The Press. — London, England, 1854-06-10 00:00:00

sacrinces; sent dangers and than that:— ." But England did worse " When the Czar accomplished the daring crime of armed intervention in Hungary, and by it not only ad vanced a gigantic step in his ambitious career of supre macy over Europe, but especially prepared his present blow by usurping the Turkish territory, do you remem ber in what manner the English Government did meet the tremendous blow? Why, it declared, solemnly, offi cially, 'that her Majesty's Government had not consi dered the occasion to be one which had called for any formal expression of the opinion of Great Britain on the matter.' Why, the imperious necessity of the present war shows that nut from any compassion for Hungary, but in the interest of England, it would have been the duty of your Government to prevent that encroachment upon Europe by all means ; instead of this, it had 'no opinion to express on the subject.' This was a manifest encouragement—it was a charter of impunity granted to the Czar for encroaching upon the liberties of Europe. And you are now wondering that the Czar finds some what strange and unexpected the tender solicitude of England fur what they now call the independence of na tions !" Reverting again to his central topic, Austria, he asked, " Shall it be recorded in history that it is an hereditary policy with England to share in the guilt of Austrian despotism ? With the warnings of history before your eyes, will England still persist in the false policy of courting Austria, which brought already such mischief upon you, and whose alliance, be you victors or vanquished, can but be fatal to you ? Consider how that mischievous fault em barrasses England's course already at this very moment. If there ever was a truth striking beyond any doubt—in contestable—it is the truth that, except Finland, it is only in Poland and by Poland that Russia is vulnerable. Bom barding Odessa, Sebastopol, Cronstadt, taking Russian prizes, buruing the Russian fleet ( if you can come at them ), nay, burning St. Petersburg itself—all this may be very noisy, good food fo• the newspapers, but it is merely a palliative—nothing of a permanent effect. The Russians might, perhaps, themselves burn St. Petersburg, as they have buret Moscow ; you will no: be the better by it. if your purpose is to tight Russian despotism—if your aim is toicheck Russian ascendancy and to reduce Russian prepon derance, it is in Poland, it is by Poland that you must act-- (cheers) —or else you will never attain your aim. To you the resurrection of Poland is not an act of compassion, lurking somewhere behind the screen of diplomatic trans actions at the end of the war; to you the resurrection of Poland is an urgent, pressing, strategical, tactical neces sity of this very moment ; to you the resurrection of Poland is not only a national aim in the present war, it is also an indispensable means fur attaining any rational aim at all. Then, how is it that these gentlemen here (pointing to some Polish refugees present) have still to stand plead ing the cause of Poland. instead of being landed from on board English war-steamers in Samogitia, and calling from native soil, ' lirave Poland, to resurrection and liberty?' Why is this? It is from sheer complacency for Austria and Prussia. Your Government knows very well that it would be absurd to think that the pulsation of a national resurrection could be restricted to a toe, or to any other limb, and that it would not spread through all the body. They know very well in Downing-street theta mere recon struction of what is now Russian Poland would be mere moonshine ; and, therefore, as Austria and Prussia held part of the plunder which had to be disgorged, out of regard to them, but chiefly to pet Austria, they still neglect to do that without which you cannot succeed inyour war. That's a fact. (Hear, hear.) Be forewarned, people of England ! be forewarned. Look to history—there, in the mirror of the past, thine own future is dagguereotyped. Remember the campaign of Napoleon to Moscow in 1812. You have been taught by superficial professors in your schools that it is the generals Frost and Famine which defeated Napo leon. No ;. lie was defeated by having taken Austria and Prussia for allies. Without Poland reconstructed in an in dependent nation no expedition against Russia can suc ceed. How, then, did it happen that he advanced against Russia without having at the very onset reconstructed the Polish nation ? Why, that neglect was a fatal but necessary corollary of his unnatural alliance with Austria and Prussia. Thus that alliance deprived him of the possibility of realising that measure without which there was and there is madness to believe that Russia is to be vanquished. The neglect of reconstructing Poland brought famine upon and made frost a ruin to Napoleon. Mark this striking lesson of history well. Yon are in the same predicament—the situation is the same—the conditions indispensable to suc cess are the same—the dander of unnatural alliances the same—the only difference in the situation is, that Russia has grown stronger in the meanwhile, partly by your own fault, and that you have not an army of 000,000 men in the field." Addressing his Sheffield auditors as champions of liberty, M. Kossuth appealed to their sense of con sistency and of propriety : " If you mean to fight for freedom, you cannot side with Austria. Ile who sides with despotic Austria sides with despotism. If you mean to fight for the rights and inde pendence of nations you cannot side with Austria. Austria is the impersonified violation of the rights and indepen dence of nations. If you desire to vanquish despotism, op pose party to it, and not Austria—Austria is despotism. (Prolonged cheers.) If you desire to secure the inde pendence of Turkey do not hinder the independence of Hungary ; and, as a means to the effect, mind not to pre vent Turkey from taking the Hungarian nation for its ally as your Government was and is preventing it. If you mean to reduce the preponderant power of Russia you must help Poland to reconstruct itself