New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-12-08
KoSSUTH'S FIRST SPEECH IN NEW YORK

ties restless waves my gdoy brains are stui turn-
ing round as III whirlpool, and this gigantic cont
uent seems yet TO iremble beneath my ~ayering
steps. Let me, before 60 to work, have some hours
OF rest upon this soil OF freedom. your happy home
Freedom and Home. that heavenly music IN those
tvo words Alas. have no nome. and the freedom
Of my people is down-uodden. Young Giant OF Free
America co rot tel! me that thy shores are an asy
mm TO the oppressed, and a home TO the homeless
exile. An um 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 land thy very
suferlngs make thee but cearer TO nv heart thy
bic eding image dWells with me when | wake. as It
rests with me in the short moments OF nv restless
sleep. II has accompanied me over the waves. IL
will accompany Inc when | 60 back 70 hight over
again the battle OF thy freedom once more. have
no idea but thee | have feeling but thee. Even
here, with this prodlglous view OF greatness free
dom and happiness. which spreads before my aston
isbed eyes. my thoughts are wandering toward
home ard when | look over these thousands OF
thousands before me, the happy inheritance Of yon
Ger freedom for which your fathers fought and oled
and when | turn to you, citizens, TO bow before
the majesty Of the United States, and to thank
the people Of New-Iork for their generous share
in my liberation ard for the unparalleled honor
OF this reception, see, out OF the very mist
of this great assemblsge, rise the bleeding Inn
age OF Hungary, looking TO you with anxiety
whether there be in the luster of your eyes ray of
hope for her whether there be in the thunder of
your huIahs trumpet call of resurrection II there
were such ray of hope IN your eyes. and no such
trumpet call in your cheers then wo TO Europes OPP
pressed nations They Will stand alone IN the hour
OF need. Less fortunate than you were, they ~lll
meet no brothers hand 10 help them in the approach
ing giant struggle against the leaeued despos OF the
world and wo also 10 me will feel no Joy even
here and the days Of my stay here will turn out 10
be lost TO my fatherlandlost at the very time when
every moment is teeming in the decision OF Europe's
destiny Citizens much as am waiting some hours
of rest much as have need to become familiar vi
the ground viii have Ia stand upon before enter
on business matters publicly, TOOK 1t 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 whtt are
the expectations and the hopes-whai are the mo-
tives which brought me now to your glorious shores
Gentlemen, have 10 thank the people, Congress and
Government Of the United States, for my liberation
from captivity. Human tongue has words to
press the bliss which felt whenI- down.trOdten
Hungary's wandering chlet-sa~ the glorious flag Of
the stripes and stars futtering ms heaG-when
first bowed before 1t with deep respect-when saw
around me the gallant officers and the crew OF the
Mississippi fIigate-the most OF them the worthlest
representatives oftrue American principles American
greatness American generosltyand TO think that 1t
was not ameTe chance which cast the star spangled
banI around me but that was your projecting VIII
to know thatth United states ofAmerlc conscious
OF their glorious calling as well of their power
declared by this unparalleled act TO DE resolved 10
become the protectors of human righs-to see 20 "
erful vessel OF America, coming to tar ASA 10 break
the chains by which the mghtlest despos OF Europe
fetteIed the activity OF an exlled Magyar, whose
yeIy name disturbed the proud security OF their
seep-to feel restored by such protection, aud IN
such way to freedom, and by freedom to activity.
