[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 34 (Thursday, March 4, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E348-E349]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE HUNGARIAN REVOLUTION

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN D. DINGELL

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 4, 1999

  Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, 1848 was a year of great tumult across the 
continent of Europe. Men, women, and children rebelled against the 
shackles of repressive aristocracies to demand a greater voice and 
greater freedoms. From these heroic uprisings, the seeds of change were 
permanently planted in Europe. Today, I rise to join Hungarian-
Americans and the people of Hungary in commemorating the anniversary of 
start of one of these noble uprisings, the 1848 Hungarian revolution.
  On March 3, 1848--as revolution gripped much of Europe--a brave 
Hungarian patriot, Louis Kossuth, stood up against the ruling Austrian 
Hapsburg empire. In his ``inaugural address of the revolution'', 
Kossuth 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 peasant. This declaration struck an immediate 
chord with the Hungarian people. The reforms immediately spurred the 
Austrian people to demand similar rights, and on 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 Buda-Pest 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 the effects 
of the new laws, because factions in the Austrian government were 
intent on squashing any semblance of Hungarian independence. On 
September 10, Baron Lelacic, with encouragement from the Habsburgs, let 
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

[[Page E349]]

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, Gorgeys' 
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 
traveling the world to gain support for Hungary's cause. In a speech 
made prior to his departure, Kossuth said, ``My principle were those of 
George Washington. I love you, Europe's most loyal nation.''
  It is fitting that within this building--this house of democracy--
sits a statue of Louis Kossuth. This is only right and appropriate.
  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, Hungarian 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.

                          ____________________