The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-06-23
Great Speech of Mons. Kossuth.

Ai0t Of Neutrality.
Great Speech of Mons. Kossuth.
A crowded public meeting was held, Nav %
at the London Tavern, To consider the attitude
which 1T becomes the English nation to assume
in relation to the war in Italy. The chair was
taken by the Lord Mayor, and on the platform
were, among others, Mr.. w. Cowper, NJ. f.. Mr.
G. Gulpin, NJ. p, Mr.. Deputy Dalim, Prof New
man, Prof. Donaldson, Mr.. White, (late NJ. u. for
Plymouth Mons. Kossuth, and Mons. Pulski
The appearance of the celebrated Governor OF
Hungary was the signal for several rounds of
hearty cheers. Immediately in front of the
platform were a considerable number Of ~
served seats, which were occupied chiefly by
ladies'
The Lord Mayor, in opening the procee dings.
sand he was happy TO be able To state that b, first
business which occupied the corporation ni the
city of London that day was the consideration Of
a resolution similar to the first resolution which
would be proposed that evening. He had now
the honor to introduce to the meeting the illus
hious ruler of Hungary-[great cheering -
who, as an exile in this land OF freedom, va
" aiting with longing expectation for the day
" hen the nationality of his country would be.
recognised, and when, in the midst of n tri-
umphant and rejoicing people, he wonld return
To his native land, to resume IN peace the arts
which made nation great. Cheers.
SPEECH OF KossUTH.
Mons. Kossuth, who was received mosI 81, .
then spoke as follows;
My LoKp MAYOR, LADIES AID Gy,vrLryrx.
The cloud, called the Italian QUESTION has
at last Dsgnn TO discharge the electric fluid
WIN "hicii II was uVercharged for more than
ioiy years !" ~ momentouS event. likely To
become epoehal IN the history of Eur1ne, What
Is Tue Posh.On which England ought to take in
thls or .,Ical emergency? Your Lordship, whose
Opinions carry with them thrc. fold authority,
that Of an independent English patriot, that of
a tried and consistent friend of liberty aud that
OF the exalted representative of this great com
mercial metropolis of the world--your Lordshp
has answered the question. The position which
England ought to take, and from which she
ought not TO depart, is that Of honest neutrality
and strict non-interventiOn. Cheers.
feel greatly honored in being permitted TO
take part in the proceedings OF this evening,
though know that, IN my individual capacity,
my humble opinions can pretend To weight
with this distinguished assembly. But though,
by the stormy waves of national adversely, WAS
cast II homeless exile on the shores of this
country-the happy home Of the free and the
sanctuary of the oppressed-still, the munci-
paity Of this great metropolis deigncd to receive
me, As the representative of the down-trodden
hungarian nationality; upwards OF one hun
dred cities, boroughs, and corporations, followed
in the wake, aud the liberal instincts OF the
people OF England and Scotland youchsaicd To
make me the depository Of their sympathy for
my native land. Thus, my Lord Mayor, it fell
TO my lot prominently To stand identified IL,
public opinion with the cause Of the oppressed
naiionalIties, and of European liberty. Such
hai, Al, a
|, for one, cannot help deriving corroboratye
persuasion from the coincidence that the con
clusion at which your Lordship has arrived from
an English point OF view is exactly the same at
which ] have arrived from a European point ot
view. Cheers. As an exile, IA Hungarian,
as member OF an oppressed nationality ~ "a
man identified III all his aspirations with the
cause OF its emancipation, repeat, IA an ardent
prayer, what your Lordship advanced AS the
we'll matured vote of English patriot, that
England should deliberately adhere TO the pol
icy of honest neutrality and Of strict non inter
vention. Hear, hear.
II, in CONSEQUENCE of this concurrence; ~
opinions, ] were to be asked whether | antic,-
pate that the war which is Just commencing
may eventually result To- the advantage. of the.
causc with which every aspiration cf my heart
~ identified, should unhcsiiaiingly declare
that ] do anticipate such All eventual result
prov lded England does not divert into a wrong
channel the natural course of events 10y inter
lerng with the war Cheers This amtic
patton does not flow, my Lord Mayor, from thu
excitement which recent events mlst naturally
have operated ca my feelings. Adversely Is "a
great teacher, my Lord, and the icy finger ot
Time is mighty disenchanter. have much
suffered in the last ten years Of my tempest
tossed life, but, in compensation, have learned
| hoy Lao. Ia, al, ,,,l
eager impotence the heeting forelock of ilh-
sorry hopes / have learnt, with calm retec.
ton, to trace the law of confederation between
cause and effect, which presides over the luPic
of history. Taking my stand on this law |
rest my antIclpatIops on the mcontrOyertibt
axiom, that the difficulties of the oppressor may
become q chance of deliVerance for the op
pressed. | see Francis Joseph of Austria
the murderer of my nation loud cheers +
the bloOdstained usurper Of my couniry-en-
gagged in great war.
1 reflect on the relative position of the con
tending parties, and on the strategichl necessi
Ges which must develop themselves in the
course of the war, and come to the conclusion
Ihat, at no distant time, emancipation will bo
within the reach Of some of those nationaities
the oppression Of whom by the House of Austria
IS the great European nuisance, without the
of which, patchwork arrangements may
be devised, calculated to disguise for little
while longer the dry rot of the political struc-
ture of Europe, but both permanent peace
and settled condition of the European com
munity are utterly impossible. Your Loriship
has appropriately alluded to tho royal procla-
nation by which her Msiesty's Government
have entered into public pledge to abstain
from taking any part, directly or indirectly in
the war which has just commenced ON the Con.
fluent, and to maintain strict aud impartial
neutrality. This certainly is right move in
the right direction. Condign credit is owing to
her Majestys Government, for the constitution
al spirit which they have displayed in showing
due regard for the demands Of public opinion,
manifested with more than ordinary emphasis,
both from the hustings during the elections,
and by numerous meetings held since. So far,
SO good. But / make bold to say, that if it be
desired that the proclaimed neutrality should
assume the character of settled rule, not sub
ect to eventual notifications, it is, even more
han before, necessary that the expression of
public opinion should not relax; nay, that it
should be made even more explicit than hither-
TO- in order that no room may be left for any
doubt as to the sense in which the people O
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