Page:Heinrich Karl Schmitt - The Hungarian Revolution - tr. Matthew Phipps Shiel (1918).djvu/39

 In the National Council reigned a feverish activity. From hour to hour grew tho load of work, and as the mass of the people had recognised the National Council as absolutely the sole authority, quite fantastic incidents occurred in the despatch of business. The public services had enough to do with the execution of the orders of tho National Council, so that the people threw the false conclusion that the National Council was the place for every possible sort of business to be done.

People came with the most private, silly, trivial concerns to the National Council, and the cordon of police had enough to do to turn away the innumerable people who came with laughable affairs.

Between fateful sittings the leading men had to receive Corporations, the President of the National Council, Johann Hock, a priest-deputy, had to act as an arbiter and tranquiliser, and in the midst of the crisis came some who could not be got to see that the making of the oath could be made as well some days laterEveryone wanted with the hottest zeal to be "there," wanted to show that he felt himself one with the National Council, and wished to serve it and place his powers at its disposal

The will of the people had been spontaneously exhibited. Especially now that it could be fairly assumed that the Revolution was safe from the attacks of reaction, having considerable armed force at its disposal—especially now came out the shrinkers, who had not wished to venture all in the first moments. And precisely these came with the loudest words and the liveliest gestures. In this respect Man—that sort of Man—remains ever like himself

The Government was, in respect of its personnel, according to the wishes of the people; but not in respect of its political structure. It was felt that the Ruler had yielded to the pressure of force, not to reason. And so it was demanded ever more pressingly, more distinctly, more threateningly that the Government, which had to thank the confidence of the people for its effective might, whose support the masses solely and only were—that this Government must drop any toying with the monarchical form.