Thomas Čapek

“ Does the Czechoslovak of today possess the qualities which one usually attributes to successful state builders? “Our nation”, wrote Charles Velemínský, a Czech pedagogue who visited the United States, “has ever been idealistic, sacrificing all for its ideals. Idealism must be our most precious offering to America. Without ideals even practical America is unthinkable.” ”

“ If the Vienna Neue Freie Presse and other Austrian journals chose to represent―or rather misrepresent―them to the world as scheming pan-Slav agitators, as narrow minded nationalists, in whose country it was unsafe for a foreign tourist to travel, as incorrigible trouble makers who, more than any other people in Austria, were responsible for the existence in the empire of racial struggles, the belief eventually gained ground that they were Pan-Slavs, chauvinists, trouble-breeders. ”

“ The Czech nation, Palacký subsequently maintained, survived not because of help from Austria, but because of its own will and determination to live. He deplored his delusion that he had phantasied about Austria. He emphasized that he had lost faith in the preservation of the empire in which the absolutism of the monarch, as it existed prior to 1848, had given place to the absolutism of a favored race. One day, though it may be too late, he said, the dynasty and the monarchy will realize how really indispensable to the safety of the state the Czechs were. ”

“ The Czech is a democrat. “We accept and shall adhere to the ideals of modern democracy, as they have been the ideals of our nation for centuries,” says the Declaration of Independence of the Czechoslovak Nation. ”

“ Moreover, should the Bohemian-Germans be allowed to rend in twain the ancient Bohemian Kingdom, where would the security, the protection against invasion, be on the part of the Czechoslovak Republic? Look at the diamond shaped range of mountains forming a natural barrier on three sides and walling in the country. Then judge for yourself whether the Czechoslovak people could long maintain themselves against a neighbor lusting for conquest, if deprived of the natural protection which these mountains offer? ”

“ The aristocracy owning estates in Bohemia at the present day was, up to the time of the war, almost without exception Austrian in sentiment, ultramontane in politics, feudal in traditions. Stern necessity has taught the Czech commoner to rely on none save himself, to think and act for himself. ”

“ Of all the races from Austria-Hungary, Germans and Magyars not excepted, the Czech is lowest in the percentage of illiterates—2%—and the highest in the percentage of skilled labor. If it is true, as their enemies contend, that the Slavs are as yet barbarians, then the Czech who in culture is foremost among the Slavs, can boast of being the first barbarian in Europe. ”

“ In the fall of 1825 he began to woo ardently Theresa, the younger daughter of John Měchura, a well-to-do law practitioner. After two years of courtship, he married her and established a permanent residence in Prague. This union with a rich girl put him above material cares, enabling him to devote himself wholly to the prosecution of his literary plans. Certain of his friends and intimates—from the literary set—envied him this excellent match. “Palacký made his fortune not as a Czech and a Slav but as a good German,” wrote bitingly Joseph Jungmann. ”

“ When the German employer in the northwest is no longer encouraged by Vienna to intimidate his Czech help with threats of discharge unless he puts himself down as an Austrian, the number of Czechs, it is confidently expected, will promptly increase by several hundred thousand in Bohemia alone, while the ranks of the Germans will diminish in proportion. ”

“ The separation of the Church from the State will be a policy which is certain to revolutionize the thought and action of the re-born nation. For centuries the Church has been the staunchest prop of the old monarchy. ”

“ With the fall of the old regime will be shorn of power those churchmen who were partners with the government in the work of repressing the national aspirations of the subject races, to the end that the ruling minorities, that is the Germans in Austria and the Magyars in Hungary, might continue in power. ”

“ In the first place the land hunger of the small farmer will be appeased; secondly, a crushing blow will be dealt thereby to Germanism and feudalism. The chateaux of the large landed aristocracy, everyone knows, were nests of illiberalism and militant Teutonism. None will feel sorry, when both are finally put out of harm’s way. ”

“ The Czech National Committee finding that the government was either unable or unwilling to protect the nation, resolved on measures of self-protection. It issued an appeal to the Austrian Slavs to meet at the end of May (1848) in Prague, to protest against the designs of the Frankfort Parliament. This led to the much talked of Slavic Congress in Prague. Foremost among the men who were responsible for the convocation of the Congress was Palacký, who, when the Congress assembled, was elected its presiding officer. ”

“ The real obstacle, as everyone knew, was Palacký’s Protestantism. Owing to Count Sternberg’s insistence and tact, the opposition was at last overcome and Palacký’s appointment confirmed.
The Wurdigung was the introductory to the Dějiny Národu Českého v Čechách a v Moravě, (History of the Czech Nation in Bohemia and Moravia) , of which Rieger said that it was a “preface to the history of the Slavs.” On this monumental book, which represents the toil of more than thirty years, Palacký began to labor in 1832. Much deserved praise was showered on the historian ”

“ Not to hurt the feelings of a strong Austrian party which favored sending deputies to Frankfort, the Ministry of Interior announced that citizens might either vote for representatives or abstain from voting, as they chose. ”

“ Its princes have acted in concert with German princes, but the people have never considered themselves German.”
Notwithstanding Palacký’s rebuff, the Frankfort Parliament was so eager to secure its purpose, that messengers were dispatched to Prague to confer with the Czech National Committee. The Czechs contended that the Frankfort Parliament was endeavoring to force upon them a condition which they had rejected. The Germans on their side advanced certain well known arguments of expediency in favor of a closer union between Bohemia and Germany. ”

“ Among them lived a wide awake, serious minded young man, who married early in life, as the teacher of their children. The teacher’s pay being insufficient to maintain him and his wife he did odd jobs as tailor, village clerk and farmer.
On June 14, 1798, a boy was born to the Palacký couple to whom was given the name Francis. In those days, instruction in higher schools in Bohemia and Moravia was in German. Francis was sent to a German primary school to prepare himself for entry to a secondary school ”