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general public remained cold toward Magyar nationalism. Only after Josef II. commanded the authorities in Hungary to use German in place of Latin, did the national consciousness of the Magyar nobility awaken. Since 1791 we find repeated decisions of the estates in behalf of the Magyar tongue. The privileges of Latin are gradually curtailed and Magyar is introduced into the whole administration of the state, judiciary and legislation, until in the fourth decade of the 19th century it becomes the exclusive official and parliamentary language, at the expense of the other tongues customary in the country. Magyar chauvinism not satisfied with this forced Magyar language upon the Croatians, a nation which had a separate political position based on treaties.

In the fourth decade of the last century we can no longer recognize in the Magyars the descendants of those freedom-loving Hungarian revolutionaries of the 17th century who with much bravery and self-sacrifice grasped the sword to win political and religious liberty for all Hungarian nationalities. The Magyar became suddenly a conceited jingo and oppressor; he alone is born to rule, others and Slovaks especially, may count themselves lucky to be swallowed by the chivalrous Magyar nation. “Tot nem Ember—Slovak is not a man”, this was a favorite expression of Magyar chivalry. Count Szechenyi, called by his people the “greatest Magyar”, had this to say in an address to the Hungarian Academy: “I hardly know a single Magyar, even though his hair be gray and his face bear wrinkles of much experience, who will not turn into a lunatic or at least lose all sense of justice and honor, as soon as there is any question of our language and nationality. Then even our shyest man loses his temper, wise man is blind, and the squarest man forgets the eternal commandment: Do no do unto others what you do not want others to do unto you.”

Szechenvi’s admonition was in vain. The Magyars lost all balance and by their violent methods of Magyarization made enemies of all the Hungarian nationalities. Although Magyarization made great progress, it was too slow for the rabid patriots who wanted to make everybody Magyar in the course of a few years. They raged against the dynasty, when it occasionally cooled their hot heads and protected to some slight extent the non-Magyar peoples.

In 1848 Magyar terror reached its climax. A weak-minded king and his court gave way before the insatiable ambition of the Magyars. April 11, 1848, new fundamental laws received royal sanction. Hungary won complete independence and the monarchy was divided into two parts. The new constitution insulted all non-Magyar nations, especially the Croatians whose country was declared to be a mere Hungarian province. The result was a desperate fight of the nationalities against the Magyars, and then Magyar revolution against Vienna. Too late, in 1849, Ludvik Kossuth was willing to pass a law which would guarantee to all Hungarian nationalities free development. The revolution was over with Gorgei’s capitulation on August 13, 1849. In the whole monarchy there opened another era of absolutism and Germanization, pressing down on all nations with the exception of the Germans. The Magyars got over their spell of megalomania. Kossuth in exile planned in 1859 a confederation of three Danubian states, Hungary, Serbia and Moldavia-Wallachia (Roumania), thus indicating that he held radically changed views on the question of nationalities. He wanted a reconciliation with the Serbians and the Roumanians, and in Hungary all citizens were to enjoy equal rights and liberties. Military units recruited from Serbians and Roumanians of Hungary were to use their own language in army command. In negotiating with the Serbian Prince Michael Obrenovich Kossuth declared that the Magyars were ready to make all the concessions to the nationalities which would not break up the unity of the country and its political entity. The Magyars could be very liberal, when they found themselves in unfavorable political conditions. But as soon as they came once more into power, they forgot liberty and fraternity and became the worst oppressors of their fellow-citizens of other nationalities. Their talk of equality was never sincere, even when they were in the greatest difficulties.

Absolutist regime of the fifties brought the Hapsburg monarchy almost to ruin. After the defeats in Italy in 1859 Vienna sought a new political orientation. By the diploma od October 20, 1860 the emperor surrendered his absolute power and ad-