The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-12-24
LOUIS KOSSUTH.
His Visit to the United States-A Fervid and
Flanboyant Oath.

His Visit TO the United states-A Fervid and
Flamboyant Oath.
W. A. Crofut in New York World.
So Kossuth is not dead after all, though, as he
is eighty two, the event prematurely announced
cannot be long postponed. His tour through this
country is one of the great events of the century.
1t is thirty three years last week since the illus
trious exile landed in New York and stirred up
such patriotic Juror and frenzy. l remember
running away from school and walking nine
miles and back to hear the flaming orator speak
from the balcony of the Massasoit House at
Springfield He was the hero of the hour, He
quite left Daniel Webster in the shade in the
matter of eloquenee 1t was the year Of revolu-
tons in France, in Germany in Ireland, in
Austria, in Italy, in South America. The
Yankee heart was warm, and the Magyar
patroit' collected l forget how many million dol
lars, issued his personal notes for it and carried
it back to the lands beyond the sea 1t was 60
ing to be spent to make his oppressed country
men free-oh, yes, every cent Of it, remember
the oath to that effect which he registered in old
Tripler Hall to an audience of Germans the night
before he sailed away, and quote the end of it
as an Illustration Of his picturesque, fervid and
Aamboyant style:
Now, by the God who led my people from the
prairies of distant Asia to the banks of the
Danube-the Danube whose waves have brought
TO US religion, science and civilization from Ger
many, and in whose waters the tears Of Germany
and Hungary have mingled; by the God who led
us when on the soil moistened with our blood we
defended the bulWark OF Christianity: by the
God who gave strength to our arms in the strug-
gle for freedom till our oppressor this goddess
house which weighed so heavily for centuries on
tho liberties of Germany, was humbled and sunk
to be an underling of the Muscov1te Gar by the
ties of the common oppression which fortunes
nations by the ties of the love of liberty and
hatred of tyranny that boil in veins alike by
the memory of the day when the Germans of
Vienna rose to bar the way which led to Hun
gary against the hrelings of despotism; by the
blood from Hungarian hearts which flowed on
the plains of Schwechat for the deliverance of
Vienna; by the Almighty Eye which watches
over the destinies of manklnd-by all these
have pledged and do pledge myself again that
the people of Hungary will keep this covenant
honestly, faithfully, truly, in life and DEATH!
Exert your influence and active aid in behalf of
the movement for freedom in Europe. l can
assure you that there are hundreds Of thousands
there who take this for their motto which the
German singers sang the other day, and which l
repeat from the depths of my heart:
The shield and spear shall never rust
Till foes shall crumble into dust.
MAY God keep me-this is my oath, and my
oath is my farewell"
He swore vigorously spiritedly, beautifully,
the eloquent Magyar His speech was shining
done with the money. But it is said that his
| The eminent exile himself has ever since lived
| in London, Geneva and Turin. Whatever be-
came of this fund, the American people were not
| the loser. The eloquence and heart-thrilling
ring were worth the money they cost. 1t is
worth $40, 900, 600 any day for the youth of a
country to get thoroughly stirred up in behalf OF
| justice and human freedom.