Page:The Bohemian Review, vol2, 1918.djvu/82

 Russians of the Carpathian Mountains. And Bohemians in this country were surprised when they learned the political program of the Russians of Austria-Hungary, as embodied in the memorandum presented to Secretary Lansing. The delegation spoke in the name of the great national organizations of this people in the United States, numbering 150,000 members.

The program of the Russians of Austria-Hungary, or the Carpathian Russians, to distinguish them from their kinsmen of the great Russian plain, naturally contemplates as their first choice the erection of an independent Carpathian republic. But if the large considerations of European or world politics make that impossible, then their second choice is to be joined to the future Czechoslovak state as an autonomous province. They declared that they no longer looked to Moscow but to Prague as the spiritual capital of the Slav race.

The action of the delegation, representing the only free portion of the Carpathian Russians, was promptly communicated to the Czechoslovak National Council in Paris, and perhaps by this time it is known in Prague. It is bound to cement more firmly the union of all Austrian Slavs against their German-Magyar lords. Among the Bohemians and Slovaks in America it has naturally raised tremendous enthusiasm. For one thing, this pronouncement of the Russian delegation, totally unsought as it was, is a flattering recognition of the wise, brave and manly course of the Czechoslovaks during the present war. What people would not be proud of receiving such a proof of confidence! And should the alternative choice of the Russians of Austria-Hungary be realized, what an important position in the new order of things in Europe would be held by the Czechoslovak-Carpathian state. Bohemia would be connected both with Roumania and Russia, and the barrier holding back the German Drang nach Osten would be immeasurably strengthened. Western Slavs would be in immediate contact with the Eastern Slavs and Bohemia would be better enabled to play the great role, for which it is so well fitted, in the construction of a New Russia.

Throwing off for ever all ties that bound us to the Hapsburgs and to the Austro-Hungarian monarchy and remembering all the wrongs that had for centuries been committed upon our people and remain unavenged, we, Czechoslovak soldiers of the first revolutionary army created beyond the frontiers of our country, take this solemn oath before our beloved Czechoslovak nation and before the chiefs of our revolutionary movement in foreign lands, the Czechoslovak National Council with Professor Masaryk at its head.

In the name of our national honor, in the name of all that is most dear to us as men and as Czechoslovaks, with full realization of this step, we swear to fight alongside of our allies to the last drop of our blood, against all our enemies, until we have obtained complete liberation of our Czechoslovak nation, until the Czech and Slovak lands are reunited into a free and independent Czechoslovak state, until our nation is absolute mistress of her destinies.

We solemnly promise, whatever may be the danger and whatever may be the circumstances, without fear and hesitation, never to abandon the sacred goal of our fight.

As faithful and honorable soldiers, heirs of our noble history, cherishing the memory of the heroic deeds of our immortal chiefs and martyrs, Jan Hus and Jan Žižka of Trocnov, we promise to remain worthy of them, never to flee from battle, to shirk no danger, to obey the orders of our officers, to venerate our flags and standards, never and under no circumstances beg for our lives from our enemy and never to surrender with weapons in our hands, to love our companions as brothers and to give them aid in danger, to have no fear of death, to sacrifice all, even our lives, for the freedom of our fatherland.

So freely, without pressure of any sort, we pledge ourselves to act, and so shall we act. Such is the duty imposed upon us by honor and fidelity toward our people and our country.