RUSSIAN AGGRESSION. 



213 



interests are in such opposition with reference to 

 reciprocal state-life and mutual state-economy, 

 that it is utterly impossible even to fancy any 

 form of connection that would be satisfactory to 

 both countries. It is for this that I remain in 

 exile — a living protest against this connection. 



I do not, therefore, consider it to be my duty 

 to feel sad forebodings for the special interests 

 of Austria when its danger does not at the same 

 time threaten the interests of our fatherland. 

 But, when the danger of the one walks arm in arm 

 with that of the other, I put great weight there- 

 upon, in order that Austria should feel the danger 

 in unison with Hungary. 



We stand in the face of a war that threatens 

 our country and Austria with mortal dangers if 

 we do not aid the Turks in impeding the exten- 

 sion of Russian power. This war has found Aus- 

 tria in a state-connection with Hungary. I do 

 not think that Russia would listen to us if we 

 should tell her she should delay the war till this 

 connection be dissolved. She would surely not 

 delay. Then things stand thus : that the same 

 King of Hungary whom our nation asks to frus- 

 trate the Russian aggressive policy is also Em- 

 peror of Austria. This Austrian emperor stands 

 very often in opposition to the King of Hungary. 

 This time he is not so. And I think that the 

 wishes of our nation can only gain in weight 

 when she asks her sovereign to fulfill his duty as 

 savior of the country, by acting as he ought to 

 do as King of Hungary ; also, in the mean time, 

 pointing out that this is his interest as Emperor 

 of Austria as well. It is for this reason — namely, 

 that I like to appeal also to Austrian vital inter- 

 ests — that I repeat emphatically that the vital 

 interests of Hungary and of Austria are identical. 



This view is perfectly justified by the political 

 significance and far-reaching importance of the 

 Eastern question as it stands with reference 

 to us. 



If the Turkish Empire were to be under no 

 pressure from the power that threatens the lib- 

 erty of Europe — a colossus increased to formida- 

 ble proportions by the dismemberment of Poland 

 — then the Eastern question would be nothing 

 else than a home question between the Turks 

 and the other peoples of different races in the 

 Turkish Empire. 



And if this question stood thus, neither the 

 integrity nor the dismemberment of the Turkish 

 Empire, nor the reforms conceded or denied to 

 the nations of that empire, would affect in the 

 least, not the more distant countries of Europe, 

 but not even us or Austria, who are her neigh- 



bors, except from a humanitarian, sympathetica!, 

 or antipathetical, point of view. 



We have learned to appreciate justly the fun- 

 damental features of the Turkish character. We 

 are aware, as I have said, that we possess in the 

 Ottoman nation such reliable friends as we could 

 not find anywhere else in the world, because our 

 interests are so identical that there is not only no 

 opposition, but not even a difference between us. 

 We recollect gratefully the generosity shown to 

 us by the Turks in the days of our sorrow ; and 

 it is honorable on our part to remember this 

 warmly just now in the days of their sorrow. 

 And so it is certain that we Hungarians should 

 follow all regenerational endeavors of the Turks 

 with heartfelt sympathy and blessing. We should 

 feel gratified if they succeed in removing the ob- 

 stacles in their way to liberty. On the other 

 hand, if in consequence of Russian pressure the 

 dismemberment of the Ottoman Empire should 

 be identical with the aggrandizement of Russia, 

 there would not be a single Hungarian who would 

 not consider the territorial integrity of Turkey, 

 and the upholding of its sovereignty, as a conditio 

 sine qua non of the maintenance of our own in- 

 tegrity and independence. No one would think 

 of shedding his blood nor offering aid to the 

 Turks if it were not for the threatening attitude 

 of Russia ; but for that we should not look with 

 anxiety on the aspirations of the Slavonic na- 

 tions. 



Though all the provinces of Turkey should 

 gain such an " autonomy " (!) as that which is 

 prepared for the Bulgarians by Prince Cherkaski 

 after the Russian pattern and in the Russian lan- 

 guage, still the Eastern question would not be 

 solved, but would then be revived in the face of 

 Europe, and especially in that of Hungary and 

 Austria, in such tremendous proportions as it has 

 not yet reached. 



Yes, because the Eastern question, I repeat 

 again, is a question of Russian power ; clearly, 

 distinctly, a question of Russian aggrandizement. 



And it will remain so until Europe, after a 

 tardy repentance, shall at last determine the res- 

 toration of Poland, and thus avert the curse from 

 herself which she has incurred by the crime of 

 that partition. 



Only by the restoration of Poland can Russia 

 be pushed back upon her ancient boundaries, 

 where she could in her still vast empire let her 

 subjects become free men, and thus occupy a still 

 glorious and prominent place at the round table 

 of civilized nations, but a place whence she could 

 no more threaten us, and Austria, and Europe, 