you may be well aware OF what have telt, and stu
feel at the remembrance OF this proud moment OF
ny life. Others spoke-you acted; and was free
You acted and at this act of yours tyrants trem-
bled humanity shouted out with JOY the DOWN
uodden people of Magyars-the dow -trodden,
but not broken, raised his head with resolution
and with hope, and the brllIancy OF yolr 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 foryOu. You have restored me to lite
because, restored to activity and should my life oy
the blessings of the Almighty, still prove useful 20
my fatherland and to humanity, 1t VIII be your
MERRITT Will be your work. May you and your g'o-
rious country be blessed for 1T Europe ~ on tho
very eve Of such immense events, that however
feryent my gratitude be to you, would not nave
felt authorized 10 cross the Atlantic at this very
tlme only for the purpose to exhibit to you my warm
thanks. | would have thanked you by facts con-
trbutlng TO the freedom OF the European continent,
and weuld have postponed my visit 20 your gloi ious
shores TIT the decisive battle for liberty eas fought
II 1t my destiny to outlve that day. Then what
is the motive OF my beng here at this very time
The motive, citizens is that your generous ACT OF my
liberation has raised the conviction throughout the
worlc that this generous act OF yours but the mani
festatlon OF your resolution 10 taf0w your "egh'
into he balance whore the fate Of the European
continent is TO be weighed. You have raised the
conviction throughout the world, that by my iloefa-
ton YOU willing to say, le oppressed nations
OF old EuiOpes continent, be Of good cheer the
Young giant OF America stIetches his powerful arm
over the waves, ready TO give brothers hani 70
your future SO is your act interpreted through
scarcely imagine how beneficial this CONVICTION has
already proved 10 the suffering nations OF the Euro
pean continent. You can scarcely imagine what
self. confidence you have added TO the resolution
of the oppfe ssed You have knit the tie OF solidarity
In the destnies Of nations. can't doubt that you
brow how was received by the public opnlon In
eyeIy country which touched since am free ana
what feelings my liberation has elected IN those
countries which 1t was not my lot to touch. You
know how |, plain, poor, pennies exile nave
almost become a center OF hope and confidence 10
the most different nations, n9t united out Dy
the tie of common sufferings. what is the source
of this apparlon unparalleled IN manknd's history
The source of 1t is, that your generous act OF my
liberation is taken by the world Tor the reVeiauon
of the fact that the United States resolved not
10 allow the despOts OF the world TO tfample on op-
pressed humanity tits hence that my liberation vas
cheered from Sweden down 10 Portugal, as Fay OF
hone Il is hence that even those nations which
most desire nv presence III Europe now, have unan-
lmously told me, Hasten on, hasten on, 10 the
great nee rich and powerful people OF The United
States, and bring over It's oiolhery alo 10 we c'se
OF your country, so Intimately connected WITH Eu'
ropes liberty - and here stand 10 plead the cause
of the solidarity OF human fsnts before the great
Republic of the United states Humble as | an,
God, the Almighty has selected me 10 represent the
cause of humanity before you. My warrant to THIS
capacity is written in the sympathy and confidence
OF all who are oppressed ana 81 al VINO, as your
elder brother the people OF Britain sSmpahze WIN
the oppressed-my warrant 10 this capacity Is written
in the hopes and expectations you have entitled the
world to entertain, by beratins me out OF my prs
on, and by restoring me TO ACTIVITY but u mas
pleased the Almighty to make out of my humble self
yet another opportunity for thing WHICH may
prove happy turning point in The cestnles OF the
world. ! bring you brotheriy greeting ron
the people Of Great Britain | speak not Ia
an official character, impaired BY diplomacy,
whose secresy 10 the curse Of the world, but |
am the harbnger Of the public spirit OF the people,
which has the hight to Impart direction 70 us gov
eminent and which witnessed, pronouneing I.self |
IN the most decided manner, openly that the people
OF England, united 10 you with enlightened oroIheriy
ts ed n
strength as 1t is conscious OF IFS own, has forever
absno on ed every sentiment OF irritation and rivalry,
and desires the brotherly alliance Of the L 9ited
States to secure to every nation he sovereign right
10 dispose of ITSELF and to protect the sovereign night
of nations against the encroachlng arrogance OF
depots, and lesgued to you against the league OF
despots 10 stand together With you, goclther 70 the
approaching baptism of European liberty. Now,
[ have stated ncsIrinu l |