Hungarian American Coalition News, 2002 (11. évfolyam, 1-2. szám)
2002 / 1. szám
Throughout the room] Well, God's will be done!...I trust to the principles of republicanism; and, whatever my personal fate, so much I know, that my country will conserve to you and your glorious land an everlasting gratitude. [Here the whole audience rose and cheered vociferously] * *** * KOSSUTH IN OHIO Kossuth was received by the General Assembly of Ohio where he delivered one of his most quoted speeches that focuses on the role of the people in a democracy. It has a striking conceptual similarity to the most famous speech in American history: the Gettysburg address by Abraham Lincoln. "The General Assembly of Ohio, having magnanimously bestowed upon me the high honor of this national welcome, it is with profound veneration that I beg leave to express my fervent gratitude for it. Were even no principles of the future connected to with the honor which I now enjoy, still the past would be memorable in history, and not fail to have a beneficial influence, consciously to develop the Spirit of the Age, invisible yet omnipresent; impregnable, all-pervading; scorned, abused, opposed, and yet omnipotent. The Spirit of our age is Democracy. All for the people and all by the people. Nothing about the people without the people. That is democracy, that is Democracy, and that is the ruling tendency of the spirit of our age. * *** * KOSSUTH COUNTY, IOWA Within the United States there are a number of streets, avenues and buildings named after the great Hungarian statesman Lajos Kossuth. In the state of Iowa, there is a county named after him, established during Kossuth's American visit. The County commissioned and dedicated last year a Kossuth statue as part of the commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the County's foundation. The County was created in January of 1851, honoring Hungary's increasingly popular hero, Kossuth. Iowa governor Hampstead had invited Kossuth to visit the State early in 1852. Conveying his regrets, Kossuth instead suggested that associations be formed to provide Hungary with "material aid". Several towns, that of Bancroft, Lu Verne and Whittermore within the county named streets after Kossuth as well. According to the 2000 Census released by the U.S. Census Bureau Kossuth County has a population of 17,163 out of a statewide population of 2,926,324. Of this statewide total the estimate for individuals of Hungarian ancestry is 5,391 with an upper band of 9,255. The area we call today the state of Iowa (56, 275 sq. miles) became a territory in 1838 and in 1846 the 29th state of the Union. Kossuth County has twelve cities, of which Algona is the county seat. The county's population and leadership observed in 2001 the 150th anniversary of the founding of the County. As part of the commemorations, the Kossuth County Board of Supervisors approved plans for a government-citizen Committee to undertake the placement of full-figure bronze statue of the County's name giver Lajos Kossuth in front of the County Courthouse in Algona. "Kossuth on State" is a sculpture created by award winning local Kossuth County artist, Wayne Thompson of Swea City, Iowa. The statue was placed on a solid granite base with a bronze plaque with the inscription: "Lajos (Louis) Kossuth 1802-1894. The namesake of Kossuth County, Kossuth as a Hungarian freedom fighter and leader of the 1848-1849 revolution for Hungarian independence. He was known as one of the greatest statesmen and orators of the mid-I9'h century. He was a prominent figure, well known in theUnited States at the time. Kossuth County was established on January 15, 1851 Dedicated this 13,h day of July, 2001." 5 • Hungarian American Coalition • Spring 2002
