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Refusal of the right of Association.

In Hungary, there is no law concerning societies.

The right of association depends upon the good will of the Magyar government.

This government permits the Magyars to found any societies they think proper, and even some of such a character, that in no other State would their formation be tolerated.

On the other hand, all non-Magyar nations are forbidden even to found Casinos, Women's Associations, Workmen's societies, etc.

This conduct is easily explained in Hungary.

The prosperity of associations amongst the non-Magyar nations is the proof of the awakening and progress of their national feeling, and this national sentiment is the greatest obstacle that the Magyar politic has to contend with.

It is still another proof that Magyarization and Absolutism are two inseparable principles.

But let the facts speak for themselves.

I. Refusal to sanction the creation of a Roumanian Agricultural Association.

Several leading Roumanian men, from all parts of the country, assembled at Sibiiu, September 3^rd 1881, resolved to found a Roumanian Agricultural Association for the amelioration of the rural Roumanian population.

The statutes of this association were submitted to tha Magyar government for its sanction, but the minister would only give his permission on condition[1] that the Society should not extend beyond one county.

The provisional committee of the Agricultural Society remarked that in our country many other non-Roumanian Agricultural Societies existed,[2] none of which had been restricted to the territory of one county alone, and begged the Magyar government to reconsider its determination with regard to the condition imposed.

All was in vain: the minister rejected the request.[3] After this decision, the committee was dissolved.

II. Refusal to sanction the formation of the Literary Society « Opinca Romana »

After having accorded to the Magyars not only the authorization, but the protection for the establishment of societies in favour of Magyarization,the Roumanians desired to found a society of a defensive character, to combat the influence of the above mentioned societies.

This Roumanian society had for its object, the cultivation of our mother tongue etc.

The Magyar government forbade[4] the formation of this society, so that we might be left defenceless.

III. Refusal to the Roumanian students of the University of Cluj, the permission to establish the academical society « Minerva. »

The Roumanian students of the university of Cluj, after having been arbitrarily compelled to dissolve their society the « Julia » desired to found another, the statutes of which would restrict their operations to a very limited circle.

The statutes were put into the hands of the university council to be forwarded by them to the minister.

Tha council kept them for nearly three years, till at length after the repeated solicitations of the Roumanian students, they decided to send them to the minister, who refused[5] his sanction on the ridiculous pretext, that there were at Cluj enough academical societies (Magyar) and that on the other hand, the 70 or 80 Roumanian students of the university were too small a number to form a society.

In foreign countries, at Antwerp, Paris, Berlin, Vienna, etc., we

Can have our academical literary Roumanian societies, but in the country of our ancestors, we are deprived even of this right!

IV. Refusal to sanction the creation at Arad of a literary society the «Progresul. »

Since 1884, consequently for eight years, the Roumanians of Arad have been striving their utmost to establish a literary society, under the name of « Progresul».

The Magyar gouvernment has thrice, [6] refused to authorize the creation of this society for the excellent reason that it is a Roumanian society, and might therefore be a cause of disturbance among the nationalities!

Is it possible to be more openly brutal?

But these thousands of Magyar societies, formed in the midst of the nationalities, do they not cause any disturbance?

And the societies of Magyarization, are they not also a source of disturbance?

O blessed liberty! Into what hands have you fallen!

V. Refusal to sanction the creation of an Association of the Roumanian ladies of Cluj and its neighbourhood.

The aim of this projected association was to give aid materially and morally to the Roumanian Greco-catholic schools for little girls of Cluj and its neighbourhood.

But the Magyar government would not sanction[7] the foundation of this society under pretext that the Roumanian schools did not need any help.

And in truth how could a Magyar minister admit that a Roumanian school needed amelioration?

VI. Refusal to sanction the creation of an Association of the Roumanian ladies of Satmar.

The Roumanian ladies of the county of Satmar desired to found a society for literary and philanthropical purposes. But our masters, the Magyars, would not permit[8] the creation of such an inoffensive association, under pretext that at Satmar there existed enough Magyar associations of such a kind!

Thrice did the Roumanian ladies hand in their petition to the competent authorities, and thrice did these latter reject it under the same pretext.

This brutal refusal produced the greatest indignation in all the Roumanian society, and the ladies of Satmar published a protest in the Roumanian papers, from which we may gather, that the Roumanian race of the present day is quite decided to resist the Magyar oppression.

VII. Refusal to sanction the creation of a society of Roumanian professors in the county of Satmar.

The Roumanian professors of the Greco-catholic church in the county of Satmar, decided in i883 to create a society of professors, but the government refused to authorize it under pretext that such Magyar societies already existed at Satmar!

VIII. Refusal to sanction the creation of a Roumanian Casino at Paget.

The educated class of Roumanians at Faget desired to found a Casino. The committee chosen ad hoc sent the rules of it to the government to obtain its sanction.

But the minister refused[9] under pretext that there existed at Faget a Magyar Casino.

IX. Refusal to sanction the creation of a society of Roumanian workmen at Alba-Julia.

In 1888 the masters and apprentices of Alba-Julia decided to found a society, for the advancing of funds in cases of sickness.

Is it possible to find a more inoffensive society?

But the Magyar government under pretext that « the want of such a society was in no wise felt » forbade[10] its creation!

X. Refusal to sanction the creation of a society for Roumanian workmen of Blaj.

The Roumanian workman of Blaj desired to found a society for the furthering of their industrial interests, and at the same time to come to the help of the poorer members.

But the government would not admit[11] of its creation, on the ground of its purely Roumanian character!

Is there any need for commentary?