The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-11-20
ADDRESS OF KOSsUTH
no the PeOple OF the United States OF NORTH
America.
America.
[rRANsLATIoN.

would be only an humble citizen, held in my
hands the destiny OF tho regning house OF austria
Had been ambitious, or had believed that this
treachervus family were so baeely Wicked as tlley
afterwards proved themselves TO be, the totterng
Dillars of their throne would have fallen at my
command and buried the crowned traitors benca'i
their ruins or would have scattered them like dus'
before tempest, homeless exiles, bearing hotnihg
but the remembrance of their pcrhdy' ana t Hl9s
royalty which they ought to have lost
own wickednees. ia. &,
l. however, did not take advantage OF tHese ID
vorable circumstance though the eh'lIc e @
Of my dear native land was the oIly rs ats
heart NV requests were OF that modeIate ha'u'e
which in The condition of Hungary and Europe,
seemed best fitted for my countrymen' aSkeu ol
the King, not the complete lhdePehHehoe ~ NY
behaved country--not even any new rlghs OF
nrivile0es-but simply these three things;
First. That the inalienable rights sanctioned by
a thousand years, and by the constitution oil my
fatherland, should be guaranteed py halohale anu
responsible administration.
Second. That every inhabitant of my country,
without regarding language or religion, should
be free and equal before the laval classes having
the same privileges and protection from the law
Third. That all the people Of the Austrian EN-
pire that acknowledged the same person as EInpe,
ror whom we Hungarans recognised as King, ana
the same law of succession, should have restored
their ancient constitutional rights, OF which they
had been uniustly despoed, modified to suit their
wants and the spirit of the age.
The fret demand was not for any new granl or
concession, but simply fresh guarantee. In lie
arrangement made with our ancestors, wnen, py
their free will, they elevated the mousse Oh maps
burg to the throne, a condition was made that the
King should preserve the independence and con,
stituton of the country. This independence and
this constitution the very vitality OF our ma
tional being. During three centuries twelve Kings
of the house of Hapsburg had sworn, in the pres
ence of the eternal God, before ascending the
throne, that they would preserve our independence
and the constitutions and their lives Is buta history
of perpetual and accursed perjury. Yet such con-
duct did not weaken fidelity. No nation ever
manifested more iaithiulness to their rulers ANA
Ill.,, ma 10 Rnd q ~
fees often at the expense OF our national welfare
though these Kings in times of peace drew their
support from US, and in times of war or danger re-
lied upon the unconquerable strength of our army
though we ever trusted in their words-they de-
ceived US thousand times, and made our condi-
ton worse.
While other nations were able to apply all their
energies to promote the general welfare and to de-
veop their means of happiness, we had to stand on
guard, like the watchmen mentioned in Scripture,
for three centuries, to prevent our treacherous
Kings from destroying entirely the foundation OF
our national exlstence-our constitution ana lhue
pendence.
!, as the representative of my countrymcn, asked
nothing more than constitutional ministry, whose
responsibility would prevent the King from viola-
ing his oath.
The second demand was still less for any politi-
cal right We asked for nothing more than re-
form in the internal administration of the state-a
simple act of justice which the aristocracy owed
the people. And in this how much the King would
have gained The strength of his throne would
have been increased tenfold by thus winning the
affections of his faithful people.
The third demand was prompted by humanity
and fraternal feeling. Ii was the proper and holy
mission of our nation, as the oldest member OF the
empire, and possessing a constitutional form OIL
government raise its voice in behalf of those SIS
ter nations under the same ruler, and who were
united to US by many ties OF relationship. Low
ers of freedom, would not ask liberty for our
selves alone; would not boast OF privileges that
others did not enjoy but desired TO be iree IN lei
lowshp with free nations around us. This motive
lnsDlred by the CONVICTION that two CROWNS
constitutional and despotic crown-could not
be worn by the came head-no more than two OPP
posing dispositions can harmonlZe In the same
breast, or thata man be good and evil at the
same time.
The King and royal family granted these re-
quests appealing to the sanctty of their oaths as
guarantee of their fultilment; and !, weak in my
SELF but strong through the confidence of my coun-
trymen and the noble sympathy OF the Austrian
people, proclaimed everywhere, amidst the raging
storm of revolution, that "the house OF Austria
should stand for, by the blessing of the Almighty,
it had begun to move in the right direction, and
would be just to its people" 1t stood, and stood,
too at time when, whatever might have been the
fate of Hungary, the revolutionary tempest under
my direction would have blown away this antiquat
ed and helpless dynasty like chatf before the
winds of heaven.
| not only preserved the house of. Austria, but
placed in its hands the materials of long and glo
rious future-the foundation of an indestrucube
power in the affection Of thirty millions OF
people. / rendered them the fidelity and assist
ance of my own heroic Hungary, which alone was
able to defend them against the assaults OF the
world. ] afforded them the glorious opportunity
more glorious than had ever been presented be-
fore-of establishing impregnable barrier to
protect freedom, civilization, and progress against
the Cossack power which now threatens Europe
To attain this honor, this glory, one thing only
was necessary-tbat they should remain faithful
to their oaths. But when was il that Austria was
not treacherous? We lock in vain for as much
honor as is found even among robbers IN the Hap5-
burg family.
On the very day they signed the grant Of those
moderate demands of the hungarian people, and
solemnly swore before God and the nation to main
tain them they secretly resolved and planned the
most cruel conspiracy against US They deter
mined to break their oaths, to desolate the land
with insurrection, conHa grafton, and blood, TILL
feeble and exhausted under the burden of thou
sand miserics, Hungary might be struck from the
roll Of living nations They then hoped, by the
power OF the bayonet, and, if necessary, by the
arms of Russia, to erect united and consolidated
empire, like the Russian, of sixteen various ma
tions; they hoped TO realize their long conceived
purpose of making themselves absolute power.
Never many hellish arts used against a
nation before. Not suspecung counter-r evolu-
ton or an attack we were not prepared to defend
ourselves, when suddenly we were surprised by
danger. The perfdious Hapsburgs, destitute Of all
shame, and rejoicing in the anticipation of an easy
victory, hestated not to disclose before the civil
lied world their horrible plans-to subjugate US by
the force Of arms to excite hatred of race, to call
in the aid of robbers, incendiaries, and reckless in
surgents.
AT this crisis of great danger, when many of our
this decree of destruction, stood among these who
called the nation to arms. And, contidng in a
Just God, we cursed the towards who were prepar-
ing to abandon their native land, to submit to a
wicked despotsm, and to purchase miserable ex-
istenceby sacrificing liberty called the nation
to arms in selfdeience. / acted not with blind
presumption; and emotions of despair found no
place in my breast-for he who despairs is not fit
TO guide people. ! estimated the valor and power
of my country, and on the verge of fearful strug
gle ] had faith to promise victory, If Hungary
would remain true to herself, and orfy her bresst
with the impulsive fire Of a strong will
To sustain the stern resolution to combat such an
enemy, supported. first, above every
thing, by unshaken confidence in God, whose
ways past finding out, but whosupports the right,
and blesses the cause of an honest people fighting
the holy desire Of liberty, which make the child a
giant and increase the strength of the valiant
and, thirdly, by your example, noble Americans =
you, the chosen nation OF the God OF Liberty
My countrymen--a religious, a God.venerating
peope-in whose hearts burned the all powerful