The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1851-12-03
KOSsUTU,s LATEST SPEECHES.

hOSSutD. Sldllfg HIat ~ Inc WISHES OF tne
working classes mad been attended To-,
Russia would have been met by British
arms, and giving the entire merit Of his
release to the United States.
Kossuth replied, thanking them for their
sympathy, and complimenting them on
their position as working men. He said
that he inherited nothing from his father,
and had lived all his life by Industrious
labor, and this constituted his claim to the
peoples confidence. Among all the acts
of his life. there was none he regarded
with more satisfaction, than the attempt
TO elevate the manufacturing interests OF
his land. Besides its material benefits it
proved politically beneficial, by interesting
the people in political affairs, and devel.
oping strongly public opinion to assist him
in his aim. TO transform the closed hall of
class privileges into an open temple for
the peoples liberty.
He congratulated them on the attention
which they paid to public matters, and on
the just and happy instinct with which
they had seized upon the point so import.
ant 10 England-the freedom Of the Eu.
ropean continent. The great question
was, shall Europe be ruled by the princi.
pie Of freedom or absolutism? Can Eng
land remain Indifferent in the great strug-
gle for a final decision, and if not, with
which principle will she side? No mar
can dissimulate the conviction that France.
Italy. Germany, Austria, Hungary. are al
ready on the eve of those days when the
great battle will be fought out, and Great
Britain by its sympathy with Hungary,
has pronounced itself not willing to re-
main Indifferent. and to side not with alb.
solutism, but with liberty, by protecting
from foreign interference the sovereign
right Of every nation 10 dispose Of itself.
You have pronounced the truth. which |
have omitted no occasion to express. that
there is a community in the principle Of
freedom, as there is an identity in the in.
terests Of humanity.
Kossuth defended the doctrine that En-
gland was largely interested in the free
dom of the Continent by showing that
their trade with absolutist Russia was on.
~ I'd. per head, while with the free United
States it was Is. per head. He said that
when Russia interfered between Austria
and Hungary, the cause rose to a Euro.
pean height, and became the cause of
mankind.
In speaking of France, he said that he
was glad TO see bro,herly affection substi-
,uted for the old rivalry between England
and France. The oppressed nations of
Europe had hitherto been disappointed in
their expectations from France. but her
mischances are 10 be attributed TO an un.
fortunate propensity to centralization.-
When an %omnipotcnce Of power is CENTER
ed in one man or in one assembly, that
man must be a Washington, or that as.
sembly composed Of Washington's, not to
become ambitious and dangerous to liber-
~. Blu, as he would protest against any
nation ~meddling with the concerns OF his
father-land, so he would not have the ar
pretension of mixing with the do.
mestic concerns Of any other nation. and
least Of all of the great French nation.
which is powerful enough to come out of
its own trials triumphantly. He had only
the warm wish that they would succeed in
making that which is only a republic in
name, a reality; and that then she. with
the United States and England would unite
TO check the spirit of absolutism. lie was
glad 10 see Germany united with Hunga.
ny in their prayers Tor they were united
in aim; Italy and Hungary too were close
ly identical-they were like two wings OF
an army opposed to one enemy, the VIC
tory or defeat of one, insured that OF the
other.
In referring 10 theoretical political spec
ulations. such as Socialism, he said Hun.
gary did not wan them. They had a
Austrian dynasty; they wish
ed a neutrality-suspicious. They need.
ed theoretical speculations as little as the
citizens of the United States do. whose
institutions Hungary wished. Italy, he
was confidently assured. had the same
In response to their wishes, he said
that he valued his personal freedom chiefly
because it restored him to activity in the
Of his country. He united in their
paternal expressions towards Turkey. and
to the glorious republic of the United
States, which had thrown its flag around
him, he hoped that the common sympathy
which the United States and England had
manifested for him, would be the first link
to a closer union OF the politics of the two
countries. which would make a turning
point in the destinies Of humanity.
He considered it his duty not to mix in
any question Of party in England, or in
any other country.
He said he did not come for the reputa.
lion Of an agitator or revolutionist, and
defended the cause Of Hungary from the
reputation Of a revolution; it was but a
conservation Of privileges reserved by the
constitution and treaties.
Kossuth concluded his speech by a
short history of the Hungarian struggle,