The Czechoslovak Review/Volume 2/An arraignment of Magyar oligarchy

AN ARRAIGNMENT OF MAGYAR OLIGARCHY.

From the “Dělnické Listy”. October 15, 1918.
From the “Dělnické Listy”. October 15, 1918.

Magyar social democrats sent to the social democratic parties of all lands a statement in which they describe the truth about the Hungarian government and about the political conditions prevailing in Hungary. They ask that the truth should be made clar to all Europe. The statement says:

In all the other states of the Central Powers representatives of the people have a chance to express their wishes and desires. And in the western enemy states spokesmen of the laboring classes may may declare their views in representative bodies. Of all the countries at war Hungary is the only state with a parliament which is elected by a small minority of the ruling classes and in which the will af the laboring classes and of the non-Magyar nations finds no expression.

In these historical days, when the whole world is being made over, when old Germany under the compelling force of circumstances admits the supremacy of the parliament and the nations of Austria are transforming their old state upon the principle of self-determination and equality into independent and democratic states, Hungary still remains the private estate of a few oligarchs who are far worse and far more reactionary than the Prussian Junkers. Nor can one see as yet any trace of a change which would satisfy the demands and wishes of the laboring classes and non-Magyar nationalities.

One of the war aims of the statesmen and nations of the Entente is the liberation of the oppressed nations and the victory of the principle of self-determination. Now, when the long-desired peace is near, the Magyar workingmen of Hungary are forced by heavy pressure to call out into all the world an appeal to the social democratic workingmen’s parties; they charge that in Hungary not even the most modest demands of democracy have been realized. We have still the same old government and the same parliament that was elected nine years ago by less than five percent of the population. And even though the king and the government have on many occasions solemnly de clared that the people after its great sufferings in this terrible war is entitled to civil rights, in the fourth year of the war there was enacted a fran chise reform which is in reality a caricature of general, equal and secret ballot; it makes it possible that even in the future the Junkers shall determine the fate of the country and will be able to hold the workingmen in social subjection and the masses of the non-Magyar people under the yoke of national oppression.

We are compelled to complain to all the social democratic parties of the whole world that the Hungarian nations live in intolerable oppression, and we ask their help so that methods of democracy might be introduced in our land, so that the blind Hungarian Junkers might be complelled to accept the new world order which recognizes the right of nations to self-determination, insists on social liberation of the working classes and wil! through the league of nations do away will all future wars.

It would be an intolerable thought, if after so many sacrifices and the misery of the long years of war the working classes and the nationalities of Hungary should alone remain in the old slavery. Such a condition would be the more shameful, because the people of this country have left nothing undone to free themselves from slave fetters. From the outbreak of the war until today we carried on a sharp fight and employed all means; victims slain for democracy and peace are numberless; prisons are crowded with workingmen, endless political processes have taken place and heavy prison terms were inflicted on men whose only offense was that they argued for peace through understanding and the rights of workingmen.

Fully determined for any sacrifices we intend to keep up the fight for a new Hungary which will be founded on social liberation of the working classes and the right of nations to self-determination. For this we ask the help of social democrats of the other lands.

 

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