An Interesting Country.

Hastings Standard, Issue 476, 15 November 1897, Page 4

An Interesting Country.

The writer of " Current Topics " in the Lyttelton Times, must be a Hungarian judging from the following article. Even a Scotchman describing his native country could not " enthuse " more : heard of late concerning Hungary, especially in connection with the disorder which has been characterising the proceedings in the Austrian Reichsrath on account of the continuation of the arrangement for meeting the joint expenditure of Austria and Hungary. The arrangement itself was described a few days ago in this journal, but Hungary, as a country, is supremely interesting, apart from her political relations with Austria. About twelve months ago she celebrated her thousandth anniversary as a nation, and to-day she is one of the most picturesque, prosperous and passionately patriotic countries in the world. Trade and industry are flourishing, the national credit has been established on a sound basis. Her agriculture, the main source of her wealth, has shaken off the old depression, and with a substantial surplus over the yearly estimates she is content. But she is not resting. In rapid means of communication Budapest is far beyond any other city of the same size. She had the first underground electric line, which to-day is a model to all other electric and subterranean systems in the world. Noise, perhaps, is the sole discordant element. Her culture is an up-to-date one. Her literature gushes forth in a fresh and sparkling stream from the fountain-head of genius. In her bards, in her singers, in all her great but hidden lights in the sphere of thought, there is the undying spirit of patriotism and the never - varying watchword "Excelsior." In the political sphere the same factors are at work, and there as elsewhere the Hungarians are always striving, always ascending. For Hungary Austria hardly exists in a political sense. Not even the yellow and black of the Austrian flag are tolerated in the land. It is not so long ago since the Austrian flag was torn down from f he staff on the Royal Castle and dragged in the mud. It has never been put up again, and in both countries there are not a few who would be unable to tell the distinctive features of their neighbor's national symbol. The fact is, it is Hungary's genius to be totally and uncompromisingly free, and she will be content to endure the dual relation with Austria just as long as it suits her peculiar needs. Hungary is not an opportunist, but has rather followed a line of splendid egoism. Hence with all her passion for national individuality, she does not crave for literal national independance, so long as she can enjoy and develope the integrity of her individual life, 1$ is therefore safe

to assume that the international arrangement with Austria will continue as long as Austria displays sense and tact in regard to the peaceful development of Hungary's internal affairs."