The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1851-12-18
Our Position with Foreign Nations.


ton and, doubtless il did not fail to raise serious
reflections in the minds Of intelligent citizens.
To day we pursue the train of thought which the
subject naturally suggests. 1t is one too important
not to invite and repay discussion.
But before proceeding further, it is proper to
state that the NewYork papers, received by yes
terday's mail, contain an authorized statement
which appears to change his entire argument.
The statement we refer to is in the following Ian.
gusge:
"Kossuth simply asks that England and Amer.
lea shall unite in affirming The policy that every
nation shall have the right to make and alter its
political institutions to suit its own condition and
and that the two nations ENGLAND
and America) shall not only respect, but cause to
he respected this doctrine, so as to prevent Russia
from again marching her armies into Hungary.
1t is true that the actual power of our country
must stand behind its diplomacy in this as in other
affairs but by assuming this position, he holds
that there would be no danger of our being in.
volved in war. Let it once be understood that
England and America agree in maintaining this
doctrine, and Russia would certainly respect it.
There is a wide difference between IT solute atti
tude powerful enough to prevent Interference, and
the going to war to repulse intervention already
commenced.
"Goy Ksssuth has not intended to suggest that
America should copy the example of France
during our revolution according to the letter. but
according to the spirit. The circumstances are
widely different, and all that can be hoped is, that
great and free country like this should act in be-
half of freedom, according to the time and the cir.
cumstances in which it is placed"
Nothing could be shrewder in phrase, or more
perfect in pausibility, than this. But how does it
81 If tha Jayy n
speech deliberately prepared, carefully written out,
and deliberately submitted to the public!
In that speech he says:
"Then what is the motive Of my being here a,
this yery time The motives, citizens, is that your
generous act of my liberation has raised the convc
lion throughout the world that this generous act Of
yours is but the manifestation of your resolution to
throw your weight into the balance where the fate
of the European continent is to be weighed
And again:
81 will conscientiously respect your laws, bu
within the limits Of your laws will use every hon
your financial, MATERIAL and political aid for m,
couniry's freedom and Independence"
And yet further: .
"The source of it is, that your generous act o
my liberation is taken by the world for the revela
not to allow the despots of the world to trample or
oppressed humanity"
And yet again:
81 am told that l will have the high honor to re
view your patriotic militia. Oh, God how my hear
,hrobs at the idea to this gallant army enlisted
on the side of freedom against dsspoism the wor,
would be free, and you the saviours OF humanity
And why mott"
Now contrast these extracts from Kossuth's for
NAL and written speech with the "by authority
statement we have quoted above. Do they no
show Kossuth, chameleon-like, taking color from
the occasion. that he may make all things ben,
to his favorite idea, his absorbing passion, tn
liberation of Hungary! Did we not say right
that this was his sole idea, in exiled misfortune
the light which darkened all things else in hi
| mind, as the sacrificial flame upon the mdnigh
altar makes obscurer darkness in the temple
We apprehend that the Hungarian Chief ha
not abandoned the design, SO distinctly and eve
defantly expressed, Of involving, ,eniangling, u
in European affairs. We apprehend he is
shrewd and managing agitalor; and, havin
overstepped the bounds of prudence. returns no,
to more moderate tone and to less extensiv
demands, only that he may the more eAsctual
| reach his final object, our involvement in Euro
pean struggles.
Therefore, highly appreciating the abilities o
the advocate, and seriously spprehending dan
gerous consequences from his fascinating ant
eloquently phra,ed theories, we claim to reAec
upon the present, the light of the wisdom of tn
past.
In his Farewell Address, Washington though
proper to advise land The advice is most felci
tously in point against the attempt of foreigner
Louis Kossuth, to array the people against tn
Government that we "should steadily discour
enanee irregular opposition to its' (lhe Govern
ment's) acknowledged authority" No ma
more thoroughly appreciated the existing want
or more clearly foresaw the future interests,
our land than Washington. 1t was in pr,
phst'a spirit that he warned us against sue
irregular opposition" to our own free Governmer
the Government we ourselves make and unmal
-as is proposed by Kossuth in his appeal frol
the Government to the people. He knew sue
emissaries would come among u.s. Hence, to-
his memorable warning against "entanglin
alliances " with foreign nations.
The elder Adams said in his Inaugural: 81
is very true that we ought not to involve ourseve
in the political system of Europe but to keep oul
selves always distinct and separate from it, if W
can" at woul
not only be against our own interests, but
would be doing wrong to one half of Europe
least, five should voluntarily throw ourselves int
either SCALE"
Jefferson, in his Third Annual Message, said
Separated by wide ocean from the ration
Of Europe, and from the political interests whic
entangle them together, with productions an
wants which render our commerce and frendshi
useful to them and theirs to us, it cannot be tn
interest Of any to assail us, nor ours to distur
them. We should be most unwise, indeed, wer
we to cast away the singular blessings Of the posi-
ton in which nature has placed us, the opportu
nifty she has endowed US with Of pursuing, at
distance from foreign contentious, the paths Of in
dustry, peace and happiness; of cultvating gen
era friendship, andlo bringing collisions Of inter
est to the umpirage Of reason rather than Of fore.
Ho,o desirable, then, mast it be, i,a a govsrnn.e,
like ours, to see its citizens adopt individual
the views, the interests and the conduct sclie
their country should pursue dipesting them
selves Of those passions and partiaiities schic
tend to lessen useful triendshtps, and to emba,
rass and em6roiI us IN the calamitous scenes {
Europe"
Thus spake Jefferson, and there is world
wisdom in what he said. Citizens may proftabl
read, re-read and digest it,
| Madison tbrouuhout his va r;ous Msoso oo, mi,