Page:The Czechoslovak Review, vol4, 1920.pdf/76

population in 1910. How did it happen that the percentage increased in the course of single generation from 25-30 per cent to more than 40? Magyarization by violence is the answer. The pressure was exerted on all the non-Magyar nationalities, but particularly on Slovaks, our own brothers. And that is the reason, why Magyars had to be our enemies.

Slovak nation was fought by the Magyar government in a double manner: by forcible denationalization and economic oppression. Hungarian state economy and social policies were so miserable that no other contry could equal Hungary in the number of emigrants to America. Between 1902 and 1911 emigration from Hungary to North America amounted to 1,462,214, of which about half a million, or a third, came back. In 1912 the loss of population caused by emigration amounted to 104,000. Figures are not available as to the percentage of Slovaks among emigrants, but it is known to be very high. By this systematic war on the Slovak element in Hungary their numbers were kept down. The census of 1910 counted only 1,946,357 of them.

But the Czech nation has another reason, why it must look on the Magyars as enemies. Th brutal Magyar egoism set the Hapsburg monarchy since 1867 on a down grade direction. Dualism was first of all directed against the state right demands of the Czechs. In the reorganization of the monarchy Czechs had equal rights with the Magyars, and the reorganization should not have been carried out for the exclusive benefit of the Magyars, but to secure equal rights to all nations; federalism should have been introduced instead of dualism. And when the division of the monarchy into two parts became a fact, there should have been equal duties, as well as equal rights. But through the complaisance of the Viennese negotiators it was agreed to make the burdens of the Hungarian half much easier than those of Austria. That applied not only to the so-called quota, by which the common expenses of the monarchy were divided, but especially to the division of the common public debt.

But we would have become reconciled even with dualism, if we could have secured within its frame a separate political position, as the Croatians secured in Hungary in 1868. In 1871 the so-called fundamental articles were actually agreed upon and the emperor was going to proclaim them. But various foreign elements, and especially the Magyars, protested so strenuously that Francis Joseph broke his word to the Czech nation. One can say that in 1871 the Magyars destroyed the Czech state for the second time, as they had done more than nine hundred years ago.

Being faithful imitators of the Germans the Magyars were not satisfied with playing a big role in the internal politics. They, fully as much as the Germans, are responssible for the outbreak of the world war and the awful tragedy caused by it.

It was meant to be a war against the Slavs, as Bethmann-Hollweg openly admitted and as his Magyar co-worker Stephen Tisza boasted. The brutal cynicism of Germans and Magyars, as practised by the general staff of the Central Powers, made it quite clear from the very beginning of the war, what would happen to the Slavs, should the Entente be defeated. For more than four years Europe was flooded by the blood of millions of victims of German and Magyar lust of domination; lives of two generation were freely spent and accumulated wealth of centuries was wasted. But the bold attack on humanity itself failed; Germans and Magyars with their Bulgarian and Turkish helpers are reaping their reward. Defeat is to them the more painful, the more certain they were of victory. Magyar megalomania is over, but the former ruling clique cannot realize that the sacred Hungarian crown with its fetish of the integrity of the country belongs definitely to the past. Here is the explanation of Magyar hatred against the Czechoslovak Republic, against Roumania and Jugoslavia and against the entire Entente, hence also Magyar bolshevism.

The Magyar nation restricted to territory inhabited by Magyar population will have to consider carefully, how to maintain its existence. The old ways are impassable, and even the Magyars will have to conform to the new European environment and give up their violence and conceit. If they will repent, awaken from their self-intoxication and try to be worthy of membership in civilized European society, they will have a future. But they must give up for good all ambitions of dominating other nations.

If they reform, they will find in us good neighbors who will not recall ancient wrongs.