Reminiscences of Sixty Years in Public Affairs, Vol. 1Boutwell, George S. (George Sewall)
History
Reminiscences of Sixty Years in Public Affairs, Vol. 1
Boutwell, George S. (George Sewall)
Boutwell, George S. (George Sewall), 1818-1905; United States -- Politics and government
In Faneuil Hall Kossuth made these striking remarks. Addressing
himself to America, he said: "You have prodigiously grown by your
freedom of seventy-five years; but what are seventy-five years to take
for a charter of immortality! No, no, my humble tongue tells the
record of eternal truth. A privilege never can be lasting. Liberty
restricted to one nation never can be sure. You may say 'we are the
prophets of God,' but you shall not say, 'God is only our God.' The
Jews have said so and the pride of Jerusalem lies in the dust! Our
Saviour taught all humanity to say _'Our Father in Heaven,'_ and his
Jerusalem is 'lasting to the end of days.'"
His style was that of a scholar who had mastered the English language
by the aid of books. His idiomatic expressions were few. In one of
his speeches when urging his audience to demand active intervention in
behalf of Hungary he attempted to use the phrase, "You should take time
by the forelock." At the last word he came to a dead pause and
substituted a twist of his own forelock with his right hand. He thus
commanded the hearty cheers of his hearers. It is probable that the
expedient was forced upon Kossuth, but the art of a skilled orator
might have suggested such a device.
Kossuth was small in stature, not more than five feet seven inches in
height, and weighing not more than one hundred and forty pounds. His
eyes and hair were black, his complexion dark, giving the impression
that he did not belong to the Caucasian race. His career was a
meteoric display in political oratory, such as the world does not often
witness. His integrity cannot be questioned, and for more than a third
of a century he submitted to a life of exile rather than accept a home
under a government which he thought was a usurpation. He gave to the
country new ideas, and his name and fame will be traditional for a long
period of time.
When Kossuth was in America he looked upon General Gorgey as a traitor
and he was so regarded by the friends of Hungary generally. In the
year 1885, however, a testimonial was presented to General Gorgey by
about thirty of the survivors of the contest of 1848, in which they
exonerated him from that charge. General Klapka was among the signers,
but the name of Kossuth did not appear upon the memorial.
At the end of the nineteenth century neither Massachusetts nor any
other State could or would accord to an exile for liberty the reception
that was given to Kossuth in 1852.
The expenses of his reception in Massachusetts, and of the
entertainment of his suite were paid by an appropriation from the
public treasury. He was given a public reception by the Governor of
the State, and a like reception was given to him by each House of the
Legislature in suspended session.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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