File:Francis Deak - Illustrated London News February 19, 1876.png

Original accompanying text (p. 172):

THE LATE FRANCIS DEAK.

The funeral of this patriotic Hungarian statesman, to whom chiefly is due the reconciliation between the national Kingdom of Hungary and the Austrian Empire, with the restoration of self-government to the Magyar people, was celebrated in Buda-Pesth, on the 3rd inst., in a manner that showed the immense gratitude of his countrymen. The Emperor Francis Joseph, who had written a letter to express the high esteem which he felt for this loyal and faithful champion of national rights, sent one of his household to attend the funeral. The Empress did likewise, but she had before personally visited the room where Deak's body was lying in state, and had with her own hands placed a wreath of flowers on the coffin. The Archduke Joseph, with his wife and her brother, the Prince of Coburg, was also present at the ceremony, which was performed by the Cardinal Archbishop of Hungary, assisted by nine or ten other Bishops. The Presidents of both Houses of the Diet or Reichsrath, and the Prime Minister, Count Andrassy, took part in the solemn proceedings, which were beheld or awaited by a vast concourse of people.

Francis Deak (the surname is pronounced as a word of two syllables) was born at Kehida in 1803. He studied for the law, and practised in the county of Zala, but in 1832 was elected to the Hungarian Diet at Presburg. He became an active member of the Liberal Party; and, when the ancient constitution of Hungary was violated and repressed, he joined others to organise a "Society for National Defence," the object of which was to provide a basis of operations in the event of a struggle with Austria. The events of 1848 brought him into a conspicuous position. After the revolution of March he was created Minister of Justice in the Cabinet of Count Batthyani. When Kossuth came into power in the autumn of the year Deak gave up his portfolio and confined himself to the duties of a private member. Later on, Prince Windishgratz having crushed the Hungarian rebellion, M. Deak was selected as one of the envoys who were to ask terms from him. The negotiations fell through, and for a time he was a prisoner in Pesth, but in the end he was released, and retired to his estates, where he remained until the events of 1860 brought him once more into a prominent position.

A great meeting of the county of Pesth was held early in 1861, and the proposals of M. Deak for a scheme of Hungarian self-government were unanimously accepted. The town sent him as its representative to the Hungarian Diet, and there he became the recognised leader of the Moderate party. There were many difficulties in his path at first, not the smallest being the existence of an extreme party, whose demands were more exorbitant than any Government could be reasonably expected to grant. At last, however, all difficulties were overcome. Count Teleki, who had led the Extremists, died in May, 1861; and then Deak's way was plain and easy. He drew up an address to the Emperor, in which he made certain not outrageous demands, and, after some difficulty, he succeeded in obtaining them. The principal points were the acceptance by the Government of the Constitution of 1848, a Hungarian Minister resident at Pesth, the unconditional return of the exiles, and the restitution of their property, and, finally, a federal union with Austria.

The Emperor was at first unwilling to accept these conditions, but in the end he yielded. The struggle was, however, long and severe. Everything that could be done was done, and during the five years which preceded the fatal day at Sadowa Deak never ceased to demand the legislative autonomy of Hungary as one of the conditions of its submission to the Austrian Government. A man of genius, and singularly aided by a combination of circumstances, he was at last able to gain the end upon which he and his fellow-patriots had set their minds. In 1866 the Emperor of Austria summoned Count von Beust to his counsels. The policy of the new Minister was pre-eminently one of concession. Those who wanted anything had but to ask with sufficient vigour and sufficient persistency to obtain all that they desired. Hungary had been demanding by M. Deak self-government and a constitution, and a within a very few months both were granted. Not only so, but the Emperor Francis Joseph allowed himself to be crowned King of Hungary, and swore to preserve everything that the Constitution of 1848 guaranteed.

From that day forward M. Deak was compelled to occupy a comparatively secondary place. The great end for which his life had been spent having been gained, it seemed as though there was nothing left for him to do. He has taken a part in the debates of the Diet, and has worthily led that Conservative liberal section of the representatives of whom he is the most distinguished member; but he has been associated with no new items of constructive legislation. At any rate, even those who were most vehemently opposed to him in life will not deny that Francis Deak merited the esteem and regard of his fellow-countrymen.

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