Select Speeches of Kossuth | Page 8

world; in the name of all that is sacred, _what

would that matter in respect to the cause of Hungary?_ Would that
cause become less just, less righteous, less worthy of your sympathy,
because I, for instance, am a bad man? No! I believe you. It is not a
question in regard to any individual here. It is a question with regard to
a just cause, the cause of a country worthy to take its place in the great
family of the free nations of the world. Until I learn that you refuse to
recognize nations, whenever their governors fall short of religious
perfection, I need not care much about attacks on my mere personality.
But one thing I can scarcely comprehend,--that the PRESS--that mighty
vehicle of justice and champion of human rights--could have found an
organ, and that, in the United States, which (to say nothing of personal
calumnies) should degrade itself to assert that it was not the people of
Hungary, it was not myself and my coadjutors, that contended for
liberty; but it was the Emperor of Austria who was the champion of
liberty. Do not give it groans, gentlemen, but rather thank it; for there
can be no better service to any cause, than for its opponents to manifest
that they have nothing to say but what is ridiculous. That must have
been a sacred and just cause, whose detractors need to assert that the
Emperor of Austria is the champion of freedom throughout his own
dominions and throughout the European continent.
I thank you that you have given me full proof that all these calumnies
have affected neither your judgment nor your heart. As this will be the
place whence I shall start back for Europe, I shall once more have the
happiness of addressing you publicly and bidding you an affectionate
adieu:--hoping then to be able to thank you for acts, as I now thank you
for sentiments.
* * * * *
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE BY THE HUNGARIAN
NATION.
[The reader may be glad to possess the most important portions of this
celebrated document. The opponents of Kossuth have of late pretended,
that the deposition of the Hapsburgs caused the overthrow of Hungary.
But the deposition was not carried until Austria was thoroughly beaten,
and Russia had engaged to give her utmost aid. This finally united all
Hungary. At no earlier period would Hungary have acted with full
unanimity in so decisive a step. To have delayed it longer would not
have averted Russian invasion, and would have caused deep discontent

in Hungary. Nothing but the wilful disobedience of Görgey, who
wasted a month at Buda at this very crisis, saved the Hapsburgs from
being conquered in Vienna, before the Russian armies could possibly
come up.]
We, the legally-constituted representatives of the Hungarian nation
assembled in Diet, do by these presents solemnly proclaim, in
maintenance of the inalienable natural rights of Hungary, with all its
appurtenances and dependencies, to occupy the position of an
Independent European state; that the house of Lorraine-Hapsburg, as
perjured in the sight of God and man, has forfeited its right to the
Hungarian throne. At the same time, we feel ourselves bound in duty to
make known the motives and reasons which have impelled us to this
decision, that the civilized world may learn we have not taken this step
out of overweening confidence in our own wisdom, or out of
revolutionary excitement, but that it is an act of the last necessity,
adopted to preserve from utter destruction a nation persecuted to the
limit of the most enduring patience.
Three hundred years have passed since the Hungarian nation, by free
election, placed the house of Austria upon its throne, in accordance
with stipulations made on both sides, and ratified by treaty. These three
hundred years have been, for the country, a period of uninterrupted
suffering.
The Creator has blessed this country with all the elements of wealth
and happiness. Its area of one hundred and ten thousand square miles
presents, in varied profusion, innumerable sources of prosperity. Its
population, numbering nearly fifteen millions, feels the glow of
youthful strength within its veins, and has shown temper and docility
which warrant its proving at once the main organ of civilization in
Eastern Europe, and the guardian of that civilization when attacked.
Never was a more grateful task appointed to a reigning dynasty by the
dispensation of Providence than that which devolved upon the house of
Lorraine-Hapsburg. It would have sufficed, to do nothing to impede the
development of the country. Had this been the rule observed, Hungary
would now rank among the most prosperous nations. It was only
necessary that it should not envy the Hungarians the moderate share of
constitutional liberty which they timidly maintained during the
difficulties of