Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1852-05-21
Kossuth's Speech at Bunker lii.


My voice shrinks from the task 10 min
gle with the awful pa,hos OF that majesti
orator, (pointing to the Monument.) Si'en
like the grave, and yet melodous like th
song OF Immortality upon tie lips Of
cherublm-a senseless cold gr ante, an
ye! warm with inspiration like a patriot
heart-immovable like the past, and ye
stirring like the future, which never stops
it looks like prophe. and speaks like al
oracle. And thus it speaks:
"The day | commemorate is the roc
with which the hand of the Lord has
opened the well of Liberty. Its waters
will flow; every new drop Of martyr blood
will increase the tide. Despots may dam
its flood but never stop it. The higher
its dam the higher its tide; it will over.
flow or will break through. Bow and
adore, and hepe."
Such are the words which come TO my
ears. and bow, l adore, hope.
10 bowling my eyes meet the soil Of
Bunker Hill that awful opening scene Of
the evenlful drama to which Lexington
and Concord had been the preface.
The spirits of the past rise before my
eyes. | see Richard GirdIy hastily
planning the entertainments. hear the
blunt sound Of the pickaxe and spade in
The hands OF the Patriot band. / hear the
patrols say that "All is we'll" see
Knowl.on raising his line of rail fence.
upon which soon the guns will rest thai
The bullets may prove 10 their passage
true. see the tall comma nding form OF
Prescott marching leisurely around the
parspet, inHaming the tired Patriots with
the classical words that those who had the
merit Of the labor should have the honor
oil the victory. see Asa Pollard lalt the
first victim o. that immortal day ; | see
,hs chaplain praying over him ; and now
the roaring Of cannon from ships and from
batteries. and the blaze Of the burning
town, and the thrice renewed storm and
the persevering defense, till powder was
gone and but stones remained and | see
Warren telling Elbridge Gerry that i: is
sweet and fair to die for the latherland;
see him lingering in his retreat, and, struck
in the forehead, fall 10 the ground and
Pomeroy, with his shattered musket in his
crave hand, complaining that he remained
unhurt when Warren had to die, and see
all the brave who fell unnamed, unnoliced,
and unknown, the name!ess corner stones
Of American independence.
All the spirits Of that most even,ful
victory under the name Of defeat see
them -alI. The eyes of my soul are
familiar with spirits Of martyrs OF liberty.
Blu, hose see around me have no sad,
ghoslly look; they bear no gushing wounds
crying for revenge to Almighty God /; the
smile of eternal bliss is playing around
their lips. and though dwellers of Heaven.
they like TO visit the place where their
blood was split ii was mol split in vain
tteir fa,heriand is free and there is
Joy in ,ha, thought. adding ever new charm
even to The happiness OF blessed souls. As
the fabulous dlvlnilies Of ancient Greece
like TO rest from the charms Of Heaven on
Mount o., mpus. so mus; the spiTl, Of
Warren like 10 rest on the to top Of this
monument here.
Martyrs Of my country. how long will
it yet be ill Ike Joy will thrill through
your departed souls ! when will the smile
of that Joy play around your lips a.! how
long will yet the gush Of your wounds cry
for vengeance--your falher'and still bleed
ing, dowh.trodden. oppressed! There is
sorrow in that thought, casting the gloom
Of sadness even over the bliss oi Paradise.
Almighty Father of mankind, let the
day Of thy mercy be no, too far.
Excuse my emotions, gentlemen. The
associations Of my ideas are natural. Your
Bunker Hill and our kapolna are twins
both called defeats, and both eveniul VIC
resulting in the declaration oi
an inderendenc bu, yours acknowledged
before it ~as achieved and supported by
foreign aid-aurs not acknow ledsed even
when achieved, and meeting foreign
aggression instead OF aid.
Well, past is past, and can not be
chaneed-but The future is open ye,-and
ofen nave bowed before the recolec.ions
Of this hallowed ground. adore the
with unlallering hope. Part Of
my hope rests in the justice OF Him, who
rules in his hands the destinies of mankind
and of men. My peoples suferihgs are
recorded in the book Of His eternal de.
crees, and the tears Of my people numbered
in his scale. thrust Him.
Part Of my hope rests with our own
selves. We know that God helps those