The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-10-27
A VISIT TO LOUIS KOSSUTH
Rev. ]. C. Fetcher's Delightful Inter-
view with the Hungarian Patriot.
The irresponsible Newspaper Liar Held Up to
Public Scorn in Connection with a Cur
rent Item About Albert Gallatin.


ebrations of the century. namely, the biccn-
tennial anniversary of the return to their
native land of the ancestors of the Wal
denses, those primitive Christians of the
Alps who, in 1856. were forced by the pious
90 Louis XIV, of France. from their mount
aims and valleys into exile. Louis XIV
was at the bottom OF the business, though
he used as his cat's-paw Victor Amedeus III.
o. Savoy, who. after a little more than
three years. threw of the ignominious yoke
which the "Grand Monarque." as the
French termed Louis XIV. imposed upon
him. Before that time d6S9) the Waldenses.
who were dispersed In Switzerland and
some other parts of adjacent Europe. made
a heroic effort. and returned through sacri-
fees. sufferings. and battles such as our
Pilgrim fathers never dreamed of. 1t was
to celebrate his return to their native val
leys by their ancestors, in 1853. that their
descendants in 1889 met in the midst of the
glorious scenery of their mountains. and in
chastened gladness. and with perfect free
dom of expression under the constitution
of United Italy, held commemorative meet
ings fitting for such an occasion. TheWal-
denses were Bible Christians who existed
centuries before the Reformation. 1t was
this interesting anniversary which drew me
to northern Italy. and amongst the man
foreign visitors / met Madame Rutkoy, the
sister of the famous Hungarian ex-Dlctator.
General Kossuth. L had rot seen General
kOSsuth for three years, aud. at tho invita-
ton of Madame Rutkoy, l determined to
call upon him. In the months OF May and
June no one expected that Kossuth wOuld
live ten weeks, but the brave old patriot
seemsa as fiourishing as when l met him
three years ago in Naples. where one OF his
sons lives. i do not know of any better re-
futation of his ill-health than that in
August he made a speech two hours long.
to $40 Hungarlans. who came 70 see hlm on
their way to Paris. / am told that ho was
full of fire and ~eloquence. but, as his speech
was in Hungarian, he ~''scooped" 81 learned
that phrase from 'Lige Halford) the re-
porters. You may rest assured that he gave
a plain talk, aud let them know that the
solemn oath which he, along with others.
made in August, 1919, would never be broken
by him. That oath was that he and his
companions would never become subjects
again of Franz Joseph, or any other Haps-
burg. Kossuth has kept that oath, while
plenty of his fellows have voluntarily ac-
cepted the terms of the Ha psburgs. which.
] must say, are very fair, for many OF the
reforms commended for have been obtained.
But K0ssuth stand by his oath. and. all
though the laws delay. whereby he may
return land was Just the longest time possl-
BILE for him) ran out on Jan. 3. 1889. and
Franz Joseph would give n great deal to
have him accept the terms, yet he may
count without his Kossuth.
The ex-Dictator. who was represented by
an item in the Journal as poor old Kos
suth," and as almost starving" has as
comfortable a home as any body In Indian
apolis. He received me with his usual
cept the visits of Englishmen. Germans
Frencbmep, etc., he always welcomes Amer
icansand Hungarians. / talked with hid
about his HoOsier friend. the late Governor
Joe Wright, but / saw he did not care TO
dwell on his visit TO indianapolis. where he
was all right. but where some of his fol-
lowers ran up such a big bill for cham
payne, cigars, etc.
was a large one. and every side of it, except
where there were windows aud doors: was
lined with shelves, in which were dark
green paper boxes, appropriately labeled:
In those boxes are not only, the archives OF
the Republic of H~ungary"-Of It's strug.
giles, hopes and downfall in lSiSI49-but
also there are slowed away the Immense
correspondence with the leading men and
statesmen of Europe and America When
| went in / found him engaged In writing,
evidently manuscript for the printer. and |
have no doubt that he was laboring on part
Of his last work in this world. preparing
his memoirs, so that when he is gone we
shall AVE some of the mysteries revealed
hiO - AcoA ~ a. -
garian struggle of 80.
He was very cheerful, and seemed to bear
easily the burdens of eighty-seven years.
He spoke In most enthusiastic terms OF the
Waldenses, in whose valleys he spent q
summer Kossuth is a Protestant, and the
one book that / saw amidst his manuscripts
appeared a Bible. In parting he reminded
me that thirty-seven years had rolled by
since his visit TO the United States lin which
he takes q deep INTEREST,", and there was
thing very pathetic when he said: Think
of it; more than n generation has passed
away since then!n l hope he will still be
spared 20 us in his bright, trustfnl old age.
In the Journal of the 9th of July i saw a
historical 81 item, which has since caught
my eye in English papers printed on this
side of the water. They those British
Journalist have some excuse in that they
are badly posted-up in anything concern
ing the United States. Berry =. must be
off fishing or he would have paid his re-
spects TO the following lie. which only the
cheek of q theater manager could get up:
Miss Alberta Gallatin a granddaughter OF
Albert Gallatin, one OF signers OF the Declar-
alton of Independence. D." Miss Alice King
Hamilton, a descendant xander Hamilton.
have been engaged by frohmann for tho
Lyceum Theater, New K Both the young
women are actresses OF -e years experience.
Miss Gallatin has starred IN the South and West.
What are the factsa Albert Gallatin
never signed the Declaration of lndepeud-
ence; he never came to America until Tour
years after it was signed; when he zane he
was only nineteen years old; he could not
enter into political life until he was TWEEN
ty-one; and the very first Office he held was
ten years after his arrival in the United
States. when he became a member of tho
Legislature of Pennsylvania. in 1870. His
political promotion was very rapid, and l
know of no foreigner and, indeed. of few
natives. who so quickly mounted TO tho
highest places in the gift of the people.
save that of President. In 1872 be was
elected Representative to Congress. in 1923
he became United States Senator. and in
1902 he was chosen by Jefferson as the Sec
rotary of the Treasury. He held the post
of Secretary of the Treasury longer than
any other man. that Is. for twelve years.
In fact. no officer OF any secretaryship ever.
with the exception of Granger. of Connect
icut, and Writ, of Virginia. held in the
United States government q position so
long as did Albert Gallatin. William
III. Crawford. of Georgia, was Secre-
tary of the Treasury eight years.
and Levi Woodbury., of New Hamp-
shire. held the same position seven years
James Madison and John Quincy Adams
each held the place of Secretary of State
for eight years Henry Dearborn. of Mas
~sachusetts. was Secretary of War during the
whole of Jefierson's two administrations,
while John {. Calhoun. the original nullI-
fer, was Secretary of War during the
whole of President Monroe's two admins
trations. The members Of Cabinet tho
longest in Office were Gideon Granger. of
Connecticut, Postmaster-general. thirteen
vaars THAT IL from tina hannnfpo of I.far-