Polynesian., 1852-02-14


liberals as one of representatives from Pesth-
The whole force of the Imperial Court was brought
to bear against him. His election would have in
dicated the close of Austrian influence in the King
dom; and as few of the Magyar leaders sympa-
thized with the Austrians in the dread of his radi-
cal views, it is no wonder he was defeated In the
meantime, his paper, the Pesthe Hirlap, thundered
through the valleys of Hungary its fearless denun-
Citations of the Government and invocations to pop
ular self-redress. The old Wasseenyi-blind in
consequence of his cruel incarceration by the Aus
trlans-traveled the country, exciting the popular
mind with the same arguments, if not equal elo-
quence The Diet of 1S47 approached Kossuth
stood candidate for Pesth and in spite of the most
aborious efforts and lavish expenditure of the Pal
atne, was returned triumphantly. His friends pre-
vailed in the Diet and he unauestionably their
leader.
The career of Kossuth-Lajos, for so stands the
name in Magyar parlance, began to ripen at this
epoch to that full fruitfulness which saw its mate
rials in I849. His skill as an orator and debater
were regarded throughout the session as marvel
ous. Laboring constantly, and ready with throng-
ing facts and arguments to back every measure
pointing to the popular good his intellectual pow
er awed and controlled his fellows. Mirabeau rul-
ed the Constituent Assembly with no more despot-
ic sway, than Kossuth the Presburg Diet. When
the news of the Revolution of February, reached
scrlbable. 1t vas the day after, March Sd, 1S4S,
that the great head of the liberals moved his cele-
brated Address to the Throne. His speech elect
rified the assembly. He succeeded in transfusing
his fervent, enthusiastic spirit thoroughly into
every listener. The address was adopted unan-
mously and by acclamation. 1t claimed a reduction
of feudal burdens, with indemnity to those who
should lose by the reduction. The taxes of all
ranks and races were required to be equalized, and
of wis firth
made eligible to the highest offices and honors of
the State. The representation was to be placed on
more comprehensive and equitable basis. And to
secure these and whatever further ameliorations
might be desired native ministerial body was
demanded for the administration of public affairs
Events pressed. The insurrection at Vienna oc-
CURED on the 18th of March, and on the 18th, the
Emperor issued the Constitutions, which conceded
the gifts of liberty and equality to all the of
the empire. The Joy of the Hungarians transcend
ed all bounds. The new Ministry was at once Or
ganized, with Count Louis Batthyani for President
and Louis Kossuth for Minister of Finance. The
Diet proceeded to enact all the reforms that had
been called for, and on the lh of April, after the
adjournment, their acts received the imperial sig
nature and sanction. The people of Hungary, re-
strained only by the nominal property qualification
of $3.50, were admitted without distinction of fam
lily or caste to the privileges of suffrage.
In all the measures, of which have not allud- |
ed to the half, Kossuth was the prize agent.
Every step had been constitutional and taken with
entire Difference to Austrian authority. Not a
sword had been drawn, or threat uttered The
triumph of the people had been as peaceabe as If
was perfect. And the first note of war was due to
the Baron Jellachich, whom the Cabinet of Vienna
had recently, and for their own purposes, named
Ban of Croatia. This individual, at the bidding
of his makers. melted the Servan and Croatian
f,f HfJ1cs Tuln t0 MI
Ia of citation to the Imperial Court, to answer
for his insubordnation and Of disposition from his
Offices and dignities, because he did not comply,
was gone through with but Jellachich continued
without further disturbance, to levy troops, ard
prepare for the invasion of Hungary.
On the 5th of July, the Diet reassembled, and
the Imperial Representative, on behalf of his mas
ter, solenlnly censured the behavior of the Ban.
A few days after, Kossuth applied for grant of
money and authority to raise 100000 men; and
so elogucntly did he urge his proposition that the
assembly arose as one man, and passed the vote
with wild enthusiasm. While the levy pro-
;eeding, affairs began to assume more dangerous
phase. The Austrlans had repressed the Italian
and felt strong enough to throw off
he mask and disclose their genuine feeling to-
wards the Magyars. Jellachich received a friend
Y invitation to Court, the sentence of deposition
was revoked end by the 1st of September, Aus
miserable Servian leader for the instrument of her
wrath. Kossuth utterly exhausted with his patri-
,tic tolls was carried to the Diet, where he deliv
cred a calm but energetic speech upon the proper
course to be pursued in this terrible emergency.
he urged deputation to Vienna, to learn the
wishes and motives ofthe Emperor. The deputa-
ion was dispatched but obtained no satisfactory
answer. Struggling against the popular lndigna-
ion and clamor, Kossuth prevailed in having still
RI do far hut dplpOatpS
we're not even admitted to an audience at Court
t was apparent that no alternative but war could
low be adopted: Kossuth was at once chosen die
ator by the Diet, which at the same time declared
tself permanent. The Count Lemberg, sent inso-
emily and without escort by the Ministry at Wen
Ia, to take command of the Hungarian army, was
murdered by the excited populace of Pesth. The
run.
We cannot pretend to give even an outline of
he subsequent events. The rout and expulsion Of
he invading armies under Jellachich; the occuTa-
ion of Pesth by Windischgratz, win an army of
20,OUO men, IN October; the removal of the Diet
mi seat cf Government to Debreczin; the Decla-
alton of Independence on the 1lth of April, lS49;
nd the retreat of the Austrians before the same
month had ended, were the chief facts of the con-
est far as it lay between the Austrian and Mag
ar. The former were undeniably beaten. The
mpire lay at the feet of the victors and so unable
we're the Hapsburgs to help themselves, that moth
ng but their cry Of distress to the Russians could
ave saved them from dethronement But the lst
f May brought with it the intervention Of the
,zar and yielding at last to a pressure, which
nust have crushed power ten times greater, the
of the struggling Hungarlans was J
rushed and annihilated. L
In all this anliant strife of the people for their
atural liberties, Kossuth was the attracting and