Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1854-01-04
Kossuth ON the Eastern Questian.

! On Wednesday night, November i24th public
meeting of the citizens of Glasgow, called by the
Lord Provost, agreeably to requisition numerous
ly signed was held in the city Hall, for the pur-
pose of considering the aggressive policy of Rus
sia, and agreeing to resolutions thereon. The
large hall was crowded to the DOORS not fewer than
$1,000 persons being present. Counsellor Moir
was called to the chair. r SO IS ssl.1 s'.v:1a
7 The following letter from M. Kossuth was
read: tnz sz5 ta@gta eesg-. assaa.& .-ss4E .5s@.
i asasis s21AIPHA-RoAD, REGENr's PARK, ..a
I -usitzn2s 5dt 30 sEsLoNDoN, Nov..2l, 1853. q
I Dear Sir:--I have the pleasure to acknowledge
the receipt of your letter of November the 18th,
inviting me on behalf of: the Committee on the
Eastern question, to attend meeting at Glasgow
on Wednesday next, in favor of Turkey, in her
gallant and glorious resistance to an insolent en-
roachment upon her independence and territorial
That cause sir, is highly deserving not only of
the warmest sympathies of every just, honest, and
upright man, but also particularly of the most en-
ergetic cooperation of the people of Great Bri-
tan at large, and of every exertion of itsconsttu-
tonaIinfuence upon the course of British policy;
SO much so, that any neglect, anoE wrong drec-
ton, and irresolution,, half resolution, in that
respect must be followed by consequences mis-
chievous to the world, but to nobody more than to
Great Britain herself. ai Ea zszt ~ A;Ua#
There is naughty affectation in some quarters,
Sir, which world like to place any possible British
assistance to Turkey in the lightgof more gener-
GUS favor to the Sultan; and still that not the
case. Private individuals may act from sympathy
+ Governments never do. tits important to rec
tfy that afectation of generosity, because it does
harm to Turkey by placing her in the unbecomng
situation of a protected State. No, Sir; if Great
Britain would assist Turkey, it would do so, not
from generosity, but from the necessity of taking
care other own future and her own interests. 1t
is England's future which is at stake in the East,
not less than that of Turkey. The chief princi-
pals to be decided there by force of arms is ''the
sovereign independence Of every nation to man
age its own domestic concerns" That principle,
violated already in Poland, then in Moldo-Walla-
CHA, and then in Hungary--always by Russia and
her accomplices-s now intended to be finally
overthrown in the East, and that done, no nation
can further deem herself independent. Moreover,
it is that of power by which European artfce has
replaced the rule of right and of law which is at
stake in the East. Russia, successful in her en-
croachment upon Turkish independence, either
by direct conquest or by hypocritical treaty-more
deleterious than even a direct conquest could be
master of the world at least of Europe and oi
!, Asia America may yet for while resist, until
her turn shall come; but you certainly cannot
being as you are, vulnerable both in Europe and
in Asia. The position of frst-rate Power is not
an absolute but relative one. A frst-rate Pow
er is that which is second to use. Permit Russia
to take hold ofa direct OF indirect dominion over
Turkey, and she will at once have gained such 9
! preponderance over and above every European
} Power, that in comparison to her you needs will
| have lost your position of frrt-rate Power, ant
J must become dependent on the good pleasure o
the omnipotent Czar at least in some Of those po
t litical social and commercial relations upon the
compound of which your position of a frst-rat'
Power is based tf -s'' 1s>J = ~. ga
t Britons, do you like to lose that postion? /
t not, do mind in time the Oriental question; you
: own future is there trembling in the scales, an
: your own battle is fought on the battle fields o
Turkey. - ...-..-,
|, would like, Sir, to take up, point by point, tn
consideration of each of your material interests
and feel confident of fully establishing that as
# sertion But neither time nor occasion permits
j. and therefore, speaking to. intelligent Brtons,
= will only say that each Of your material interes
- from your political standing in the great family
a, nations, to your Indian concerns, where-and le
: that word we'll be minded while there is yet tim
= :, mind it--all the millions of your Mahommeda
= subjects recognize the Sultan of Constantinepl
: as their religious chief, down to the very price
ther daily bread, is involved in the struggle be
r. tween Turkey and her enemies >. "a ,..:.-.-lr
: +. Mind, while it is yet time to mind it, was m
= word; and in fact, as no living man on earth ca
. feel more deeply interested in the success of Tu
: key than myself do-as well by national col
:. Germs as by a personal gratitude-I have gre'
y pleasure in seeing that there is general dspos
:. ton in public opinion here to mind that cause.
!. But. unfortunately, see great hesitation abol
:. the practical course to be taken to that effect
! That hesitation, Sir, is caused-by the constal
exertions of some msmanager of public opinio
:. to lower the great question at issue into the mil
: erable proportions of a personal dispute betwee
= the Car and the Sultan. Thus they have uni
= now, succeeded in checking public opinion to a
= rive at an energy which is commensurate to tt
= Importance of the case, since it never can
reused to full activity but by the highest motiv'
j. of national interests. s.f.a ...-tt..
=, -, Those mismanagers of public opinion speak
- | YOU constantly of the honorable endeavors of yo
Government for maintaining the blessings of E
- repean peace. "a Why, Sir, the time has come f
pronouncfng it in the most emphatic manner, tn
= It is bitter sarcasm and hypocrisy to desgna