The 1848 Revolution and Louis (Lajos) Kossuth: Father of Hungarian Democracy

News

3/26/2006 - AHF of Washington, DC's annual 1848 commemoration. The Chapel at Wesley Theological Seminary at American University in Washington, D.C., was the setting for this year's commemoration which featured speeches on Louis Kossuth and the implications of 1848 on recent Hungarian politics and ethnic relations in the Carpathian Basin.

Zoltan Bagdy, master of ceremonies, opened the event and invited Bryan Dawson-Szilagyi to lead the national anthems of the US and Hungary accompanied by David Purger. Hungarian Ambassador Andras Simonyi delivered the opening remarks and was followed by a performance of the "Rákóczi Induló" (Rakoczi March) by child prodigy Szollös Sebestyén.

Frank Koszorus delivered his speech "Kossuth in America" [downloadable here]. Koszorus remarked, "As we see from Kossuth’s incredible speech, the concept of local self-government has been an integral part of Hungarians’ proud tradition, cherished by them not only today when part of the nation lives scattered in countries neighboring Hungary, but also when Hungarians lived within one border."

Bárczay Sári, of the Bátori József Hungarian Scouts, presented the Nemzeti Dal to be followed by the entire 4th scout troop who performed "Emlékezés" (Remembrance).

The keynote speaker was Andras Ferenc Bodor who remarked, "Én ahhoz a generációhoz tartozom, amelyik a márciusi ifjak forradalmi attitudjét 1988-89-ben vitték a budapesti utcákra a kommunista diktatúra hatalmi gépezetével szemben. Ezzel a generációval szebben bánt a sors, nekünk nem kellett az életünket áldoznunk a harcunk sikeréért, és nem kellett a hazánkat elhagynunk egy elbukott - mondhatnánk, hogy csak a hosszútávú hatásában gyoztes - harc után." [download his speech here]. The event was closed by a stirring speech Rev. Gábor Nagy.

Learn more about the Hungarian Scouts and the May 20th Gala Fundraiser to benefit AHF and the Bátori József Hungarian Scout Troop of Washington, DC.

 
Photos - Bryan Dawson Szilagyi

[back to all AHF news]

3/14/2004 - AHF Celebrating Hungary's National Day in Washington, D.C...The American Hungarian Federation celebrated March 15th, Hungary's National Day commemorating the 1848 democratic revolution headed by Louis Kossuth. AHF's 1st Vice President Frank Koszorus and Louis Segesvary delivered poignant speeches on the life and impact of Kossuth, only the second foreign leader to address a joint session of Congress. [back to all AHF news] 

Click to [download the full article] by AHF's Dr. Louis Segesvary

4/6/2002 - Louisiana Hungarians unveil Kossuth Plaque in New Orleans. The plaque was placed in Lafayette Park in front of Gallier Hall in the old New Orleans city center, near to where Kossuth addressed a large audience in 1852. While thousands came to greet him, the welcome was not unanimous due to Kossuth's democratic and anti-slavery viewpoints. The bronze relief casting was done by AHF's Gyuri Hollósy. The inscription reads, "Kossuth 1802-1894. Here on March 30, 1852 Louis Kossuth Governor of Hungary Leader of the 1848 revolution addressed the Citizens of New Orleans. Hungarians of Louisiana, Árpádhon And Hungarians Worldwide" The project initiators were Dr. Istvan Gergátz and wife Julianna Bika. [read more] [back to all AHF news]

7/13//2001 - Laszlo and Agnes Fulop and the Minnesota Hungarians participate in unveiling of Kossuth Statue in Kossuth County, Iowa. The County was founded on January 15, 1851, honoring Hungary's increasingly popular hero, Kossuth. Iowa governor Hampstead had invited Kossuth to visit the State in early 1852. Conveying his regrets, Kossuth instead suggested that associations be formed to provide Hungary with "material aid" Several communities within the County have named streets after Kossuth as well. The County's population and leadership had not lost track of its history. Culmination was the 150th anniversary of its founding in 2001 with its observances. Special thanks to (thanks to Louis Kossuth in North America [read more] [back to all AHF news]

3/15/1990 - AHF dedicates Louis Kossuth Memorial in US Capitol...On March 15, 1990, a Lajos Kossuth Bust was dedicated by the American Hungarian Federation in the United States Capitol Rotunda. The project was launched with a grant from the American Hungarian Federation and other entities. House Concurrent Resolution 251 (Introduced by Congressman Tom Lantos, cosponsored by Congressman William Broomfield and a Senate support motion by Sen. Pell) called for placement of the statue in the US Capitol. It was adopted on Feb 27 1990 (House) and March 1 (Senate). The welcoming text was delivered by Honorable Tom Lantos (D-CA), and the Bust was presented by Rev. Tibor Domotor, President of the American Hungarian Federation. The sculpture was unveiled by the sculptor, Csaba Kur of Youngstown, OH. The "Father of the Rumanian Revolution," Rev. Tokes of Transylvania, was also present. After the Ceremonies there was a reception given by HRFA, the William Penn Association, and the Congressional Human Rights Foundation in the Statuary Hall of the US Capitol. [back to all AHF news]

5/2/1961 - Mrs. Bela Bachkai of the American Hungarian Federation of Washington DC presented the County with a stylized Hungarian coat of arms, since displayed in the third floor hallway of the County Courthouse in Algona.

