The republic., 1851-12-17


hned to-. 4,oIo,oio
Giving preponderance to the Sclavone
population Of. Observation-Disclosures. S,2Sb, ,63O
And this does not include Poles, Wends, Rus
sines, and other Sclavonic portions scattered
through various districts, amounting probably TO
100000
And find, air. in reviewing the history political
and popular. OF these Sclavonic peoples, that many
OF them cling with tenacity each to it's own laws,
manners, and language, and that all swayed
by their historic traditions. And, moreover, it ap-
pears that, in the late struggle Of Hungary, so
earnestly upheld by your exertions. the Sclavonic
took very little part; that the Diet Of Crotia
and Sclavonia has frequently repudiated the acts
of the Diet of Pssth; that strong feelings and ef
forts have been aroused throughout the last ten
years. having for their tendency the separation Of
the Sclavonic from the Magyar population. and
the erection Of all the included in the former
into great Sclavonc. nation. apart from, and in
dependent Of Magyar Hungary; that in lS4s,
when you, sir, deputy to the National As
sembly at Vienna, this tendency, expressed by the
ScIavonic portions Of the Asssnby, defeated the OBJ
ject you had in view; and finally, that since, and
within the last year, the Sclavonic national
stio spirit has imbued many disricts of Croatia,
Sclavonia, Servia, and Transylvania, and avows
its dislinctivoHess from the causo of Hungary;
that is to say, the cause OF Magyarism. In view
Of these things, the following questions are SUBJ
mitted:
/. DO you consider yourself the representative of
the Sclavonic nationalistic element? or of the
Magyar or of both unised2
2. If Of the frat, you, its representative,
for the republican tendencies of the united
Sslavonic races, and that Croas. Ssrfs, Wallacks,
and Czecbs, will be fused into republican ma
tioni
B. Ifof the second, can you answer for the Mag
var people establishing separate republic without
dominating the Scavic races, or without arousing
their opposition?
4. If you represent both Sclavonic and Magyar
peoples, you assure that, united, these peo-
Piles will establish republican government?
These questions involve that very principle of
non-intervention which you advocate; inasmuch
Croatia, Bohemia, or Servia may seek to establish
each its independence of Hungarian or other inter
ference. Once more:
l. II, in the furtherancoof your wishes, the Amer
people, by loan and contribution, place at your
disposal largo sums of money, they TO under
stand that such sums TO be employed towards
achieving the independence of Hungary, per se-or
is il to swell common republican fund for the i'm
pending European struggle, wherever it may COM
mence2
of all the peoples and resolved 10 struggle in their
ranks till the time of the deliverance of Hungary
shall come-how long soever that may be deayeds
We ask reply to these questions, not in any
spirit of dictation, but in order that your frank
explanation may set at rest the objections which
continually made We ask you, sir, 70 define
your position before the American people. We
know your eloquence, your genius, your energy.
We wish 70 know your object. For as yet, sir,
through your addresses, we have gained but an
imperfect idcn Of the platform which you occupy.
Patriotism-dev otion to Hungary-is one virtue;
republcanism- devotion to humanity--is another.
We, as a people, hnve wide sympathies, and
look to the next European struggle as involvi ng
human and social, moro than national or geo.
graphical, rights.
Understanding your position, We shall then be
prepared, sir, not to endorse your theory of war
like non intervention abroad but to propose for
the consideration of our National Legislature the
moro efficacious practice OF non intervention at
home; and this without sacrificing principle or
abandoning policy sacred as our Constitution
We shall propose that our Executive and Congress
announce to the civilized world a new principle
bold, incorporating republican line of national
action7y Shich shall take the high ground that in
matters involving the sympathy Of one free people
for another IN arms for its freedom governments
CuHnOt tHteJct. III WIG american people, IN tnelr
character individuals, choose to assist another
people struggling for liberty by sympathy, by mo-
ney, or by men, then let the United states Govern
ment assert tho broad doctrine of non-interference
with lie pcopel Let it proclaim TO all the nations
that il control only the Federal po,cr and the
Federal flag but that it cannot and will not at
tempt to control public opinion.
Such declaration of non intervention would DO
n thousand times moro effective than that which
you propose; for il asserts great principle, and is
yet no casus bells. II may be said that it makes
privnteers and "free companies'' of our citizens;
but not letters Of marque and reprisal, sane
toned by international law, but another name for
commissions of piracy Our Government cannot
*Mr. Paget, in his account Of Travels in Hunga-
ry and Transylvania, says: "There seems to be an
idea among the fefes srGGes here ofan Illyrian ma
tionality. II is no uncommon thing to hear them
reckoning up the Croats, Scavonians, Bosnians,
Dalmatians, Servians, Montene Rrins and Bulgari-
ans, and then comparing the mass of Sclaves with
the three four millions Of Magyars. and proudly
asking why they should submit TO deny their lam
guage and origin because the Magyars COM
Inand it?'