To begin with, the Magyar-central standpoint was not a speciality of Tisza's; all Magyar politicians upheld it.

Secondly, Tisza had one great point in his favour: he had no wish to prolong the war for the purpose of conquest; he wished for a rectification of the Roumanian frontier and nothing beyond that.

If it had come to peace negotiations, he would have supported me in taking as a basis the _status quo ante_.

His support--and that was the third reason--was of great value, for he was a man who knew how to fight.

He had become hard and old on the battlefield of parliamentary controversy.