“Born in a land of liberty, having early learned its value, having engaged in a perilous conflict to defend it, having devoted the best years of my life to secure its permanent establishment in my country, my anxious recollections, my sympathetic feelings, and my best wishes, are irresistibly attracted, whensoever in any country I see an oppressed nation unfurl the banner of freedom.”

Thus spoke Washington.  Have I not then full reason to say, that if he were alive his generous sympathy would be with me, and the sympathy of a Washington never was, and never would be, a barren word.  Washington who raised the word “honesty” as a rule of policy, never would have professed a sentiment which his wisdom as a statesman would not have approved.

Sir! here let me end.  I consider it already as an immense benefit that your generous attention connected the cause of Hungary with the celebration of the memory of Washington.

Spirit of the departed! smile down from heaven upon this appreciation of my country’s cause; watch over those principles which thou hast taken for the guiding star of thy noble life, and the time will yet come when not only thine own country, but liberated Europe also, will be a living monument to thy immortal name.

[Many other toasts, and highly energetic speeches followed, which our limits force us to exclude.]

* * * * *

XXXII.—­KOSSUTH’S CREDENTIALS.

[Farewell to Ohio, Feb. 25th.]

Sir,—­I am about to bid an affectionate farewell to Cincinnati, and through Cincinnati to the commonwealth of Ohio—­that bright morning star of consolation and of hope risen from the West over the gloomy horizon of Hungary’s and of Europe’s dark night!

Ohio! how that name thrills through the very heart of my heart, with inexpressible pleasure, like the first trumpet sound of resurrection in the ears of the chosen just!

Ohio! how I will cherish that very name, the dearest of my soul, after the name of my beloved own dear fatherland.

How I long for words of flame to express all the warmth of my heartfelt gratitude!  And still how poor I feel in words, precisely because my heart is so full; so full, that I can scarcely speak—­because every pulsation of my blood is fervent prayer to God for Ohio’s glory and happiness.

Let me dispense with empty words—­let what Ohio did, does, and will do, for the cause of European freedom, be its own monument!

I have met many a fair flower of sympathy in this great united Republic, but all Ohio has been to me a blooming garden of sympathy.  From the first step on Ohio’s soil to the last,—­along all my way up to Cleveland down to Columbus, and across to Cincinnati, and also beyond the line of my joyful way,—­in every city, in every town, in every village, in every lonely farm, I have met the same generosity, the same sympathy.