thought. But now that the
war has spread-that it is clear alignment
of the feudal forces of Europe (Turkey, Ger
many, Austria) against the best the world
has got in democracy Republican France,
democratic England the agrarian Russia),
why-the Hungarians have thought twice
They see that German-Austrian victory
means for them q stronger if not harsher
taskmaster. 1t means heavier German
hand over Hungary, and the Magyar dream
of freedom pushed back and back"
Meanwhile there is no question of a re-
volt in Hungary"
mot until the war is over. We are in Il
and Wen fight Loyalty to the end. Well go
to the last ditch Our own leaders-our own
Premier-our own statesmen have taken US
into the war. Whether they were foolB or
traitors to the race doesn't matter now
We've got to fight it out. But the end Of
the war, matter how it is decided, viii
mean a new Hungary"-and he threw at ui
q mighty word-a tremendous word: Mag
yarorszhag!"
Selfrule of the Races
thing is Hungary
And aren't they right?
This war is being fought for the liberation
of nationalities. That is the occult meaning
of 1t all. The German shall not hold in
thral the Pole or the italian or the Serb
German shall go to German and Slav to
Slav. The nations will divide along the lines
of race and language. erecting their own
governments-exactly the governments which
are the natural products of their civilization.
The right of one race to rule another allen
race is being fought on a hundred battlefelds.
I admit the question is not quite so simple as
that; but in its broad essence 1t is true. Il
was posed in the battles of the Balkan war
when Turkey alone was the issue. 1t Is
being asked again of Austria-and Germany.
And what of the Ave millions of Germans
who have settled in Russia-preferring Rus
sian tyranny to Prussian militarism? And
the Croats and Serbs of Hungary? Well,
they are there by choice. They are national
refugees-like the millions Of their brothers
in America; and their wishes, one way or
the other, can have little weight with the
nationalsts who stand by flag and country.
Misunderstanding the tall, pale glasses
they drank to the formidable word and to a
free and independent Hungary. One Of the
aspects of that new freedom upon which
they were eloquent was the economic aspect.
Hungary although over a thousand years
old. is practically unbroken ground. Under
a national. modern and self-respecting gov
ernment it would offer innumerable chances
for the prospector, the exporter, the manu-
facturer. AS it is, Hungary is a country OF
buried and sleeping wealth The Magyars
will dig it up-once they are their own mas
ters.
These things they said sitting at table,
and then they sang Vorosmarty's national
hymn, whereof there has been mention, for
they are singing race. A hghting, snging'
kissing race-worthy of freedom. And they
shouted "EJ Hail" and the glasses cllnked'