New-York tribune., 1894-03-21

1, ronaration and for the last quarter
century Of his life held himself entireiy aiooi
from all political strife. Yet the magic oi Ai'
name and the memory OF his deeus re'iiai" ~
this day among the most potent Oh 'he >'"'
forces of the Hungarian Kingdom Inc u''
,,oa leader of the Magyars. Kossuth was not
himself a true Magyar. but Croa' fie was
horn on April 27 (some biographers say VI.
car,ember 1s, 1902 at Monok. in the comitat or
Tempn in the northern part OF hungary ms
father Andreas Kossuth. was or an ahcie"'
Croat family seventeen members or whch' from
1927 10 1715. were prosecuted for high treason py
tho Austrian Government. HIS mother' Nd'o-
line born Weber. woman OF lhteinse"oe
and Of the Protestant faith. who survived 'he
events which gave to her son oS'iict.o",
and which ended in his exile She uieu
ahort 1870 Louis was an only He studied
~ the Protestant (CalvinisO College Of Schav-
asahnatak. and adopted the profession of an ad-
vocate in 1922 and for eight years following
nractjsed law in Zeps and in Pesth. where the
roval courts held their sessions. filling at one
time the Office Of Honorary (or Governmeno
Attorney for the County Of Templin All
biographies Of him mention his creditable con-
due. IN 1921 when the cholera ragged in Hungary.
and when. delusion prevailing among the
nonulace that the wells had been poisoned by
the aristocracy, the mob rose upon the clergy.
landlords and even the Jews. KOssuth inter-
fered visited the sick demonstrated against vio-
lence and did much 10 soften the murderous
mood of the masses
HIS EARLY POLITICAL CAREER.
He was sent in December. 1892. TO the Diet at
Presburg a. substitute for an absent magnate.
Without much influence in this aristocratic
Aa1,, ho
Journal which he intended at first to publish.
This, however. was prohibited by an old law.
He had produced a photographic press for the
purpose Of multiplying copies Of his report. but
an interdict from the Austrian Government ar
rested the printing. He then employed secre-
taries TO write out the reports. the editions OF
these sometimes reaching 0000 copies Follow
ing up this idea, he began the publication OF
news letter at Pesth in 1896. which reported the
proceedings OF the county meetings. He also
took leading par; in the defence OF prisoners
prosecuted at tha: time for political offences
His activity was great. and II is said that when
much occupied he allowed himself only three
hours sleep out Of the twenty-four. The major
ity Of the counties were aroused against the
illegalites of this Royal Court of Justice, but
naturally he wa. not permitted to go on He
was arrested in 1897. and sentenced in 1888 to
three years Imprisonment. during part OF
which he cut off from all communication
with his friends. and denied the use OF pen
and ink. and even OF books. In the second
year he was allowed to read. but as all political
books interdicted. he selected an English
grammar. Walkers pronouncng dictionary and
Shakespeare. Without knowing a single word
he began rea; "The Tempest" lie was en-
gagged for fortnight in getting through the
first page He made a rule never to go on read
Ing anything without perfectly understanding
what he read Look" he said. afterward.
what an instrument in the hands OF Providence
became my little knowledge Of the English Ian
guage. which l obliged to learn because
forbidden to NEEDLE with politics"
PARLIAMENTARY LEADER
In May, 1S40 Kossuth was liberated by gen.
eral amnesty. The Diet had become refractory.
To Austria. needing an increase OF her military
establishment, levy of 900 Hungarian troops
was refused. and Metternich finally resolved upon
policy OF conciation. and the prison doors
were opened to Kossuth. He came out with
shattered health. but with an indomitable spirit
A bookseller at Pesth had received permission
to publish newspaper, the "Pesti Ilirlap or
"Pesth Gazette" This soon became a daily
newspaper with a circulation Of 10000 and a
corresponding influence. 1t was the champion
OF the middle classes against the Hungarian
nobility, which established a rival journal. III
1Si7 Koss,th was returned to the Diet Tor the
County Of Pesth. being strongly supporter os
Count Louis Batthyanyi. and soon as an orator
and debater he made his influence felt.
The Hungarian Constitution at this time' whii'
It shielded the liberties Of the people at large
gave to the nobility great privileges i"cs'
were not always lightly or justly exercised ah'
the peasantry especially were subjected 10 Va''
Gus feudal burdens. The nobility were free IRON
taxation Of every kind and from personal ser
vice In the Army. except In cases OF invasion
when they were obliged to arm at their own eA
pense. They elected the magistrates ana sen