into an independent nation, or else Russia's preponderance will not be checked. But I do not say Deconstruct Poland;' I say, ' Help THE PRESS. Poland to reconstruct itself.' (` Hear, hear,' and cheers.) There is an essential difference in this. Nations manu factured by diplomatic treaties never have lasted and are of no use. (Protracted cheering.) To adjourn the question to some future diplomatic manufacture at the end of the war would be a gross mistake. It would compromise not only the issue but also the success of the military opera rations during the war. Besides, who knows how matters will stand at the end should England neglect the means in dispensable to success ? Poland reconstructed with its national territory, and having for its neighbour Hungary free and independent—such a Poland thus placed will be secure, independent, free, and an insurmountable barrier against Russia's encroachments upon Europe. (Cheers.) Thus only is Russia's power to be reduced ; thus is Turkey to be secured, and in no other way. If you but wish Russia to recross the Pruth and patch up some miserable status quo paper treaty, and then come home to sleep upon your laurels, it were better to go to sleep at once without any laurels. But if you are earnest in the profession of your better aims, then it would appear to me you want, first, to have the war popular with your own people. The war is popular with the people of England on the account that they believe they are fighting for freedom, and they hope that some good may be brought about by the war for the oppressed nationalities. lam convinced that it is on this account that the war is popular with the masses of the peo ple of England, who do not measure great objects with the short yard of small party purposes ; with those who have some nobler and higher aim than to help the Tories or the Whigs to make a political capital out of any object what ever ; and with those who bear not a sordid piece of coin, but a stout heart in their true English breast. (Great cheering.) Now, if England is joined by despotic Austria, and thus sacrifices Poland, Hungary, and Italy, it is impos sible in the long run to throw dust in the eyes of the peo ple. The people will see clear, and the war will have ceased ti be popular. Further, you want the support of public opinion abroad. You will lose it if you decide for despotic Austria, because he who fights side by side with Austria fights for Austria, and to tight for Austria is to fight against liberty." Enumerating the populations, from Servia to Sweden, whose hearty co-operation must be foregone for the sake of maintaining the alliance with Austria, M. Kossuth proceeded to inquire whether the strength which Austria could bring into the confederacy, even if she joined it most heartily, would countervail the sacrifice : " The Austrian compound of armies is certainly conspi cuous for bravery and intelligence. I would never wish to have a braver army to lead, provided that it be heart and soul enthusiastic for the cause it is led to fight for. But, precisely, there is the rub with England on the present occasion. You must recollect that, after what passed in 1848-49, there is no army in Europe wherein the bayonets could boast of so many thinking elements as that army which is called Austrian, but the incomparably larger majority of which is in its heart as little Austrian as I myself am (Hear, heur.) Remember those numerous thousands, and the brethren and sons of the thousands, who fought against Austria, and fought for freedom, under the gay tri colour, against the yellow-black flag. One portion of the so-called Austrian army (in the higher ranks) would not like to fight against Russia ; another portion would not like to side with England ( remember they have made themselves conspicuous by their absence at the Wellington funeral) ; and there is another portion of the army who would certainly not like to fight for what your England calls Austria.. Add to this the probable emergency of certain complications of a national character, and you must acknowledge that this army, as it is, not withstanding its eminent bravery and intelligence, would prove of a very ambiguous advantage to England in this war. And, as to the danger of seeing Austria siding with the Czar, there is not the slightest danger in that direction. If the dynasty of Austria be against you, the nations subject toAustrian oppression, and panting for deliverance, will be with you. (Cheers.) If Austrian despotism be against you, freedom of the nationalities will be with you. (Cheers.) Cast your glance to Poland, and thence across to Hungary and Croatia, down to Italy and back to Swit zerland. in three months the Austrian dynasty of the house of Hapsburg would vanish like a dream, amid the exultation of all humanity, and to the lasting advantage of European liberty, incompatible with that dynasty. ( Tre mendous cheers.) No ! the danger is quite the other way. Suppose that Austria could dare to join you sincerely against the Czar, her redeemer, her saviour, her deliverer. In justice we must own that it would be the most mon strous ingratitude after all. The worst of banditti in the south, whatever they be for the rest of mankind, are yet faithful to one another. But vile ingratitude is a leading feature in the character of the Hapsburgs. Poland has saved them—Poland was quartered in reward. Hungary saved them under Maria Theresa—religious liberty was suppressed and the constitution suspended in reward. Napoleon saved them—he was sent to St. Helena in reward. I myself saved them in 1848. Yes, gentlemen, in March 1848, having had the power thus to speak to them within the very walls of their own imperial palace, I said, ' Be just to Hungary, and I will give to the old house of Haps burg peace anti security here in Vienna.' (Loud cheers.) Having had the power thus to speak to them—i, un attended, alone, and they tremblingly accepting my gene rosity—who will doubt my word when I say I held their existence in the hollow of my hand ? 