Page:The heart of Europe; an address delivered by Charles Pergler in Washington, December 11, 1916, at a conference of oppressed or dependent nationalities (IA heartofeuropeadd00pergrich).pdf/12

 centuries. Austria’s moderation in her persecution was not due to any change of her innate nature, but was rather the result of general European pressure in favor of humanity and toleration and also due partly to dynastic fears. Austria’s practised motto ever has been Oppression and Injustice. Under a misrule such as Austria is guilty of over the various peoples of her empire, the peace and progress loving Bohemian race cannot and will not forever remain. In the last half century during which the Bohemian people wrested a small portion of their inherent rights of self-development, they have produced an enviable literature, they have advanced science in all its branches, they have contributed wealth to music and art. Through their own efforts against odds, they have placed themselves as the leading intellectual people in Austria-Hungary. Among them illiteracy is practically unknown. A race with such a strong determination and character has a true and real soul. The Bohemian race to-day is worthy of its illustrious past; it is worthy of its national heroes, Hus, Comenius, and Havlicek. It has the right to self-development unhindered by an undesirable patriarchal government of its German neighbors. It has a right to absolute independence, political as well as cultural. It is hoped that this war may bring, among other things, an end to the vicious rule of minority over majority, of Austrian Germans over the Bohemians, and of the Magyars over the Slovaks and the Serbs.