New-York tribune., 1870-11-05
LOUIS KOSSUTH.
PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONs OF AN OLD
REYOLUTI0NlST.


cannot lint think often OF that other wonderful time OF
unrising and overthrow beginning in lss One cannot
t remember its splendid hopes and splendid heroes,
and the wild fire OF enthusiasm which, without the aid OF
the ocean telegraph. they kudled and so long kept alive
in , country 1t strange that neither the great
conspiraor Mazzin the heroprophet, Kossuth are
concerned in this awful m6ee We hear Of Mazzin un-
der arrest and excluded from amnesty, Of Kossuh sun
quietly abiding at Trn winning his bread by teschns
Languages in his desolate old age, looking out ON ,
tempest that may yet again oversweep Euopo w." w..
folded hands and silent lips. He refuses 20 r' ~ ~
Hungary not yet free as he understands .1,orn
declines to receive honor employment iIu Cor
ment not such as he hoped and tOiled ana SUI s
think we were all interested by the accoun. account ,ro
short time since. by an agent on ' ., I,,,dr and
Bureau of interview with i hoSs x,Ie 6eclined
some of Ms were pleased that the ihus'ro' ,ho,
. =, ,ho nov deld OF labor proposed 10 hiih 'n"'
, - 80 ,,sa 10 seek TO make capital OF tue roni''io
aci, ions that still cling, though n'uo W'oiu .la
ma pameof his old great tness' OF MS Presen' nus
os He .can1ot afford to make money at the ex-
- q, a memory which has even yet something graho
.,tng about 1.-THE memory of visit to the Great
.,o,,,c which was national ovation. am glad that
M aud are TO be spared the sight Of that pathetic MS
torical figure standing modestly in the background
chile e Youthful president OF some provincial assoc
,i makes an announcement Of this sort: Ladies ana
eotemen the mex, lecture in course VIII he de-
vered by the distinguished humorist Mr. Jeemes Pipes
az P;pesyile now have the honor OF introducing 10
on the orator Of the evening Mr. Louis Kossooth OF Hun
gary. who will discourse on the Solidarity OF 'he
Nations"
The description Of the lonely Magyar as "mild Sc
date rather digned looking gentleman, OF 6s years
seems strange TO me different is it, from the picture
i'm my mind Of Louis Kossuth he was at the time OF
h, visit 10 America. saw him FIRST In New-fork, att
old Irving House. where he and his suite were lodged
Ny first glimpse Of him in the hall OF the hotel as
he was going address the militia at Castle Garden
He was dressed as he was usually represented in pic
tnreS in his Hametsh costume of black velvet with It's
fine jet ornaments shooting out somber radiance, ike
diamonds gone into mourning and wore his black pumed
hat and sword. held my breath as he passed quickly
by. The next day, stood near him while he received
deputation and had good opportunity to study his
face and the character of bis eloquence. He then
wore a plain citizens dress, and his head was un-
covered. He walked rapidly into the hall, throw
ing quick eager gances right and left. He looked
small, plain, almost insignificant, compared with
some Of the tail and picturesquely uniformed
officers suite But closer observation could not
fail to convince one that here ordinary His
head was most remarkable in its intellectual and moral
Developments, and his face though usually calm and
sad in expression with weary lines and dark depressons
about the eyes, wonderfully mobile and sympathetic
He was profoundly interesting study to me, as he
stood listening to the address Of the leader of the deega
ton That uds listening-earnest absorbed, intense
every power every perception every pulse OF the man
seemed to listen and silently respond to that first broth
erly greeting from the workingmen OF America, come
TO offer Hungary through him, generous share of
their honest earnings. think offering ever moved
him more yet he began his speech of acknowledgment
in snguarly quiet conversational manner II was at
first easy though forcble taiknohing more He spoke
with decided accent but apparently without hesitation
or difficulty, and with what voice! had never heard
have never since heard equal was not strong but
It was clear, deep, sweet penetrating, persuasive.
seemed to it the exutaton and agonies of his
eountry's gallant woefu struggle for freedom and
nationality But perhaps it lacked the steel-lke ring
chat nerves and rallies armies-that menaces and COM
mands-just the quality OF absolute authority II was
rather the voice of prophet than of revolutionary
leader was till he neared the close of his brief
speech that Kossuth became Kossuth His voice as
of deeper passion and pathos his pale wst
full face glowed with fine enthusiasm, and took on
look strange dignity his form actually seemed to ex
foremost orator of the time stood
before
AS afterward took his hand and looked into his
wonderful eyes, what did not my enthusiastic fancy see
in their sorrowul hut flashing depths, of heroic effort
aud final attainmentf Such promise, such power such
triumph. must believe that they revealed rather
the passion Of poet and the devotion of the martyr
than the stern, unconquerabe will of the military hero,
the maker OF history and the moder of national dest
MES They too brilliant, yet dreamy too change
fu too tender. They wanted the cold and steady out
look Of the imperial eyes that gazed alike uukndlng
and unAinchng, over fields of victory and defeat over
Austerlitz and Waterloo. They had nothing of the
proud authority OF washngons eyes Of the hard obs
macy Grants. of the dull doggedness Of Louis Napo
There must have been. TO who looked deeply
and steadily into them. some betrayal Of the fatal
lacking which lost to Hungary her Dictator" and ia
Austria her Deliverer"-a something of unsodiery in
decision and relenting OF mistaken faith and magma
niInity-a something that hesitated at timely and
strong grasp OF pOwer-that could spare traitors and put
trust Hapsburgs and Bonapartes. Even afterward
saw them at times wayering. .wearied, bafed look
that was very depressing But at first hoped many
hoped that the visit of the great Magyar would work
out wonderful things FOR European freedom; that
statesmen would not be able to resist such inspired
preaching OF the new doctrine of Intervention
our Republic would really drop all petty party strfes,
all narrow and selfish considerations OF policy and gal
lantly stand forth the champion OF poor oppressed
heroic Hungary against the world. know the Republic
and Republicans better now.
In his visit to Washington, and during portion, at
least Of his tour through the States Kossuth made
doubtless through bad advice, one grave mistake.
Of simple tastes and habits, he yet had about him
large expensive Hungarian retinue He carried too
much weight, incumbered with too much service,
ceremony and parade There far too many swords
and spurs plumes and buttons tasses and frogs and
furred collars; there too much smoking jinglng,
and gasconadng in his ante-rooms. Another mistake
charged against him his not openly raternizng with
the Antslayery party with whom the instincts Of his
heart must have arrayed him. for one, though, could
not how he to blame for declining to open his
batteries Bastille. He doubtless wished well TO
Ethiopia but Hungary lay somewhat nearer his heart
He the guest of the Government, at a troublous
time, when the policy OF the Administration pecu
liarly prOpatOry toward "the Institution" and for him
denounce IL, boarding the lion his den, would
tainly have been most ungracious and mpolitic Yet
every passionate plea for freedom and humanity from
his eloquent lips told against it his very presence
was a protest and porent The wisest advocates and
supporters of Slavery felt this and gave him scant SYM
nathy The Senate even accorded him but a cold recen