Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-03-13
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER.
CAN KosSUTH BE SANE :

II is well known that nervous temperament
placed under circumstances of great excitement |
readily passes over into insanity That such is the |
commemorative Kossuth, and such the circumstances
in which for the last four years he has been placed
all the world knows whether they have produced
the natural effect just alluded to is the question on
which we propose.to make few remarks. Were
he privafe Individual it would be In the highest
degree indelicate publicly discuss this subject but
the character which he assumes andthe business rea
tons with the country in which he has placed him
self, make his sanity or insanity very important
public question. As such treat it, but with all
the tenderness due to his talents and his msfor-
tunes.
We forbear TO allude to the scenes at Spezzia and
Marseilles, and to the visit to England, although
there was not little in his conduct these occa-
sions betokening an unsound Judgment But un-
sound Judgment is not technical insanity The so
journ at New York, and The tone of several of his
speeches there---especiaEy that in which he under
took to school the people of America to the mean
ing Of WAsHNGToN's Address--was still more sig
nifcant of very ill-balanced mind. Much allow
ance however might be made for the atmosphere
in which he found himself The imperial city went
mad, and ii could hardly be expected Of the object
of her insensate homage to retain his reason 1t
must however, be allowed that in delaying his visit
to Washington, under the circumstances which
brought him to America and in intimating in some
of his postpraHdial harangues disposition to ap-
peal from the Government to the People, KossUTH
showed if nothing else, an utter ncaPecity for busi
ness, and total ignorance Of the character of the
People of America. GENET met with Indifferent
in his attempt to play that game, although
he was the Minister Of the terrible Republic We for
bear to point out the difference of the circumstances
under which Kossuth appeared among us.
But all this shows only that he is person utterly
destitute of prudence and capacity for business be-
sides beng very Iadvised by the busy persons who
took ham In hand, and many of whom had in view
nothing but their own glorifcation. 1t is since his
arrival in Ohio that the strongest indications of mental
deficiency have been given What shall be said, for
instance, of Kossuth's finding wonderful coinci-
dence in the fact that he was born the day that
Ohio was admitted into the Union as State? This
piece Of sentimentalism might appropriately enrich
a biUetdou1 addressed to grl at boarding school
but for statesman, second Washington
But we must advert to more serious matters.
During his visit to Ohio some steps have been Ia
ken, and openly proclaimed by him, in reference to
his mission" which seem to conclusive as to
the question of sanity.
What is his object, according to his showing,
repeated in every form Of words of which the Ian
guage is capable, in the two or three hundred
speeches which he has made since he landed 1t is
to procure material aid :; that is cash, arms, and
ammunition to be used in another conflict with |
Austria. That Government, it is well known, has
very large army, some half million of troops, on
foot, commanded by very able Generals Her finances
are prosperous but she has within the last four
years made prodgous military efforts on both sides
of the Alps She is in close alliance with Russia,
another still more powerful military State, capable
of marching at short notice three hundred thousand
men in any direction. Prussia, with army nearly
equal though not cordially sympathizng with Aus
tra in respect to the political organization of Ger
many, might be depended upon to aid her Of aid
were necessary in putting down general insurrec-
tonary movement So also might France under her
Dictator 1t is not likely that Louis Napoleon who
would not leu KAssuth and his family pass through
France to England, wound ~annive at any attempt
which he might make to proclaim r1pasl.. 10
Hungary any where else. Here, then, the
Powers against which Kossuth is seeking material
aid" This is the force on one side what is the
force on the other?
1t will be said that England and America can be
depended upon. For what For sincere sympathy no
doubt England and the United States would deeply
deplere the miseries which renewed struggle would
infict on Hungary. If contest were now going on,
it would have our best wishes for its success The
attempt represent those who will not join the po-
pular cry (or what soas the popular cry) on this
subject as friendly to despotism is rank nonsense
Nobody is friendly to despotism in this country or
in England; but if NJ Kossuth has ever supposed
that either in England or the United States he
would get dollar from the Government
he has by this time discovered his error All that
he will get in either country to aid him in his cru
SADIE against the great military monarchies Of the
continent will be good wishes and fowery speeches
Seeing this, admitting this, he has done in
substance, he proposes to go to war !" on his own
hook" Here, in the United States, on the other
side Of the globe from Hungary, he, private indi
vidua disavowed by three of his former Ministerial
colleagues, is undertaking, with the contributions to
be picked up at Niblo's and Tripler Hall, and the
funds to be raised by issue of assignat to orga-
nize preparations for war against the Continent of
Europe Is this the project of sane man ?
And what has he done by way Of carrying this
project into effect (for he is very iudiciousy pub
fishing to the world the steps he is taking Is He
has purchased contracted for thirty or forty thou
sand muskets, at two dollars piece, and has made
bargain for twelve hundred saddles in Cincinnati
And what is to be done with the two dollar muskets
and five dollar saddles Who is to use them
There is not man on foot IN Hungary to resist the
Government. And three Of NJ Kossuth' colleagues
in the Ministry have publicly stated that he is not
now clothed with any official authority, and conse-
quently not authorized TO enlist man. If he had
all the authority which he possessed before his alb
dicaton he could not enlist man in the United
States nor, if he enlisted him, could he get him into
Hungary The moment the Government Of the