Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1852-02-14
THE PROGRESS OF KOSSUTH IN THE
UNITED STATES


We have not attempted to follow VI. kossuth in
his transatlantic rambles. 1t is not our business
to combat the illusions of the American people,
and the political jugglery which was dis
tasteful to the rejecting classes in this country
is perfectly innocuous in the other hemisphere.
Indeed, if anything were wanted to convert the
doubts excited by NJ. Kossuth's exhibitions here
into correct and compile estimate of his true
character and abilities, it would be the grosser
practices upon popular credulity, the more tur-
gid rhetoric, and the more direct appeal to the
purses OF his admirers, which he has adopted
In the United States La each of his parts, at
Marsellles at Southampton, in Copenhagen
fields, at Birmingham, and at New York, he
has shown himself comsummate actor; but,
unlucbily for his real success, behind the parti-
cuar audience which he addressed in these
places, stood the general audience of public
opinion; and the versatility of his talents has
proved the ruin of his character for straightfor-
wardness, consistency, and truth. Even the
excitement created by his arrival in the United
States has not altogether prevailed over the more
sober estimate of his true character; and Kos
suth himself is reported to have confessed, in
the plentitude OF his popular honors, that he is
profoundly mortified at the nullity of the result.
Nevertheless, the impulse given by NJ Kos
suth's harangues to the masses of the popula-
ton in several parts of the Union, and through
these masses to the representatives of the ma
ton, the President, the Senate, and the House
OF Representatives, has acquired sort of poll
teal importance The government of Austria
may, and probably will, treat this ebullition
with indifference; but we more interested
by the effect of these popular demonstrations Oh
the policy of the United States themselves, on
the Presidential election, and on principles
oh, ho,, ~
Washington, to be the basis of the foreign poll
cy of the Union. Hitherto, the American re-
publlcs have shown more than common ieal-
ousy, but jealousy natural to an independent
and hlgh-spirited people, of the slightest for
eIgn influence IN their domestic affairs
The founders OF the commonwealth laid It
down as a maxim that all intercourse with To-
re1gh political bodies was to be avoided, except
tor the purpose of commerce that as the Uni
ted States claimed absolute independence in
their own territories, so they should abstain
from every species of interference with the af-
fairs OF other countries; and that they should
even avoid the contest Of European alliances,
lest the Union be gradually mixed up with the
wars and rivalries of European powers to the
prejudice OF her own pacific policy and republi-
can institutions. M. kossuth, OF, to speak more
justly, the present temper of the American peo-
ple has already done much to shake the autho-
rlty of these wise and dignifed principles
Probably one great reason of the popularity o.
the Hungarian agitator in the United States, IS
that his arrival conceded with an increasing de-
sire of the American people to take more nc
tive part in the political affairs of the world
Certain it is, that at the present time, no doc
trlne Is more vehemently cheered in the assem-
bl1es OF that people than the cry of direct and
universal propagandism. The masses inflated
by these addresses to their national power and
their republican institutions are cheated into a
belief that the political regeneration of Europe
is to proceed from the opposite shore of the At
lantic; and if the election of the next Presi-
dent takes place before this epidemic has passed
Oft, 1t may be foreseen that the foreign policy
OF the future chief magistrate of the Union will
form no unlmportant element in the choice OF
the people. All the candidates for that HIGH
office have already shown disposition to spec
ulate upon this impulse of the popular will
The wings have reluctantly sacrificed official
propriety and their traditional principles to their
dread of unpopularity the Democrats, being
IN opposition, boldly cast themselves upon the
first wave that seems destined to bear them
back to power. Even the Senate of the United
States, the most grave and eminent body in the
nation, sanctioned, by majority of 33 to 6, the
adoption OF course of proceeding towards M. |
kossuth, which Is not only an unprecedented
departure from the comfy of nations, but an in
fraction of what has hitherto been the estab
lished policy of the United States. Moreover.
IN the speeches delivered, with great applause.
on this occasion by General Cass, and other aei-
tators of his stamp, the doctrine of American
in the political affairs of Europe
was openly asserted, under the ridiculous for
mua invented by M. Kossuth, for the use of his
friends In the peace societies of this country, |
VIZ, that Intervention was the only mode to
prevent Intervention, and war to avert war.
These extraordinary proceedings naturally di-
rect our attention to the political influence or
actual power which may be acquired in a free |
nation by foreigner and a refugee, who takes
advantage of the hospitality afforded him to
work upon the character of parties and of pub
lie men, to divert the foreign influence of ma
lion from its own legitimate interest to his pur-
poses, and who would, if he could, engage
great people, to which he does not belong. in !
foreign warfare. Foreign interference in the
l1falrs OF another country is not the less obiec-
'lonable because it comes in the form of an en-
huslastlc appeal to popular sympathy if the eff
ect OF 1t be to sacrifice the practical interests of
he country to the real or imaginary advance
nent OF another State OF to the ambitious de-
signs OF foreign aspirant for power. Whena
party OF creole adventures and American citi-
.ens formed conspiracy to effect what they
ermed the emancipation of Cuba and to obtain
! price for Cuban scrip, nobody ventured to
ioubt latter the failure of the expedition) that
General Lopez had abused the protection and
'iolated the laws of the United States. But
hough the distance and the physical difficulties
re happily far greater in the case of Hungary,
he principle daily violated by NJ Kossuth is
he same. He is employing the influence
which he may acquire over the people of the
American republic to prepare war against So
ereign now at peace with that country, and, if
possible, to dismember foreign empire.
This evil far more injurious to the countries
which such conspiracies are tolerated than to
hose against Which they are directed, is not con-
ned to the United States. The time is past
When M. kossuth can effect either good OF evil
Or Hungary, and it not her cause he is plea
ing but his own. But this Dolitical inAuanca