The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-11-26
Koasutll,s speech at Manchester.
[Abridgsd.l

DeOpIO NIanCnCsIeT,
cause of humanity not in my name, but IN the
name of the oppressed nations ICbeers Since
my arrival on England's happy shores nave peen
continual opportunity for the pronunciau!on 81
that public opinion on that question the solution OF
which ia osiensibly (apparently) looked to by
Providence to be the task OF our times-the ques-
ton which will decide the fate OF mankind Tor cen
turtles. This question ID none oil scanty or parllal
interest. Ii is none of u noble confederation for
the misfortuncs of an individual or OF one country
Ii Is question OF universal interest In which every
country every people, equally interested-I
say equally interested. There may be difference
as 10 the succession of times in which one or other
nation will be affected by that unavoidable conse-
quence of this question; but affected they really are
one u day sooner, or one day later than anotherj
il is a mere question of time No country, how
ever proud its position, but chiefly none within
the boundary of the Christian family and OF Euro
pean civilization, can avoid that share OF the con
sequences of this all comprehensive question, which
will decide the approximate fate OF humanity
scarcely need to say that this comprehensive ques
ton is, whether Europe shall be ruled ny tne prih
cipe Of freedom or by the principle OF despot-
isn-[sFreedom, freedomp'l-or to BRING more
home, in practical way, to your generous hearts
that idea of freedom, the question Is whether Eu
rope shall be ruled by the principle oil centrallza-
ton, or by the principle OF self-government,
(cheers,l because self government ID freedom
and Capitalization is absolutism. snail freedom
die away for centuries, and mankind become no
thing more than the blind instrument of the am
bition of some few; shall the print OF servitude
be wiped out from the brow OF humanity, and
become
strumcnt to its own forward progress! [Cheers.l
Wo, hundred fold wo 10 every nation which, con-
hdent-n it's proud position OF to-day, would care
lessly regard the comprehensive struggle OF those
great principles 1t is the mythical strugglebewee
heaven and hell To be blessed or to be damned
ia the fate of ALL there is no transaction between hea
and hell Wo thousand fold wo, to every nation
which would not embrace within its sorrows and
its cares the future, but only the passing moment
of the present time; in the flashing OF a moment
the future becomes present, and the objects OF our
present labors have passed away. AS the sun
throws mist betorethe sun rises. 30 the spirit OF
the future ID seen in the events OF the present.
There are some who endeavor to contract the de-
monsrations of sympathy which have mad the
honor to meet to the narrow scale OF personality
saw that the very source of these demonstrations
is the instructive feeling of the People-lhear,
hear l-that the destiny OF mankind has come TO
the turning point of centuries IT ID the cry OF alarm
upon the osensbe approach of universal DANGER
It is the manifestation of the instinct OF self-Preser-
walton, reused by the instructive knowledge OF the
fact that the decisive struggle, the destiny OF Eu
rope, near, and that no people, no country,
can remain unaffected by the issue of this great
struggle of principles. [Applause.l
The despotic governments of Europe feel their
approaching DEATH and therefore they Will come
to the death struggle. And | hope this struggle
is unavoidable; and because it is called forth by
them il will be the last in mankind's history That
is the state of the case, conceive it, gentle
men. II is not my individuality-it Ia not my
presence-which has aroused any feeling or senti-
ment; am nothing but the opportunity which elicit
ted the hidden spark-the opportunity at which the
existing instructive appreciation OF approaching
danger caused in every nation the cry to burst
forth--the loud cry of horror. Or, else, how could
the most sklfu sopbis explain the TACT oil the
unvcrsaty Of these demonstrations, not restricted
to where am present-not restricted to any eli
mate--not restricted to the peculiar character oil
people-not restricted to a State organization,
but spreading through the world like the puisation
of one heart, like the spark OF heavens lightning
The addresses, full OF the most generous senu
ments, which am honored with in England, are
the effects of my presence; but am but the spark
which kindles feeling which has long existed
from the people of the metropolis down to the soh
tary hamlets, hidden by neighborng mountains
from the business of public life. Applause And
ia not restricted even to Englandthere ia the public
OF the United States, Applause Italy, France, the
noble English garrison in Gibraltar, the warm
hearted Portuguese have all joined in these views
and. on the very day when deputation came over
to England to honor me with the greeting OF BEL
gum-that lofty monument of the love OF freedom
and of it's indomitabe force-evcn on that very day
got the knowledge of similar demonstration in
Sweden-the future left wing OF the forces oil
freedom.
A philosopher was once questoncd-how could
he prove the existence Of God? "Why," answered
he, "by opening my eyes. God ID seen every
wherein the growth Of the grass, and in the move
ments of the stars; in the warbng of the lark, and
in the thunder of heaven loud applause
Even 80 prove that the decisive struggle in man
kinds destiny draws near; appeal to the sight OF
your eyes, appeal 10 the pulsations OF your near
and to the judgments of your minds. You know,
you see, you feel that the Judgment is drawing
near. loud applause How blind are those men
who have the affectation to assert that 1t is only
certain men who push to revolution the continent
of Europe which, but for their revolutionary acts
would be quiet and contented. [Laughter.l Con-
tenteds [Renewed laughter.l With whata loud
and long shouts of laughter With oppression and
servitude? France contented, with its constitution
subverted? Germany contented, with being but
fold of sheep, pent up to be shorn by some thirty
petty tyrants? loud cheers and laughter. Swit,
xerand contented, with the threatening ambition OF
encroaching despots? Italy contented, with the
King OF Naples; or with the priestly government OF
Rome, the worst of human inventions! ICheers ]
Austria, Rome Prussia, Russia, Dalinatia, con-
tensed with having been driven to butchery, and
after having been deceived, plundered, oppressed,
and laughed at as fools? Poland contented with
being murdered? [Cries of indignation Hun
gary, my poor Hungary, contented with being
more than murdered-buried alive! loud cries;
for il ia alive. Energetic cheering What
feel is but weak pulsation OF that feeling winch
pervades the breasts of the people OF my country.
fCheers Russia contented with slavery? Hear. ]
Vienna contentedf Lombardy, Pesth, Milan, Ven
ice, Russia, Prague, contented; contented with
having been ignominiously branded, burned,
plundered, sacked, and its population butcheredf
Half of the European continent contented with the
scaffold, with the hangman, with the prison, with
having no political rights at all, but having to pay
innumerabe millions tor the highly beneficial pur-
poses of being kept in state OF serfdom? lCheers
That is the condition of the continent OF Europe
Ihear, hear land ID 1t not RIDICULOUS ana apsuI
in to pirate about individuals disturbing the
peace and tranquility of Europe'
Now, hope, with your generous aid to sue
coed. Firstly because there ia in the United
States great party which Processes the inclina-
ton, the propensity, to unto with England in n
policy towards the world Secondly because the
fate of Hungary has already contributed some
what to effect this union; by uniting as brothers
they have rescued me from capuvity and 80 may
set 1t matter of fact that the first great step
towards this union is already made. And thirdly,
because all depends on an exact definition. In
the United States ruling principle ia that OF non
intervention in European matters. say 1t Is very
wise in ihose who established principle to follow
il out; but neither those who established, those
who followed il, aware of the meaning it had;
their principle was the intervention, the recogni-
ton, the acknowledgement of the right OF every
nation to dispose of its own domestic concerns.
IApplause.l And they held IL rs right not to in
terare in the internal affairs Of any country; il
such a country choose-to be republic, it shall be;
il IL choose TO be monarchy, it shall be; if it
CHI In n avap do