The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-04-18
LOUIS KOSSUTH.

at Turin, brings once more to the remem-
brance of the world figure that has been
forgotten for quarter of a century; but
which few years before that time was
the most prominent man of all the world
the most-talked-of one who talked most,
and one to whom nations listened delighted
with the splendor of his eloquence. Kos
sUTH may be regarded as one of those men
who represent a lost cause, and a cause
which when lost most people We're of the
opinion that it ought to have succeeded at
least, that is true of the people of England
and the United States. KossUTH is one of the
few men who, born of parents ofnoble rank,
have champiOned the rights of the masses
against the classes, and who served them
for higher motives than for what political
emoluments he might hope to gain by such a
course. He began his political life in 1882 as
editor of a paper of an ultra-liberal com
pleXion. In 1917 he was sent to the
Austrian diet where he was made leader of
the opposition. From his place in the
Austrian parliament he advocated with all
the ardor of his soul peasant emancipation
and the elevation of the citizen class
]
to pass the reforms he esteemed as neces-
sary to the happiness of his people, he de-
manded in lS4S an independent government
for Hungary. This, of course, was denied
| by Austria, and led to the revolt of Hun
gary, of which KossUTH was the head and
front Indeed, he was made Dictator of
Hungary so long as the insurgents were
under arms. For time the insurrection
promised to be successful war for indie
pendence, but Russia interposed and the
Hungarians were put down, not by the
strength of Austria but by the intervention
of the northern empire This action on the
part of Russia raised a storm of Indignation
in England, and KossUTH. whose spirit no
defeat could break resolved to leave the
asylum he had found in Turkey and 90 to
England to enlist that country in the cause
of Hungarian independence. During one
period OF his career he had been thrown
into prison and there from the Bible and
Shakespeare he mastered the English lam
guage, and he and his compatriots hoped
that he would succeed in arousing English
resistance to Russia's intervention. He
knew very well that England had long
been influenced in her international policy
by the principle that 'if one state inter
Venes in the domestic affairs of another
for the purpose of putting down revolu
ton, it then becomes the right and NAV
even be the duty of any third state to
throw in the weight of her sword against
the unjustifiable Intervention" and it was
kossUTH's desire to bring England to de
clare war against Russia or Austria or
botn.
kossUTH was received with every popu-
lar demonstration of favor in England:
this would naturally have occurred with
any one who had represented Hungary. for
no other reason than that Russia, the tradi
tiOnal enemy of England, was also his
enemy; but KossUTH's own personal APP
pearance and his wonderful eloauence
added greatly to the order of his reception.
A writer who saw him and was familiar
with the circumstances of his arrival and
reception, has given the following descrip-
ton of him:
He had u strikingly handsome face and stately
presence. He was picturesque and perhaps even
Theatre in his dress and his bearing. He looked
like picture: all his attitudes and gestures
seemed as if they were meant to be reproduced
ii
most eloquent men who ever addressed pop |
ular audience. = The English he spoke
was.the noblest in its style from which a stu. |
dent could supply his elouuence KOSSTrTH |
spoke the English of SHAKESPEARE. He could |
address public meeting for an hour or more |
with fluency not inferior seemingly 10 that of |
GLADSTONE with measured dignity and we'll |
restrained force that were not unworthy of /
BRIGHT; and in curiously expressive stately, |
powerful pathetic English which sounded as If |
1t belonged to higher time and to loftier in |
tereStS than ours.
KossUTHs appeals to England, however. |
were in vain so far as securing any prac- |
teal aid to his cause was concerned His |
speeches, thep principles he set forth, his de |
nunciations of tyranny were applauded to |
the echo, but England did not declare war.
Indeed, when KossUTH proposed calling on
Lord PALMERsTON, then secretary of for
eign affairs in Lord JOHN RUssELL's admin
istration, to thank him in person for the |
and protection given to Hun
garian refugees, his lordship refused to
receive him, and KOssUTE sank out of sight
in England, and when he left it. his de-
parture created scarcely no comment.
He came to the United States and his
eloquence aroused the same admiration for
the man and general sympathy for his
cause; but no material assistance was Sc
cured from orr government and Hungary's
dream of independence became lost cause.
The efforts Of KossUTH, however. were
not wholly without good results. It was
his agitation which led Up to and
secured the enlarged privileges of the
people of Hungary and TO the al
most equal participation of Hungary in
the Austria Hungarian empire His labors
were not in vain. Such men as LOUIS Kos
sUrH do not live in vain; and when death
shall affix the word fnis upon his career. he
will be written down in our modern annals
as one of the purest and noblest of patriots.
a friend to the poorand oppressed of human
ty, and one Of the heroes of our race who
dared to stem tyrannic pride.