Fraternity-Testvériség, 1942 (20. évfolyam, 1-5. szám)
1942-02-01 / 2. szám
TESTVÉRISÉG s questing Kossuth’s release. On March 3, 1851, the Congress of the United States passed a Joint Resolution, signed by President Fillmore, inviting Kossuth to visit the United States. Kossuth was overjoyed. He immediately accepted the invitation. In September, 1851, the United States man of war, Mississippi, steamed into Constantinople. Kossuth and his family (his wife had joined him after a dangerous escape from Hungary), protected by a heavy guard, boarded the vessel. As the battleship pulled out of the harbor, and turned her prow westward, Kossuth remarked that he was now starting upon the greatest mission of his life. His reception in Hew York was one ovation after another, but I do not have time to tell you about that tonight. After spending several days in Hew York, he went to Philadelphia, then to Baltimore, and then to Washington. In Washington he dined with President Fillmore, and was the official guest of our Congress. Meantime the citizens of Pittsburgh, acting through their Mayor, the Hon John B. Guthrie, had invited Kossuth to visit this city, on his travels west. The committee was headed by Mayor Guthrie of Pittsburgh and Mayor Hugh S. Fleming of Allegheny. Kossuth accepted the invitation; and from that date until his arrival, this city was stirred with excitement. His arrival was delayed on account of the cold weather and heavy snows which blocked all travel over the mountains. Telegraphic dispatches reported that a large force of men were kept at work clearing the roads. The weather was bitter cold. The Gazette Times announced in its issue of Jan. 21, 1852, that, “Owing to the intense cold, their carriers had not been able to serve all their subscribers the day before.” And one finds in the issue of that day, and the day following, weather reports, stating that the thermometers registered all the way from 12 to 20 degrees below zero. The next day, Thursday, Kossuth had not yet arrived. Our citizens were becoming anxious. Surely he would arrive that afternoon, or early next morning. Finally, at about seventhirty o’clock that evening, January 22nd, 90 years ago tonight, the great leader and his party reached Wilkinsburg. A reception committee had gone out to meet him, and escorted hint immediately to Pittsburgh. He had suffered painfully from the intense cold. He was quite ill when he reached the hotel. But even so, he stepped out on the balcony, of the old St. Charles Hotel, 3rd and Wood Street, and addressed a few remarks to the waiting crowd. He announced that he was tired, completely worn out, — but that after he had rested for a day, he would meet them again. Kossuth spent ten days in our city. Each day was filled with meetings and recepitons. He was confined to his room the first day, recovering from a severe cold. But the next day, the city extended him its official reception. It was a great occasion. Early that morning, delegations from the neighboring counties of Beaver, Armstrong, Butler, Mercer, and Lawrence began to arrive. Kossuth received them all in his hotel. The Beaver County delegation brought $300.00 in cash, a magnificent expression of their interest in the cause sponsored by your great Liberator.
