The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-01-08
WASHINGTON, ID. c.
SPEECH OF DE-. ELDER.

SPEECH VI DIX. ELUEh'
When the tenth toast was read by Mr..
Dallas at the Banquet in Philadelphia on
Friday Evening |
GAynoH and Congratulations who levied
war against honor, their country, and man.
kind
He asked who would reply to that! Dr.
Elder shouted, The American People" Loud
calls were then made for the eloquent Doctor,
and he rose and spoke as follows;
Irise to respond to toast Of those whom
no advocate rises to defend Who shall an
swer to that toastl The American people, If
they permit Kossuth to say his last prayer and
partake of his last supper, and die unassistcd
in his struggle for liberty. The American
people, standing in the place Of Plate, may
wash their hands in innocence, and take their
place with Arnold and Gorgey in the page OF
history.
Sir we hear the doctrine of neutrality.
Who is neutral in the war of the worlds in
terest against the worlds oppressors! Is
America neutrall Is it for this she has grown,
and her power spread When she made her
declaration 10 the world. it was not an insurrec-
cause she proclaimed that all men-nOt mere
" the American people-were free and equal.
We have put the pledge before the world, and
we will redeem It,
Intervention Yes. Intervention for the sake
Of non-intorvcntion. Would this people per-
NIT the Intervention of any power in Europe
or elsewhere in the affairs Of the nations OF this
Continent struggling for their liberty! Ger
tainly they would not. Even the feebest ma
tons may. under the shadow of our frOwn, sit
secure in their nationality Shall we fence in
that principle by the Pacific and Atlantic
Shall we be Indifferent to its obligation where
the call is the most imperative We cannot
stand by in the Indifference of neutrality, and
zee the martyrs of Hungary led to the stake
When the people of Hungary asserted their
right 10 take their place among the nations of
the earth, We rejOiced over them as NO much
gained to the cause Of Republicanism We
believed Hungary was secure. France with
her half hundred revolutions might pass into |
some new form Of Republicanism but Hungary
had that in, her principles her hope, and her
80. ,s7tlt ssts'us the assurance that anoth- [
or child was born into the Iah1ny 81 hstiOnS I
jApp}ause IN the history OF Poland we have
learned moumful lesson and unless we inter
yene now, we shall have to go mourning to the
funeral of European liberty buried through
our own fault
No great man and no great nation is neu-
trail Kossuth himself with all the prudence
with which he has rightfuly and manfully
escaped ENHANCEMENT in our domestic disturb
ances-Kossuth is not neutral in any hour of
his life. From my heart bless him that he
has made great peace between the people of
4 d., ~ no | /
united by common language, faith, and destl-
ny. If Great Britain and the United States
but speak the word, what power on earth will
venture within the terrible shadow of their
power2 Great applause. Declare the doc
trines which he advocates to be the interna-
tional law, to be indicated and enforced by
all the power Of these people, and the peace
society may dlssolye-the great peace is al
ready established Applause.
There is not thing for which ! 30 much
honor KOssuth, rs the fact that he has thought
for and lcgisated for the poor, and he has made
the peasantry of Hungary landholders, and
their title is indefeasible. Great applause. If
he may not live to see the desire of his soul satsf
ed upon Hungary, Though think he will, yet
he will carry with him the blessings of the in
dustrious poor
Sir, it is impossble-I speak from an i'm
pulse in which cannot be deceived-lt il I'M
possible that the sword of Washington shall
rest in its sheath when the worlds battle is to
be fought. ltmay be mere superstition-but
do not think that the battle of liberty, that
was begun in glory by that sword, shall be
clothed in victory by the same weapon and
when the hour comes that the last battle of the
world is to be fought, shall not those stars
and stripes be there? Shall we, who have
watched over the cradle of liberty be in our
dotage when it reaches its full manhood!
Letme conclude by giving you a definition
Non-intervention in the English tongue-NOn-
in the Anglo-Amercan language
let it stand translated into these words "a
fair feld-Austria and Hungary 60 at it-Keep
off your hands to Russia or we will make it a
worlds battle on the banks of the Danube"
Dr. Elder closed amid the cheers and con-
CALCULATIONS of the company, KOssuth joining
in them heartily