Fraternity-Testvériség, 1941 (19. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1941-02-01 / 2. szám
14 TESTVÉRISÉG authorities refused to allow him to cross Prance. His ship, the “Madrid”, landed at Southampton on the 24th of October. The reporter of “The Times” went on board of the steamer with Mr. Andrews, the Mayor of Southampton, Mr. Cobden, the chief organizer of Kossuth’s visit, and Mr. Crosley, the American consul in Southampton. Kossuth stood bareheaded on the deck at the arrival of the deputation. Mr. Andrews greeted him as “the Champion of Liberty.” Kossuth’s answer weis very short, a few words only, said with embarrassed pathos: Ah! Now I feel I am free! I am free when I touch your soil! The reporter gave a detailed account of the whole scene. He described with unusual vividness Kossuth’s outward appearance: “He stands five feet eight inches in height; his stature is lean and he has a rather delicately built body. His face is oval, with large greyish blue eyes, recalling the eyes of O’Connel. His forehead is high and broad with deep wrinkles. His lips are covered with thick mustaohe, but only when he is not speaking." Lastly the reporter mentioned that the well known portraits of the Hungarian patriot bore very little resemblance to their original. Generally speaking the reporter saw In Kossuth the man of thoughts rather than of acts. His features reminded one more of a theoretical enthusiast than of a great political leader. For three weeks after his arrival Kossuth was the object of extraordinary enthusiasm, equalled only by that with wnich Garibaldi was received ten years later. Addresses were presented to him at Southampton, Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow and Edinburgh. He was officially entertained by the Lord Mayor of London. At each place he pleaded the cause of his unhappy country. Speaking English he displayed an eloquence and command of the language scarcely excelled by the greatest orators in their own tongue. The agitation had no immediate effect, but the indignation he aroused against Russian policy had much to do with the strong anti-Russian feeling which made the Crimean War possible (Encyclopedia Britannica.) The date of his departure for New York was fixed for Nov. 20th. The shipping company offered a free passage to Kossuth, his family, and the few friends who accompanied him on his voyage. The attentive reporter of “The Times” was again on the spot. The evening was dull and chilly, and the sea more than choppy. The prospects for an ocean voyage with the clumsy paddle steamers of the early fifties were anything, but pleasant. Kossuth was smoking his cigar nervously, He had not slept the night before. Every feature of his face and the broken light of his wonderful eyes betrayed his great physical and spiritual exhaustion. It was a quarter past nine when the shot of the signal given from the “Humboldt” was heard. The steamer was waiting for her passengers in the Solway, and Kossuth and his traveling companions had to go aboard with a tender. XIX For each principle we fought for Has Kossuth the valient stood, And the government he sought for Was republican and good. Where is the craven spirit That would dare to show his face, And proclaim our nation’s welcome Was a national disgrace? XX Humanity is with us In the path that we have trod, And not alone humanity, But a wise,, all-seeing God. He ordereth the nations — It is His o’erruling hand That has given wealth and power To our wide and fruitful land. XXI What are kings, and thrones, and nations, Or the power for which they lust, Compared with Him who values “All our vanities as dust” — “He who taketh up the islands” “As a very little thing,” “To whom men are but as grasshoppers?” Then what to Him a king? XXII “He looketh down from Heaven, He ordereth all things well,” He hath raised us up a nation Old Europe’s woes to quell. In our youth He watched and guarded Us, with power from His Throne, But our Future — and our Destiny Is known to Him alone. XXIII He has planted deep in every heart The love of truth and right, He has taught us by our conscience That for Freedom we may fight; He has taught us we may welcome Here, the poor and the oppressed, Give the exile aid and comfort, Give the weak and weary rest. XXIV We see in Kossuth something more Than merely man alone, He bears his high commission From God’s Eternal Throne; He comes to save his nation, To set the captive free, To Europe bears salvation, To Earth Christianity.