1, by an excess of loyalty, saved them. Look to my country ; what is the reward? ( Vehement cheering.) Some months later Lord Palmerston's diplomacy saved them—he is hated to the very heart in reward. The hangman Heyman saved them —he was driven away in reward. Above all, the Czar saved them—do you suppose they will tight him in reward ? Well, you can't help acknowledging that such a monstrous ingratitude can but push the Czar to double his energies in doing what else also would be perfectly lawfUl for him SATURDAY. to do, according to the established laws of war Re will address himself to some nationalities, and offer his, and claim their concurrence for punishing Austria. A strang e concurrence, you will say ; strange indeed! but not a bit stranger than England claiming the credit of fighti ng for the freedom of Europe, and y e t allying herself to despoti c Austria. (Great cheering.)" The meeting terminated with several rounds of cheering for M. Kossuth, after passing a resolution setting forth " the desirability of reconstituting Po land as an independent nation." OPENING OF THE CAySTAL PALACE. WHILE the present number of our journal is passing through the press the opening ceremony of the Crystal Palace will be in foil celebra4.ion st Sydeu ham. Under these circumstances wets iftore in the way of description than recapitulate the ar. rangements as set forth in the otLcial programme issued by the directors for the day's business:— Holders of season tickets only, or of special cards of invitation (which are confined to foreign ambassadors, her Majesty's ministers, and others specially invited to attend on her Majesty ), will be admitted to the palace and park on this occasion. A limited number of seats will be reserved for mem. hers of the corps diplomatique, of her Majesty's suite, the House of Peers, and House of Commons, and their filth lies, and for the families of other persons who are present officially to assist at the ceremonial. Exhibitors' attendants who have been sanctioned by the directors will be admitted at the railway station biter two o'clock, and will immediately take their places by the counters or objects exhibited by their employers. A dais has been raised on au elevated plaforna in the central transept, on which a chair of state will be placed. The directors, with the principal officers and otherscon nected with the undertaking, will assemble at half-past two o'clock in the central transept, opposite the dais, in levee dress or in full evening dress. His Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury, her Majesty's ministers and officers of state, and the foreign dors and ministers, will take their place on the platform to the right and left of the chair of state, in levee dress, at half-past two o'clock. The Lord Mayor and Sheriffs of London, the mayors, provoets, and other representatives of the municipal bodies of the kingdom, will take their places, at the same hour, in their rubes of office, in a space reserved for them in front of the dais. The foreign com missioners, the royal commissioners of the Exhibition of 1851 and of the New York Exhibition, the representatives of the Dublin Exhibition and of the Paris Exhibition of 1855, and the presidents of the principal learned societies, will take their places in a space reserved for the purpose in the central transept fronting the dais. Places will be re served for members of the House of Peers and their families in the front gallery on the right hand of the dais, and for members of the House of Commons and their families in the front gallery on the left. Her Majesty, with the Royal Family, and her suite, will leave Buckingham Palace so as to arrive at the central transept of the Crystal Palace precisely at three o'clock. She will ascend the dais and take her seat in the chair of state. Un her Majesty's arrival the chorus, comprising 400 in strumental and 600 vocal performers of the various mu sical societies of the kingdom, in addition to two regimental bands, and the band of the company, the whole under the direction of Signor Costa, will perform " God save the Queen:: . On the Queen taking her seat, and when the music has ceased, the directors of the company will proceed to the dais, and the chairman will read to her Majesty a short ad dress describing the origin and objects of the undertaking, which lie will then deliver to her Majesty. Her Majesty will be graciously pleased to return an answer. Mr. Fuller will present to her Majesty a series of medals struck to commemorate the occasion. Sir Joseph Paxton . . will present the general handbook descriptive of the palms and park. Handbooks descriptive of the tine arts courts, the portrait gallery, the Assyrian court, the geological, zoological, and ethnological departments, will be presented to the Queen by Mr. Owen Jones, Mr. Rigby Wyatt, Mr. Phillips, Mr. Fergusson, Professor Owen, Professor Forbes, and Dr. Lathan]. A royal procession will then be formed in the following order: Superintendents of Works and Principal Employes. Contractors. Architects of Industrial Courts. Principal Officers and Heads of Departments. Directors. Sir Joseph Paxton. Mr. Laing, M.P. THE QUEEN. H. R. H. The Prince Albert, the Xing of Portugal, the Royal Family, H. R. H. the Duke of Oporto, and their respective suites. The Archbishop of Canterbury. The Cabinet Ministers. The Foreign Ambassadors and the Foreign Ministers. The procession will turn to the right, move to the south end of the nave by its west side, returning by its east side, will then pass round the east side of the central transept and down the north end of the nave by its east side, re turning by its west side to the central transept. All persons not forming part of the procession will keep their places during it. On the return of the procession her Majesty will again take her seat on the dais, and the ministers and ambassa• dors will take their places as before. His Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury will then say a prayer, asking God's blessing upon the undertaking, and the orchestra will perform the " Hallelujah Chorus.' When the music ceases, her Majesty will declare " The Crystal Palace opened." The orchestra will then perfonn 536