[back to all AHF news]

Shortcuts:

• Famous Quotations
• About Louis Kossuth
• Audio Recording and text of 1890 Louis Kossuth speech
• Audio and text of Kossuth Anthem, "Kossuth Lajos azt Uzente"
• Links

  ---

Downloads

• "Kossuth in America" by Frank Koszorus, Jr.
• "Kossuth" by Louis Segesvary

  ---

Famous Quotes

"the house of Habsburg-Lorraine, perjured in the sight of God and man, had forfeited the Hungarian throne."
Hungary, April 1849

"All for the people and all by the people. Nothing about the people without the people. That is Democracy, and that is the ruling tendency of the spirit of our age."
Spoken before the Ohio State Legislature,
February 16, 1852

About Louis Kossuth

Kossuth Lajos (b. 1802, d. 1894, pronounced co-shoot luh-yôsh) was Governor of Hungary during fight for independence and democracy which was eventually defeated by the union of the royalist Austrian Habsburg and Russian Czarist Armies (1848 - 1849). Kossuth envisioned a federation in the Kingdom of Hungary in which all nationalties participated in a vibrant democratic system based on fundamental democratic principles such as equality and parliamentary representation. The bloody conflict eventually led to a great compromise known as the "Austro-Hungarian Empire," in which Hungary gained some autonomy. although Kossuth would have no part in it and demanded full indepependence until his death.

The speech from which the above excerpt is taken was given over a decade before Lincoln's famed "for the people, by the people" speech given at Gettysburg in 1863. Kossuth was the first foreign Statesman officially invited to the US since the Marquis de Lafayette. His upcoming speech in the Congress of the United States made the pre-civil war joint house nervous due to his democratic views on equality of all men. Kossuth learned English while in prison and exile and spoke to half the population of the US who enthusiastically greeted and flocked to hear him. Despite Hungary's epic struggle and Kossuth's brave and noble efforts, the US, the "Bastion of Democracy" turned him away, empty handed. Hungary was alone again in its fight for democracy in 1956, and didn't gain freedom until 1989.

Today, there are many reminders of Kossuth's impact on America and the world. In North America, there is a Kossuth County in the state of Iowa, a town with his name in Indiana, Ohio and Mississippi, a settlement with a Kossuth Post Office is in Pennsylvania. In addition, there are Kossuth statues and plaques in New York, Cleveland, Akron, New Orleans, Washington, and Ontario, Canada. The Hungarian Reformed Federation's building on Dupont Circle, in Washington, DC is called Kossuth House with a memorial plaque commemorating his speech on democracy. See the picture gallery and memorials on Louis Kossuth in North America.

The renowned Ralph Waldo Emerson said in greeting Kossuth on his arrival at Concord, MA, May 11, 1852:

"[we] have been hungry to see the man whose extraordinary eloquence is seconded by the splendor and the solidity of his actions."

Kossuth was greeted with wild enthusiasm across the country. He was only the second foreign leader (second to Lafayette) to address a joint session of Congress. Kossuth even spawned a fashion craze (moustache-less beard with TopHat) in the ever trendy US. The American Hungarian Federation dedicated a bust that now sits proudly in the US Capitol - it reads, "Louis Kossuth, Father of Hungarian Democracy"

Audio Resources

Hear him speak! http://kincsestar.radio.hu/rolunk/kossuth.rm - In 1890, a delegation of hungarian pilgrims in Turin recorded a short patriotic speech delivered by the elderly Lajos Kossuth. The original recording on two wax cylinders for the Edison phonograph survives to this day, although barely audible due to excess playback and unsuccessful early restoration attempts. Lajos Kossuth is the earliest born person in the world who has his voice preserved. Since the audio is of such poor quality, here is it is transcribed in Hungarian and translated to English (thanks to Louis Kossuth in North America)

The Kossuth Anthem:	Click to hear the recording:
"Kossuth Lajos azt üzente, elfogyott a regimentje. Ha még egyszer azt üzeni, mindnyájunknak el kell menni, Éljen a magyar szabadság, Éljen a haza !	Esik esõ karikára, Kossuth Lajos kalapjára. Valahány csepp esik rája, Annyi áldás szálljon rája, Éljen a magyar szabadság, Éljen a haza!"

Links

• HRFA's excellent Kossuth in America [visit]
• Select Speeches of Kossuth, Condensed and Abridged, with Kossuth's Express Sanction [visit]
• Louis Kossuth, Mason And Apostle Of World Democracy [visit]
• Count Apponyi's Oration on the Death of Louis Kossuth [visit]
• Wikipedia - [visit] and add your thoughts!
• Louis Kossuth in North America [visit]
• Kossuth County, Iowa [visit]
• Kossuth County, Iowa statue dedication [visit]
• Dedication of statue to replace one destroyed by Rumanian occupation forces in 1921: Gyergyócsomafalva, Transylvania [visit]

  ---

Sign up for the AHF mailing list.
Your information is not shared!

Contribute or join online!