The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-11-19
rKoseIusko and KSusnth


names, dear reader of The Times, ever occur to
you? If not, learn the real pronunciation
Kosshusko and Kosshut-and try how glibby
and companionably they fall from the tongue.
Two PARROTS they; great men, glorious men
the one now dead these thirty odd years, though
bis name lives imperishaby and the other a
gigantic living entity, whose shadow rests on
re dictionary Europe, the prophecy of coming,
heaft-stirring evsnts. The Kosciusko of the
past and the Kossuth of the present are equally
infimations Of atfree, millennial future for the
II may not Be without profit to turn back an
age or so md run parallel, after the manner
Of Plutarch, between these heroes.
Poland, at the time when the American Col
onies were jealousy defending their natural
rights, was, like Hungary, involved in sharp
conflict for the maintenance Of its national inde-
pendence. For centuries it had enjoyed con-
sttution resembling essentially that of the Ma
gyar. The King was elective. There was an
aristocratic diet. Its separate nationality was
unquestioned. Very little authority and no alb
solute power had been entrusted to the King.
So restricted were the rights Of the crown, that
there were times when it was difficult TO find a
wearer for it. The government was a repub-
lie, disguised as a monarchy; and, like that of
Hungary, was source Of perpetual uneasiness,
and of perpetual troubles TO the despots whose
territories lay upon the frontier. The year 1853
Witnessed an alliance of Austria, Russia and
Prussia, for the dissolution of the obnoxious
kingdom. The resistance Of the mild King
Stanislaus was, like all his actions, without
spirit or energy His mobiles played their parts
with more fervor and gallantry; but, notwith
standing the m,st desperate endeavors, the
first treaty of partition was signed by the allies
in l772.
The kingdom, or more properly the republic
was shorn of its fair proportions. Its most
courageous defenders had de'tlired of better
times, and sought the shores uerica, where
their blades still advocated principles Of
liberty which they had vainly orshipped, and
trusted to perpetuate at home For nearly a
score of years the land enjoyed the rest Of ex-
haustion. The people were paralyzed and utterly
dsheartened with their hopeless effort. The re-
public had sunk into a mere outside PROVING, Of
the great. monarchies adjacent. The wish for
freedom was there, and burning more wildly
than ever but the time and the man for
fresh assertion Of independence has not yet ar
rived.
The French revolution broke out. Europe
was stunned and the liberaists delighted, with an
entirely fresh set Of ideas. They were studied,
secretly adopted, idolized everywhere. Poland
was in a ripe state 10 catch the infection. She
now believed her hour had come-and the man.
The man was Thaddeus Kosciusko.
The leader Of the Polish instruction was Of
gentle parentsge; had received thorough train
ing at the military school Of Warsaw; fallen in
love, desperately, and therefore foolishly, with
fair daughter Of the governor of Lithuana was
bitterly disappointed and consoled himself by
crossing the ocean, and giving his aid TO the ap-
parently hopeless strife for liberty, in which |
was then embarced. To the staff
Of that chieftan he was attached as an engineer,
with the title Of lieutenant colonel and not !
Dnly learned the art of war in general way, |
but the art of warning for the dearest of human
rights, at the expense of the dearest of human
comforts, luxures, and other attendants of in. |
glorious ease. From this schooling, he passed |
to the leadership of the Polish revolutionists |
His preparation was complete.
The motive Of the first demonstration Of the |
PATRIOTS was the exclusion Of external influences,
ind the restoration of ancient boundaries, fran.
;hises, and constitutional rights. As in IIunga. |
" the demand was not for democratic institu.
ions, but for re-ed6cation Of the institutions
IF their fathers. In this spirit, the league Of
Targowitz was signed, not only by Kosciusko,
and other popular champions, but
BY Stanislaus himself The allied despots at
once poured over the frontiers. The year 1872
deeds of chivalry on. the part of the
patriots that astonished the world. Kosciusko
was hailed as second Washington. Among
,ther vaorous feats, ii is related that he erected
, fort in twenty-four hours, and in il, with 1000
men, withstood Russian army $4,000 strong,
'or several days. After an engagement Of six
hours, on another occasion, and with similar
disparity of force, he succeeded in drawing off |
his men without any mentionable loss. But il |
vas in vain. The enormous excess Of numbers |
,n the part Of the invaders was irresistible.-l
Peace was signed, and Poland again dlsmemb- |
red. Kosciusko, despairing Of the republic,
ook refuge in Leipsic.
In 1898, he reappeared in his hapless father.
and. The banner Of freedom was again raised. |
Ills eloquent invitations and addresses excited
he national feeling into phrenzy. Twenty
thousand men gathered about bin; and Warsaw
was once more in his power. Poland lay at his
feet; he was declared general-in.chief His |
aroused the sympathy Of Europe and
America. II was regarded as the last effort Of
a nation TO recover its rightful Independence and
integrity. Kosciusko was all in all to the re- J