The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-11-23
The Hungarian ExiIes and the Irish
ExiIes.


Exiies.
In many respects there is q remarkable parallel
between the Hungarian and the Irish exiles, while
there is a striking difference in the light in which
they are both regarded in England, as well as in
tie fate that has attended these illustrious men.
The great leader of the Hungarian revolution is
a Protestant. He found his counsrymen-the
great majority of whom are Catholics -groaning
under the yoke of Austrian despotism. He went
at first for constitutional government, under
monarchy, and, when that effort failed by peace
able means, he struck blow for republicanism,
which dazzled the world Oceans of blood were
shed in the struggle = it failed, partly by
treachery, and partly by the overwhelming hordes
of Russia throwing their weight into the Aus
trian scale. Kossuth, and many of his imme-
date friends escaped into Turkey, where, how.
ever, they were held in captivity. BY the &C
tive Interpolation of British influence, these
brave men were finally released. An American
frigate conveyed them to freedom. They have
been feted as heroes in England and kossuth
praises the municipal institutions of that country
as the basis of the freedom of this. He is
right. The Magma ChaIta is the foundation OF
the liberty we enjoy-the germ brought by the
voyagers in the Mayfower across the waves, and
transpantedinto this great sol where it has grown
70 tree of freedom, under whose shadow the out
casts, the prosecuted, the suffering, and the poor
Of other lands, may take refuge and repose. The
difference between the two countries is this-In
England, the growth Of freedom has been stunted
and obstructed by the pernioious inf 1ences Of an
aristocracy, and the great principles Of Magma
Cherta have not been carried out to their legiti-
mate conclusion. Here, on the contrary, there is
10 aristocracy, and the people emphatical make
their own laws; and the result is that we have not
only the theory OF freedom bat its practical real
izaton and all the glorious results that aow from
il. The case Of Ireland, mere province Of Great
Britain, is an example of theoretical liberty in q
country where oppression abounds.
At one time Ireland, like Hungary, possessed
constitution Of its own an. parliament which had
the regulation Of its mum ,ipal affairs. Under that
constitution, ard that parliament Ireland fourished
for the eighteen years that they existed perhaps
no country of Europe did in so brief space of
time In an evil hour the Irish parliament, cor
rup,ed by English gold, committed suicide,
and, under the legal fiction Of union with
England, the country relapsed into its former
degradation, misery, ard poverty, till nov stands,
with all its beautiful scenery, and all its great fer
tty and natural resources the darkest spot on the
face OF the globes and famine aud fever annually
carry eff their thousands. Within the last few
wears, the country, instead Of advancing in po
pulation has receded and 1t is ascertained, by par
Eamentary returns, that 40 millions and o aa!f
have been swept away by the "bes'm Of desttuc-
ton Here, then, was provocation aimos, too
great for human nature TO bear; bat 1t was
ore that did net enter into the wrongs and g.ie-
van :es Of which the Huagarians and Kossuth had
70 complain.
William Smith O'Brien, a man Of aristocratic
birth and breeding, Protestant, man who had a
roul to feel for the wrongs and the su,rngs Of his
fellow-countrymen-a man of irreproachable cha
rscter which even the breath Of SANDER did not
venture to taiut-he and the heroic John Nit
chel, another Protestant, with some other brave
men, seeing the depth Of misery in which their Ca
ttolic fenow-counrymen were stepped, conceived
the design Of revolution as the last resort, after
every appeal to justice and humanity had been ex
hausted They failed. John Mitchell was tried
and convicted a. "felon" for words spoken, under
a special act of Parliament very inconsistent with
Magma Charta and the principles which triumphed
IN the revolution Of I6SS. He avowed himself
REPUBLICAN. He was transported and treated
as a robber; and by late intelligence we End
that he has been subjected - ignominious
punishment, as unnecessary as it is unjust. Smith
O'Brien and some others followed his fate.
OBrien was not only convicted for words
spoken, but was tried for high treason and con-
victed and if the sentence Of the law had been
carried out, he would have been hanged, drawn,
and CHARTERED The sentence was commuted
He was transported. What did he do He she'd
no blood, like Kossuth. 1t Is true he stormed the
house Of the widow Mccormack, at Ballingary, In
which q few policemen took refuge from the half
armed rabble that followed him as body guard
to protect him from arrest under the suspension Of
the habeas corpus act, and not to create or even
commence a revolution. But his hu nanity would
not suffer q single life to be taken when il could
serve no good purpose. The object was to keep
him at large till the harvest was reapsd. But the
British government were too powerful and too
prompt they nippsd the pient revolution in the
bud and there's not the slgates. danger Of another
attempt during the lifetime Of John Mitchell and
smith O'Brien.
The question now comes up-why keep these
men any longer ia Punishment and slavery
British laws are not vindiciive. No object can be
served By the continued imprisonment Of the Irish
patriots. Great Britain would sho- her magma
rimity as well as her consistency by striking of
their letters. In the eyes Of the civilized world
in the sight Of England herself they are less guilty
(H guilt it be) than KOssuth, whose release from
captivity she Effected, and whom she now delights
to honor. IN both cases the offences committed are
political, and il the British government would Fus
the same termination TO both, aud set their own
csptives Free they would be applauded for the act
BY every good msn in the Old World aud the New.
SrnscRirTIoSs FOR THB PROPOSED lRfsH UN-
vERsITY We hope the silly and ridiculous speech
made BY Archbishop Hughes, at the meeting in the
Stuyvesan. Institute, the other evening, vii no.
impair the no7emsn. commenced Ia this country,
BY the Two respectable clergymen depvsed By The