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APPENDIX XXV

PARLIAMENTARY TOLERANCE

(Note [66] of the Chapter X)

When the leading politicians of the country employ such hostile and unmeasured language towards the nationalities, it is hardly to be expected that their followers should set an example of toler­ance. The little group of nationalist members has been subjected to repeated insults and abuse in the House. Mr. Justh, the Speaker, has always been conspicuous for his dignified impartiality; but the Vice-Presidents have vied with each other in setting his example at defiance. One of these, Mr. Stephen Rákovszky (one of the leaders of the People's Party), called out during the speech of a non-Magyar deputy, "Get out! Ass, stupid fool, coward! " Father Lucaciu, who was sitting near him, asked him whom he was addressing, whereupon Rákovszky flung the word "coward" at him. When the Roumanian leader retorted, "A coward is he who insults a priest, knowing that he cannot claim satisfaction with weapons," the ex-diplomat simply exclaimed, "Be quiet, or I'll box your ears." (See Pester Lloyd, April 3, 1908.)

The temper of the House towards the nationalities was reflected in its reception of a speech made by Mr. Goldis during the Educa­tion debate (April 6,1907). When he quoted the saying of Edmund Bartha, "that it was both mistaken and impossible to bring up Magyar children in a German spirit," he was greeted with loud applause ; but when he added, "equally mistaken and impossible is it to educate Roumanian children in a Magyar spirit," the applause changed to loud and angry protests. (See Pester Lloyd, April 6, 1907.)

An appeal having been lodged against Dr. Polit's mandate (June, 1906), Mr. Olay, one of the members of the Judicial Committee to which the case was referred, told Polit to his face that his mandate would be annulled, even if no valid ground was found — because he was cultured and a good speaker, and consequently the most dan­gerous of the Serbs. (See Pester Lloyd, June, 1906.)

But the most startling example is supplied by the notorious Vaida incident in the spring of 1907. Towards the close of a lengthy speech against the new Education Bill of Count Apponyi, Dr. Vaida recited two Magyar poems, the one written by a Magyar Chauvinist in abuse of the Roumanians, the other by a Roumanian patriot returning these insults with interest in the language of his enemies. /502/

This later poem, he argued, went far to prove the futility of the present policy of Magyarization in the schools : for this policy did not convert the Roumanians into Magyars, but either produced no effect whatever, or else made the Roumanians bilingual and thus doubly dangerous to the Magyars. Dr. Vaida had spoken to a thin and inattentive House, and it was only next day that the Chauvinists realized, from the stenographic report of the debate, the nature of the poems which he had cited. The House worked itself into a frenzy of indignation, and Count Apponyi argued that after such a disgraceful and unpatriotic speech there was nothing left for Dr. Vaida but to resign his seat. His non-Magyar colleagues induced him to offer a public apology to the House (April 10, 1907), though there was absolutely no cause for apology; but when he rose to his feet, he was greeted by a storm of abuse and insult and was hardly able to proceed. When, two months later (June 7,1907), he again appeared in the House, a still more disgraceful scene occurred. Mr. Eitner described him as a "traitorous villain"; Mr. Joseph Horváth cried, "What do we care f or the rules of the House? It is a disgrace to the Magyar nation if this blackguard is here." Mr. Rátkay addressed the House as follows: "My own opinion is that so long as the deputy Vaida possesses a man­date, he is entitled under the rules of the House and of the Constitution to enter this House. But a sense of honour, Magyar patriotism and the sovereignty of the Magyar nation . . . must surely bid him not to appear here. I beg to remind him that so long as he remains in this House the standing orders and the laws protect him. But I advise him not to claim this right too long, for there are feelings and questions which cannot be bound by the standing orders for any length of time. (Applause.) The honourable member should take care that the House does not employ this means of satisfaction against him." This menace naturally in­creased the tumult, and the President had to suspend the sitting. After the interval a solid mass of Magyar deputies bore down upon Vaida and his tiny group of friends, and pressed them through the folding doors at the back of the House.

The non-Magyars are helpless against the growing violence of the majority ; and the shameful terrorism exercised against them after the massacre of Csernova (described on p. 343) has shown that the Chauvinists regard their very presence in Parliament as an insult to the majesty of the "ruling Magyar nation."