The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-08-05
KOSSUTH

! pOndng varieties 81 opinion. 10 MN thal hath
shall be given and he can receive only that
which il Ike himself A dog or a horse I'M
! derstand- Just 50 much of his masters ideas
! and instincts n be has in common with him.
and men can know only that which they COM
Dfehend All beyond is hidden Of necessity.
men anthropomorphile the Deity. We have
no other measure for that which is above us
than our own limits and our own motives are
the only springs of action which we can
imagine. Each individual lays has own outlines
over the subject of his Judgment and if that
subject fall within himself he comprehends it
but if 1t spreads beyond, he is confused, or. mis-
taking a part for the whole, he sees nothing
truly, for he sees nothing entirely He that
stands highest sees most The best man and the
largest nature is the wiSest as in art. so in mind
and morals, the highest endowed has the best
rule of Judgment, and is nearest the absolute
standard A wise man comprehends fool an
honest man understands rogue for he has
within himself all those things whose partial
ism peryersion, and abuse are the subjects Of
his Judgment. The simply good occupy a
vantage ground for the action Of their intel
lect which enlargcs its grasp, and it is given to
the faith Of sound heart to apprehend much
of the excellence Of that wisdom which other
wise might battle the mere understanding, as
Mary. the sister Of Lazarus, i0red herself into
the mystery of the Cruciixion before the apos-
ties could at all comprehend it. She "anoint-
ed him unto his burial. while they yet fondIy
thought sit was he who was to redeem Israel
from the Roman yoke
But with respect to men who are not the
prophets of future age, delivering the abstrac-
tons of truth and hope, but the piyot-men of
their own time and obliged to accommodate
the highest doctrines of truth to existing con-
ditious for pressing practical uses Just judg-
ment is every way difficult, because principles
are involved with circumstances and the
! chances and changes of affairs are the most
important elements in the problem. 1t must
have puzzled the Jewish populace not little
TO see Jesus accepting baptism from John
while he claimed to be the Nessiah-obscry
ing the ordinances of the temple, and threaten
my its oyerthrow-payng tribute to Caesar
and claiming to be the King of kings-de
nOuncing the Priests, and directing his own
| disciples to observe and do whatsoever they
commanded and conforming generally Ia
the order Of things which he proposed to over
turn but setting government law and the es-
tablished religion, all at nnught, in matters
most essential to their authority FIRST prin-
ciples are ~ clear to children as to the angels,
but their application in the conduct of a heroic
life opens room for much doubt and mistake.
and mOdesty in judgment OF such instances is
the safest guide to justice indeed largeness Of
heart is as well proved by its loving confidence
as by its enlightenment Now we know in
part and prophecy in part, but we shall know
even a. we are known when that which is per
feet is come" Let the apostles philosophy
serve for our caution.
The time for Judging Kossuth has not yet
come Our sons may build the tombs of tn,
prophets whom we reject Events are the hes
tests Of great enterprises. Even failure may
prove our repr0ach, and not his condemnation
1t is not certain that he understood the Ameri
can people perfectly. He may have seen us il
the light of his own enthusiasm He may hav
addressed himself to our ideal rather than t.
our actual character. No matter--the Sermon
on the Mount is aill waiting for the world
adjustment to It's pitch Of apprehension. 1t
not even certain that he fully knows the peopl
Of Europe whom he represents He was mn
taken in the French he did not believe tina
they would sustain Louis Napoleon rs the
have done, though it was not at all impossibl
t for people who gave five millions of votes {
3 monkey in lSlS, to give the additional con
pliment of two millions more to monster i
$ 1851 The counter-workmg Of that despotsr
/ postponed his hope, and checked his actor
G but disappointment with such man is neye
9 despair His faith is we'll based, nevertheless
= for in well-dsposcd circumstances the masse
\ are as poetcal and heroic rs their leaders
{ and, if they are more the creatures of crcun
' stance, and disposed To abjectness in reverse
0 they are ever brave and generous under the
4 critical inspirations. Impulse and organizatio
determine their action and drift and these al
r at the command of the governing minds Sue
f minds know their own power. Kossuth's COZ
fdence is not shaken 10y such events ~ decid
, the opinions and hopes Of men below his ranl
He can make revolution, and he can con
mand it, Everything human is possible I
him, and he knows il both by faith and exp,
rience He has seen it demonstrated I'll
law of progress works human nature itself
/ pledged to it, and the hour hastens for ne
manifestation, which will yet verify the hops
of that heroic heart which clngs, by nece
/ prophecies, and stands ready TO fulfil then
= Living or dying Kossuth must conquer. ii
mistakes of men and times are as nothing; the
, are but the misapprehension of accidents !
relies upon the laws of things which are pc
manent. It he expected too much from II
more than results have yet justified, he neve
tbeless did his own work wisely and we'll
better by looking to the heart than upon I'll
surfaces Of things He dealt with principle
and facts must sooner or later fulfil them Tn
hearts of all men answer 10 the impulses of h
heart, and their hands will, in fitting circum