The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-03-09

IN ""o VIC otlcI udy dt InuldnapOllS
where he had an interview with representative
OF the editorial and typographical fraternity O
Indiana. The State Sentinel has report of tn,
interview, which was opened with an edtoria
Grafton on the freedom of the American press
and on the blessings which flow through tina
freedom to dark and benighted world Kos
sUrH, In his reply, expressed his appreciation o
the compliments which the press had bestowed
upon the press, but demurred somewhat I,
their wholesale application. He remarked
:" have full reason to state that am highly in
debted to the American press; but your assertion
that wherever go in the United States will fine
friends among all those associated with the press
am sorry to say, is not quite true. take this op.
portunity to say that there is power on earth
working secretly to break down every principle Of
liberty, but first, the liberty of the press Where
ever there Is triumph of absolutistica powers il
Is achieved through the corruption Of the press
Better people have press than a corrupted
press. Enthusiastic applause Because the
press Is everywhere powerful to speak free word
wherever the word order in its true sense, is not
opposed to absolutistical influence one part of the
press is corrupted. 1t is not because in America
all the press docs not support my principles-my
opinons-that it has illuminated my character
say this; but that in republican America can be
anywhere found press to employ every means
with pertinacity that would honor just cause
to support Russia and Austria is something be-
yond all that have been able to imagine"
In other words, KossUTH attributes the op-
position he has encountered from large Dor
ton of the American press to corrupt influ-
ences exercised by absolutist agencies upon
It's conductors. lie repudiates the idea that
the imputation proceeds from personal pique ;
but the verbal disclaimer is worth little,
in view of the plain purport of the context,
and of the actual complaint presented in the
first sentence.
The attempt of kossUTH to confound opposi-
ton to his schemes with support of Russian or
Austrian absolutism. is on par with the charge
of corruption, and is about equally credtable to
his candor and discernment. Up to the mo
ment of his arrival in this country, the press
was as nearly as possible unanimous in lis de-
sire to do him honor as an exile in the cause
OF freedom. With but single exception, we
believe the press of the United States had taken
ground in favor of Hungary, though none had
ever dreamed of making that friendliness the
ground of departure from our established foreign
policy. kossUTH may thank himself for the
change that soon afterwards took place in the
tone of journals of all parties His reckless,
overbearing, injudicious zeal-not Austrian or
Russian influences-produced the alteration;
and that 1t has every day become more marked
and decided must be attributed solely to his own
unseemly persistence in course Of conduct at
variance with the settled opinions and the we'll
established practice Of the country.
Whatever kossUTH may say to the contra
ny, we feel assured that the press, as a whole,
has done It's duty in relation to him. 1t was
cordial and friendly so long as he was entitled
to cordiality and friendship; it grew cool as he
became violent; and when he threw off the
DISCUSSES which at first encompassed him, it as
sumed an attitude befitting the occasion, and
from then till now has resisted his efforts with
a firmness which has Invested them Of all mis-
chief They who stood up first to warn their
countrymen Of the tendency and danger of his
teachings, now find themselves parts Of vast
majority while the journals which went the
whole length Of his doctrines seek to regain
character by silence. In December, the New
York Tribune predicted that within three
months the Republic would have reason TO re-
greet It's opposition to the movement then in its
heyday. The three months have nearly
passed, and the TriJ,me-not the Republic
experiences the effects Of the prediction The
maledictons have returned home 10 roost.