The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1920-07-16

absorb the morbund organism of Austria-Hun-
gary the Czecho-Slovak people doomed
Prague to be the first in the series of stepping
stones of Prusslan power: Vienna Budapest Bel
grade, Sofia Constantnople. Bagdad, the Persian
gulf He recognized that the cause of the Czecho-
Slovak people was the cause of the allies, and,
fleeing from Austria, he proceeded TO convince
statesmen and public opinion in the entente
countries.
At the outset the task seemed almost hopeless.
There he was, lone fugitive, under sentence of
death in the land of his fathers, the enemy-Haps-
burg Hohenzollern autocracy-enthroned on the
pinnacle Of military success. Masaryk was
daunted
He found" says the Bohemian Review
Czech exiles in Switzerland; he established rea-
lions with emgrants In Paris London and Russia
He told them that the hour had come TO strike a
blow for free Bohemia His call reached
across the ocean to the Bohemnns of America
He lectured In universities, talked to statesmen
gave interviews to journalists wrote for the re-
views, established French periodical In the in
terests of his country, enlisted gifted writer's and
generous friends of freedom in the cause OF
Bohemia"
In 1915 Masaryk founded the Czecho- Sovak
National Council in Paris This body assumed
the role of provisional government of country
embedded in the very center of the power of the
victorious enemy. Vienna cursed, but did not take
Masaryk too seriously. Step by step the govern
have an exchequer-supported chiefly by assess
ments and voluntary contributions of the Czecho-
Slovak organizations In the United States 1t main
tanned an army in Siberia. and military units in
France and Italy. Vienna still scorned but the
signs of panic became visible behind the sneer for
meanwhile the passive resistance, the silent revo-
luton" Of the Czecho-Slovak people at home
tnued impeding the activities of the dual
monarchy at every step.
Allied recognition of Czecho- Slovakia as
beigerent power and the Czecho- Slovak National
Council Its de facto government came In the
summer of 1913. and on October % of that year
governmental authority at Prague taken over
by Its local committee. Free Czecho- Slovakia was
a reality.
But It is seldom that Masaryk speaks Of him
self. The one personal passage of his birthday
address on March was that In which he dis
claimed personal merit and good fortune He said
MANY pleasant messages came to me today
bringing out that my life was very fortunote
one must confess that the word fortunate
never carried much meaning for me. never be-
lieved In accident, did not believe In good luck
In the life of individuals and nations. Fortunate
is he who has a life rich In contents fortunate ia
he who can, at least partly, through honest effort
realize his ideals. In this sense am fortunate
but 1t is not my good fortune alone but of all who
with me struggled for the liberty of the nation
l never talked much of myself. and even today
1t Is difficult to say something of myself l will,
only promise you tnat the task lntruSted to me
by the will of the people l shall faithfully and
tirelessly carry out"
Aud today the Austro.Hungaran empire
Hapsburgs and Hohenzoerns are evil memories
The two emperors. William and Karl lead n
parasitic existence In exile; and Masaryk the
coachmans son, oneume blacksmith's apprentice
is governing the Czecho Sovak republic probably
strongest and best organized of central European
countries and quite possibly destined to become
model democracy of the Old World from the
same Hradcany castle where once the Hapsburgs
reigned over . third of Europe