Smyrna times., 1890-08-20
WHOLE NO. 1887.
A Man Without a Country.

The most popular European in the
America of forty years ago was Kos
suth. With the single exception of
Lafayette no statesman nor political
leader from the Continent ever recei-
we'd so warm a welcome nor excited as
great public enthusiasm. Webster,
who was seldom ELUSIVE in his admir-
alton of the worlds heroic figures, en-
tertained the highest feeling of respect
for him; Washington offered its hOspi-
tality to him with unstinted measure
and in every American city which he
visited he was hOnored as pioneer of
European democracy and champion
of liberty. 1t is one of the anomalies
of modern history that a patriot of
unique force of character and unblem-
ished purity of life should have re-
mained forty years in exile after re-
ceiving the splendid tribute of a disin-
terested Nations respect and sympa.
thy. KOssuth's leading associates in
the movement for Hungarian indepen-
dence obtained amnesty and partici-
pated in the practical development of
the principal of autonomy under the
Dual system. Deak, Andrassy and
Tisza exerted commanding influence,
not only in the Magyar Kingdom, but
also in the whole empire Kossuth,
who was the master spirit of the revol-
utiOn of 1S49, has remained almost
alone under the ban of the Empire.
At the advanced age of eighty-eight,
with natural force unabated and with
the old-time charm of eloquence linger-
ing in the cadences of an unrivalled
voice, he is still an exile in Turin.
A sympathetic American cOrrespon-
dent, Mrs. Marion V. Dudley, who has
recently visited Kossuth, in Italy,
pays homage to his civic virtues and
heroic qualities in letter to the "EUen-
ing Wisconsin. Her discriminating
tribute to this veteran champion of ma
tiOnal liberties revives memories of the
| popular enthusiasm which he once
enkindled in America, and serves to
explain what has been something of a
mystery to a later and more prosaic
| generation-the secret of his power.
Clay, Webster and Theodore Parker
recognized in Kossuth one of Homer's
men, with a nature of unique sympli-
city, a heart throbbiug with love of
human liberty, and a soul great enough
to be loyal to its ideals even. when ex-
posed to the hatrid of kings and to the
ingratitude of a nation whose indepen-
dence was the highest aspiration. The
pathOs of his forty years of exile serves
to bring into stronger light the epical
dignity Of character which has tower
cred above a generation of comprising
politicians. Combining genius of ac-
ton of Garibaldi, the parliamentary
talents of Cavour, and the matchless
elOquence of Gambetta, he has remain
ed in seclusiOn, neglected by a nation
in full possession of its liberties, and
without opportunity for employing his
pre.eminent political qualities. This
has been because he could not bow
down to the strange gods Ofexpediency
and policy, nor adapt his preconcep-
tions of Hungarian independence to
the artificial compromises of Deak and
the Hapsburgs. For this reason he
has remained a man without coun-
try.
1t is not creditable to the powerful
Dual Monarchy that this exile of lib
erty should be rusting out his life in a
foreign country without token of rec
ognition from Government or people.
1t would be a most graceful and timely
act if the Magyar State were to vote
him a pension in his old age of poverty
and discomfort. A favor which he
might be unwilling to accept from the
hand of the sovereign would undoubt-
edly be welcomed by the National
Parliament, of whose constitutional
liberties he was once the Jealous and
powerful champion. 1t would be a
tribute to his patriotism and loyalty to
principle which would touch the heart
of this lonely political exile, self-con-
demned to the pathOs of an old age
without country.