San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-04-30
LOUIS KOSSUTH.
The HUNGARIAN PATRIOT, OUR ELOQUENT
VISITOR OF NEARLY FORTY
YEARS AGO.
|cEN5SESHEEENS

Those readers who had the privilege
of listening to his wonderful eloquenoe
will experience feeling OF personal be-
reavement when word is received that
Louis Kossuth is no more. The grand
old man believes that his life ia nearly
ended. He has been residing for the
last twenty-five years at Turin, Italy,
engaged in completing his biography.
The picture at the head of this sketch
was made from photograph taken in
that city.
Lsjos Nouis) Kossuth was born at
Monok, in the county of Zemplin,
Hungary, In the year 1902. His parents
were poor but of noble rank. Choosing
the legal profession, Kossuth studied
law at the Protestant College of Saros-
patak. He practiced in the County of
Zemplin and later In Pesth. In 1882 he
began his political career aI the Diet of
Presburg, as editor Of liberal paper,
which, owing to the oppressive charao-
ter OF the press laws, was not printed,
but transcribed and circulated. Five
years after this KOssuth was imprison-
ed for the publication of autographed
paper. He was not liberated until
lS49, when he resumed journalistic work.
The liberality Of his views took strong
hold Of the people generally, and in No
vember, 1S47, he was sent by the county
OF Pesth as deputy TO the diet. He
proved to be an able debater and was
soon recognized as leader of the opposi-
tien. Among the objects at which he
aimed may be named the emancipation
OF the peasants, the elevation of tue oiti-
zen class and the freedom of the press,
the mere mention of which suggests
how backward was the political condl-
tion OF the people whose cause he elo-
quently promoted. The French revolu-
tion Of 1S4S was 8 stimulus to Kossuth,
as to all other struggling patriots the
world over. In his case it led him to
demand an independent government
for Hungary and constitutional gov
eminent In the Austrian hereditary
territories. The Hungarian revolution
and the instruction in Vienna, of
March, lS4S, are asoribed to the effect of
his burning speeches. When the minis
try was dissolved, In September, lS4S,
kossuth was placed at the head OF the
Committee of National Defense. AS
such he prosecuted with extraordinary
energy the measures necessary for car
rying on the war against Austria. In
April, lS49, at DebrecZin, the National
Assembly declared the Independence of
hungary and that the Hapsburg dynasty
had forfeited the throne. Kossuth had
urged that this radical measure be
taken. 1t was followed by his being ap-
pointed provisional governor of Hun
gary. He was speedily beset with diff
culties, being disappointed in his hopes
for the Intervention Of the western DOW
ers, and having to cope with Russian
army which had come to assist the
Austrian cause. To put an end to
dissensions between himself and Gorgei
he resigned his dictatorship to his rival
The Hungarian patriots were defeated
at Temesvar, August, 8, 1919, and
Kossuth fled into Turkey, where he was
held prisoner but safe against both
Austria and Russia. In September,
1851, he was liberated and sailed in an
American frigate to England. There he
was received with the warmest evil
dences Of admiration, as subsequently
IN this country. He landed here In
December, 1851. His speeches aroused
the greatest enthusiasm wherever he
went. Kossuth returned to England in
June, 1852, He resided In that country
until the Italian war against Austria
broke out. This led him and most of
the other expatristed Hungarians to
leave for Italy. AS previously stated,
the great patriot has been a resident of
Turin twenty-five years.