The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-11-12
KossUTH's GREAT SPEECH.

kOssUTH GREAT SPEECH.
Mr. Mayor and Gentemen-In rising to thank
you most heartily and most sincerely for these
noble minded, generous sentiments which you,
Mr. Mayor, were pleased to express, and for the
sharing in that expression of those noble sent
ments by you all, cannot forbear strong emo.
ton, which, however, is not quite subservient to
eloquence. Besides, must say that am quite
unprepared for this opportunity to address such
a distinguished assembly of friends and brothers.
Cheers Though not quite unaccustomed to
speak in my own language, still | must feel it
now double difficulty to address you connect
eddy in English, and therefore permit me for a
moment to ask your indulgence while address
you. feel, gentlemen, that the generous sem
timents you have expressed | can attribute to
nothing else than TO the noble sympathy which
so we'll BELTS the free Englishman for the noble
principle of liberty, [cheers and to the belief
that the cause of Hungary WAS just cause, and
WAS a cause intimately connected with the prn.
ciples of freedom. Cheers. Now, instead of
a vain effort to give you good speech, perhaps
il " ould be better for me to take the liberty to
allow me in plain common manner-still beg
Qing excuses for the faults of my language,
which cannot fail to admit--to give you some
information cheers. about the true nature of
the past struggle in Hungary, because suppose
can be excused to have this egotism-to be
anxious to conserve those generous sentiments,
and believe there can nothing better be done
than by plain common statement of the facts,
without any flourish, or attrbutional pomp, NJ
they passed in Hungary. Cheers. To under
stand exactly the Hungarian cause, it is quite
necessary to be somewhat acquainted with the
true nature of the form of Hungarian institu.
tons You all know that Hungary was for more
= Il.
al monarchy; and perhaps this is no small proof
of the elements of life which in my notion, are
to be found when we consider the geographical
position Of Hungary, and the moral position Of
the native Magyar race an Asiatic people, thrust
into the midst Of European nations, without any
kindred, without any affinity, without any re-
sembance--and when We consider they were
surrounded on all sides by absolute and despotic
power; on one side by Turkey which encroached
for centuries, not only upon civilization but on
religion, and where my poor nation was the bull
wark OF christianity in Europe; on the other
side, the Russian empire, which has, not for the
benefit of mankind cheers grown ND pro-
| dgiously in the one and half century; on the
third side, the Austrian power, not the Austria
of to-day, for that Austrian empire ia a very new
one, but the government of the house of Haps-
burg, which never ftbere be told truth by history
gave one friend to political freedom though
one genius it had, one friend to religious freedom
one friend to the rights of conscience, bat even
he quite in opposition TO the social and political
freedom Of the people-tbe Emperor Joseph III.
This then, was our position. Turkey, Russia,
and Austris, or rather the house of Hapsburg--
by such was Hungary surrounded and besides,
the people, which must ever be considered az the
most firm and mighty bnsis Of greatness and well
fare Of country--[ch cheers land as the most
strong, sure, and powerful safeguard of in lib
erties--the people in Hungary unhappily were
excluded from political rights; they shared not