Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1852-02-11

Conclusion Of KOssuth's Speech at
the Congressional Banquet.

Conclusion Of KOssuth's Speech at
the Congressional Banquet.
We Hungarians are very fond Of the prinei-
pie Of municipal self-government, and we have
a natural horror against the principle of CEN
tralization. That fond attachment to munich
pal selfgovernment without which there is no
provincial freedom possible, is fundamental
feature of our national character. We brought
it with us from far Asia, thousand years ago,
and We conserved it throughout the vcissitudes
of ten centuries No nation has perhaps so
| much struggled and suffered from the civilized
Christian world. as We We do not complain
Of this lot. 1t may he heavy, but it is
not inglorious Where the cradle Of our Sa-
viour Stood and where his divine doctrine was
founded, there now another faith rules, and the
whole Of Europe's armed pilgrimage could not
| avert this fate from that sacred spot, nor stop
~ ruahl Eevss Of .Islamism absorbing the
Cksf sof Constantine. Wsstopped
fthsse rushing waves. The'breast Of my nation
proved breakwater to them. We guarded
Christendom. that Luthers or Calvins might
reform it. 1t was dangerous time, and the
| dangers of the time often placed the confidence
of all my nation into one mans hand, and their
confidence gave power into his hands to become
ambitious.
But there was not single instance in histo
ry where man honored by his peoples conf
dsnce had deceived his people by becoming am
bilious. The man out of whom Russian diplo-
macy succeeded in making the murderer of his
nations confidence-he never had it, but was
rather regarded always with distrust. But he
gained some victories when victories were the
moments chief necessity. At the head of an
army, circumstances placed him in the capaci-
ty to ruin his country. But he never had the
peoples confidence. So, even he is no contra.
diction TO the historical truth, that no Hunga,
rian whom his nation honored with its conf
dence was ever seduced by ambition to become
dangerous to his country's liberty. That is a
remarkable fact, and yet it is not accidental
1t is the logical consequence of the influence OF
institutions upon the national character.
Our nation, through all its history, was edu.
Gated in the school of municipal self-govern.
ment, and in such a country, ambition having
no field, has also no place in mans character
The truth of this doctrine becomes yet more il
Illustrated by quite a contrary historical fact in
France. Whatever have been the changes o.
Government in that great country, and many
there have been, to be sure, we have seen
Convention, directorate of Consuls, and one
Consul. and an Emperor, and the Restoration
was the fundamental tone of the institution o
France. Power always centralized; Omnipo
tence always vested somewhere, and remarka
BILE, indeed, France has never yet raised thu
single man to the seat of power, who has no
sacrificed his country's freedom to his persona
ambition. 1t is sorrowful, indeed, but it ma
tural. ..s.......
1t is in the garden of Capitalization where tn
venomous plant of ambition thriyes. / dar
confidently affirm that in your great countr.
there exists not single man through whos'
brains has ever passed the thought that h
would wish to raise the seat of his ambition
upon the ruins of your country liberty. If HI
could. such wish is impossible in the United
States. Institutions react upon the characte
of nations. He who sows the wind will reaI
the storm. History is the revelation of Provi
dence. The Almighty rules by eternal laws
not only the material but the moral world, ant
every law is a principle and every principle il
law. Men, as we'll as nations, are endowed
with free will to choose principle, but tina
once chosen the consequences must be abided
With self-government is freedom, and with free
dom is justice and patriotism. With centrali
cation is ambition, and with ambition dwells
despotism.
Happy your great country. Sir, for being Sc
warmly addicted to that great principle of self
government. Upon this foundation your faith
ers raised home Of freedom more gloriou.
than the world has ever seen. Upon this foun
dation you have developed it to living won
der of the world. Happy your great country
Sir. that it was selected by the blessing of th'
Lord, to prove the glorious practicabilty of /:
federatlve union of many sovereign States, al
conserving their State rights and their self 60
vernment, and yet united in one. Every sta
beaming with its own lustre, but altogether on,
constellation on mankind's canopy.
Upon this foundation your country has grow,
to prodigious power in a surprising brief pc
riod. You have attracted power in that. You
fundamental principles have conquered NOR
in Is years than Rome by arms in centuries
Your principles will conquer the world. By
the glorious example of your freedom. welfar,
and security mankind is about to become con
scious Of its aim. The lesson you give human
ity will not be lost, and the respect of the Stat.
rights in the Federal Government of Americ,
and in its several States, will become an in
structive example for universal federation, for
bearance and justice. to the future States ant
Republics If Europe.
Upon this basis will be got rid of the myste
rious question of language and nationalitie
raised by the cunning despotisms of Europe t.
murder Liberty and the smaller States will fin,
security in the principles of federative union
while they will conserve their national freedom
by the principles Of sovereign self government
and while larger States, abdicating the princi
pie of centralism, will cease to be bloodfel
to sanguinary usurpation and tool to the am
bition of wicked men, municipal institution
will insure the development of local particula
elements.
Freedom. formerly an abstract political the
ory, will become the household benefit to mt
inequalities, and out of the welfare and content
ment of all parts will flow happiness, peace an
and security for the whole. That is my chez
ished hope. There will at once subside tn
nfG Gar,,.ny,. s,eo u