The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1851-12-24
Number 40.

the link OF your friendly connection with
Frances connection, the result Of which
were two French fleets Of more than thir.
" light men OF war, three thousand gal
liant men. who fought side by side with you
against Cornwail,s. before Yorktown; the
precious gill Of twenty-iour thousand mus
kets, a loan Of nineteen millions of dol.
lars, and even the preliminary treaties Of
your glorious peace, negotiated at Paris
by your immortal Franklin. e
| hope the people OF the United States,
now itself in the happy condition to aid
those who are in need Of aid, as itself was
once in need. will kindly remember those
facts; and you. citizens Of New York, and
you will yourselves become the Lafayette's
Of Hungary. Lafayette had great claims
10 your love and sympathy, but have
none. come an humble petitioner, with
no other claims than those which the OPP
pressed have TO the sympathy Of free men.
who have the power to help; with the claim
which the unfortunate has to the happy;
and the down-trodden has TO the protec.
on OF eternal justice and Of human rights.
In word, | have no other claims than
those which the oppressed principle Of free.
dom has to the aid of victorious liberty.
Then would hdlnbly ask, are these claims
sufficient to ensure your generous Protec-
ton, not to myself but to the cause Of my
native land-not to my native land only,
but to the principle of freedom in Europe's
continent, OF which the independence Of
Hungary is the indispensable keystone.
II you consider these claims not sufficient
to your active and operative sympathy,
then let me know at once that the hopes
have failed with which Europe's oppressed
nations have looked to your great, mighty
and glorious rspublic--let mo know at
once the failure of our hopes, that may
hasten back and tell Europe's oppressed
nations, "Let US fight, forsaken and single,
handed, the battle of Leonidas; let US trust
t. God, to our right. and to our good sword;
there is no other help for the oppressed
nations on earth" - -. <ssaxE -.. .
But if your generous republican hearts
are animated by the high principle Of free.
dom and OF the solidarity in the destinies
of humanity--if you have the will, as, to
be sure. you have the power, to support the
cause OF freedom against the sacriligious
league OF despotism, then give me some
days Of calm reflection 10 become ac-
quainted with the ground upon which
stand--let me take the kind advice of some
active friends on the most practical course
| have to adopt--let me see if there be
any preparatory steps taken in favor Of
that cause which have the honor to rep
resent; and then let me have new op-
portunity to expound before you my hum
BILE requests in practical way. | conf.
dently hope, Mr.. Mayor, the corporation
and ctizenssof the Empire city will grant
me the second opportunity. If this be
your generous will then let me take this
for boon of happier days; and let mo
add, with sigh Of thanksgiving to the
Almighty God, that it is your glorious
country which Providence has selected to
be the pillow of freedom, as it is already
the asylum 10 oppressed humanity.
| am told that win have the high honor
to review your patriotic militia Oh, God!
how my heart throbs at the idea to see this
gallant army enlisted on the side OF free
dom against despotism; the worldI would
be free, and you the saviors of humanity.
And why mot! These gallant men take
part in the mighty demonstrations of the
day. proving that | was right when said
that nowadays even the bayonets think.
Citizens OF New York. it is under YOUR
protection that place the sacred cause of
freedom and independence Of Hungary.