The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1851-12-24
Speech Of Kossuth at Castle Garden.

York on Saturday, a, the close Of the great
procession, his private secretary dictated
his speech from his manuscript to the re-
porters. We give the whole address Of
the brilliant orator, as furnished by this
means:
am yet half sick, gentlemen, tossed
and twisted about by fortnight's gale on
the Atlantc's restless waves, my giddy
brains are still turning round as in whirl-
pool. and this gigantic continent seems
yet to tremble beneath my wavering steps.
Let me, before 60 to work, have some
hours of rest upon this soil Of freedom
your happy home. Freedom and Home,
what heavenly music in those two words!
Alas, have no home. and the freedom Of
my people is -trodden. Young giant
of free America, do not tell me that thy
shores are an asylum to the oppressed and
home for the homeless exile. An asylum
il is, but all the blessings of your glorious
country, can they drown into oblivion the
longing OF the heart, and the fond desires
for our native land? My beloved native
landl thy very sufferings make thee but
dearer to my heart Thy bleeding image
dwels with me when wake, as it rests
with me in the short moments OF my rest
less sleep. 1t has accompanied me over
the waves. 1t will accompany me when
go back to fight over again the battle Of
thy freedom once more. | have no idea
but thee; have no feeling but thee. Even
here, with this prodigious view of great.
ness freedom and happiness, which spreads
before my astonished eyes. my thoughts
are wandering towards home; and when
| look over these thousands Of thousands
before me, the happy inheritance of yon-
der freedom for which your fathers fought
and bled-and when turn to you, citizens,
to bow before the majesty Of the United
States, and to thank the people OF New
York for their generous share in my lib
Grafton, and for the unparalleled honor OF
this reception, see our from the very
midst OF this great assembAge, rise the
bleeding image of Hungary looking to you
with anxiety whether there be in theApstre
of your eyes a ray Of hope for her; whether
there be in the thunder Of your hurrahs a
trumpet call of resurrection. If there were
no such ray OF hope in your eyes. and no
such trumpet cal I'm your>chcers. then wo
to Europe's oppressed natio6sl> fhey will
stand alone in the hour of need, Less
fortunate than you wsge, they will meet no
brothers. hand to helh them in the by
preaching giant struggle against the eaguH
ed despots of the world; and wo also to
me. will feel no joy even here, and the
days Of my stay here will turn ont to be
lost for my father-land-lost at the vary
time when every moment is teemlng in the
decision of Europe's destiny.
Citizens, much as | am wanting some
hours rest much as have need to become
familiar with the ground | will have to stand
upon before | enter Oh business matters
publicly, | took it for duty Of honor, not
to let escape even this first moment of your
generous welcome, without stating plainly
and openly to you what sort Of man am,
and what are the expectations and the
are the motives which brought
me now to your glorious shores. Gentle
men, have to thank the people, Congress,
and Government of the United States for
my liberation from captivity. Human
tongue has no words to express the bliss
which | felt when I-the down trodden
Hungary's wandering chief-saw the glo-
rious flag of the stripes and stars 1utter-
ing over my head-when | first bowed be-
fore it with deep pect-when saw
around me the gallant officers and the
crew of the Mississippi frigate-the most
of them the worthiest representatives Of
true American principles, American great
ness, American generosity-and to think
that it was not mere chance which cast
the star spangled banner around me, but
that it was your protecting will-to know
that the United States Of America, con-
scious of their glorious calling as well as
of their power, declared by this unparal-
leled act to be resolved to become the pro-
tectors OF human rights--to see q power
ful vessel of America. coming to far Asia,
to break the chains by which the mighliest
despots of Europe fettered the activity OF
an exiled Magyar, whose very name dis
turbed the proud security Of their sleep
to feel restored by such protection, and
in such way, to freedom, and by free
dom to activity, you may be we'll aware
of what have felt, and still feel, at the re-
membrance of this proud moment Of my
life. Others spoke--you acted; and | was
feel You acted; and at this act of yours.
tyrants trembled; humanity shouted out
with Joy; the down-trodden people of Mag
yars--the trodden, but not broken,
raised his head with resolution and with
hope. and the brilliancy Of your stars was
greeted by Europe's oppressed nations as
the morning star Of rising liberty.
Now, gentlemen, you must be aware
how boundless the gratitude must be which
| feel for you. You have restored me to
life--because, restored to activity; and
should my life, by the blessings of the Al
mighty, still prove useful to my father.land