The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-08-22

The HUNGARIANs.-THr AMERICAN PREss-N
is gratifying to the unanlmity which charac-
terizes the tone of the American press on the sub
ject of Hungarian affairs, and the encomiums
which are freely passed by all our public journals,
without distinction Of party, the brave and gal
liant men who, single handed, have been, for long
time past, successfully maintaining their ground
against the combined forces of both Austria and
Russia. In doing SO, they only echo the sentiment
OF the whole mass OF the people of the United
States; for we sincerely believe that it would be
difficult task to find an American citizen whose
sympathles not with the Hungarians, one
who does not ardently and sincerely desire thai
that brave and gallant people may triumph over
their enemies, and emancipate their country from
Austrian dominion.
Yet some of our American journals, in their re-
marks on the justice of the cause of the Hunga-
rians, and while expressing their wish that they
may succeed, make some curious remarks, which
have struck us as being very much out OF place,
and inconsistent with the spirit Of republicansm.
One contemporary, the Courier and Enquirer, for
instance, in Its yesterdays issue, after hoping that
the Hungarlans may ultimately triumph, says,
"They (he Hungarians) took up arms not in rebel
hon against any lawful government, but in resist
upon their ancient and undisputed rights" The
sentiment of the paragraph we agree with, but we
cannot comprehend the meaning of the term "law-
ful government" in connection with the Hunga-
ran struggle, with the affairs of any other go
vernment IN Europe. In the United States we
have lawful government, but we would like
to know where such thing exists in any part
of Europe. If the right to govern emanates
from the people, and If government is but the
instrument of the people to carry their will
and purposes into actlon-a sentiment which, we
think, will not be denied-then we dare assert
that there is not single solitary lawful govern
ment on the whole continent of Europe, and
that the people of every nation in that quarter of
the world would be justified before God and man
in upsetting and overturning the governments
there, and striking to the earth the sovereigns and
the potentates who are the head of them. Is the
government of England the emanation of the peo-
ple-the embodied will of the people of that coun-
ny?-is the government of Austria, or of Prussia,
Germany, the Italian States, Rome, or any other
country in Europe, founded the will of the
people Not one If it were, none of those coun-
tries would have any necessity for maintaining
large standing armies to overawe the people, and
prevent them by the bayonet and bullet from upset.
ting their "lawful governments"
1t is misapphcation, therefore, to use the term
lawful government in connection with European
politics, for no such thing exists there. There
never will be lawful government In Europe, until
the spirit which animates the Hungarlans shall
have become universal-until kings, princes, po-
tentates and popes are sent about their business,
and the people reconstruct their governments &C.
cording to their own fashion