[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 20 (Wednesday, March 4, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E291-E292]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         150th ANNIVERSARY OF THE HUNGARIAN REVOLUTION OF 1848

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN D. DINGELL

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 4, 1998

  Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join the state of Hungary 
and Hungarian-Americans everywhere in commemorating the 150th 
anniversary of the 1848 Hungarian revolution.
  In 1848 revolution swept through the European continent. By March of 
that year, the revolutionary sentiments had spread to Hungary, which 
was ruled by the Austrian Habsburg empire. On March 3 legendary 
Hungarian patriot Louis Kossuth made a monumental speech, dubbed the 
``inaugural address of the revolution''. Kossuth's speech enumerated 12 
sweeping reforms that reflected some of the most progressive ideas of 
the age, such as a reduction of feudal rights and the emancipation of 
the peasants. This declaration struck an immediate chord with the 
Hungarian people. The reforms immediately spurred the Austrian people 
to demand similar rights, and on

[[Page E292]]

March 13 a full-fledged revolution broke out in Vienna.
  On March 15, while Kossuth was in Vienna presenting his 12 points to 
the Habsburg monarchy, students in Budapest armed only with Kossuth's 
reforms seized control in what has come to be known as the bloodless 
revolution. The following day the Hungarian delegation, led by Kossuth, 
submitted Hungary's demands before Emperor-King Ferdinand. The Austrian 
monarch quickly agreed to the points, prompting the Hungarian Diet to 
put the revolutionary reforms into effect. Thus, Hungary's future was 
forever influenced as the result of a peaceful, lawful revolution.
  The Hungarian Diet immediately began to work nonstop to pass new 
laws. By April the Diet had passed 31 progressive measures, which 
essentially amounted to a new constitution. These ``April laws'' 
attempted to provide for the needs of a nation moving towards 
modernization.
  Unfortunately, Hungarians did not have long to experience * * * 
government were intent on squashing any semblance of Hungarian 
independence. On September 10, Baron Jelacic, with encouragement from 
the Habsburgs, led 40,000 Croatian troops across the Hungarian 
frontier. Hungary, led by Kossuth, was in the process of building up 
its army, and initially lost several battles to the invaders. Finally, 
General Arthur-Gorgey, who was to become one of Hungary's greatest 
generals, was given control of the Hungarian army. By April 1849 
Gorgey's military brilliance and the tremendous bravery of the elite 
Hungarian Honved troops had driven all of the invaders out of Hungary, 
and Hungary had officially declared its independence from Austria.
  The Habsburg's were humiliated and forced to call on Russian Czar 
Nicholas I for assistance in bringing the now independent Hungary back 
under Austrian control. As a result, Hungary's independence was short-
lived because in June, 1849, a joint Austrian-Russian offensive 
overwhelmed the valiant Hungarian defenders. On August 13, Gorgey's 
forces laid down their arms before the Russians at Vilagos. Kossuth was 
forced to flee his beloved homeland and would live the rest of his life 
travelling the world to gain support for Hungary's cause. In a speech 
made prior to his departure, Kossuth said, ``My principles were those 
of George Washington. I love you, Europe's most loyal nation.''
  Although, the Hungarian revolution of 1848 did not end in prolonged 
independence for Hungary, it did result in at least one very noble 
achievement. The revolution prevented the Austrian government from 
revoking the emancipation of the peasants and all other unfree persons 
in the Habsburg's empire. For this historic accomplishment and for 
striving towards the ideal of the American Revolution, Hungarians and 
Americans of Hungarian decent should always be proud. I join with the 
strong Hungarian-American population in the downriver communities to 
celebrate the Hungarian revolution of 1848, truly an important turning 
point in the history of the Hungarian nation.

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