“Pennsylvania, the Keystone State—­May it, by its legitimate influence upon the destinies of this mighty power on earth, and by the substantial generosity of its citizens, soon become the keystone of European independence.”

Hon. J. H. Walker, Speaker of the Senate, and several other speakers followed, all decidedly sympathizing with the Hungarians, and advocating intervention for non-intervention.

The speaking continued until after midnight.

* * * * *

XXIII.—­AGENCIES OF RUSSIAN ASCENDANCY AND SUPREMACY.

[Pittsburg Festival, Jan. 26th.]

Kossuth was received in the Masonic Hall, which was filled to overflowing.  After an eloquent address to him from the Chairman, A. W. Loomis, Esq., he replied: 

Sir, The highly interesting instruction which your kindness has afforded me about that new and wonderful world of the West, in the entrance of which I now stand, impresses me with a presentiment of unlooked for events.

Since I have been in the United States, I have felt as if my guardian angel whispered, that in the West the hopes of my bleeding country will be realized.  It was an unconscious instinct,—­a ray shooting above the horizon from the yet unseen sun.  You, sir, have shown me the sun itself in full majesty.  You have transformed my instinct into conviction.  Here then, upon the threshold of the West, I bow with awe and joy, as the fireworshipper of old Persia to the source of life and light.

It is indeed joyful, sir, as you said, to see politicians, sectarians, philanthropists of all classes uniting in spontaneous sympathy for a cause pleaded by a stranger.  I recognize in it the bounty of Providence.  I see the truth revealed, that as magnetism pervades the universe, so there is a sentiment, which, independent of party affections and bubbling passion, pervades the breast of mankind; and that is, the love of Freedom, Justice, and Right.  The chord of Freedom passes through all hearts, and whoever touches it, elicits harmony.  The harmony is in the chord, not in him who touches it.  There is no skill in the breeze which sweeps over the Aeolian harp, yet a sweet harmony bursts forth from its vibrations.  The harmony of sympathy which I meet is the most decisive proof, gentlemen, that the cause which I plead is indeed the cause of liberty, the love of which gushes up spontaneously in human bosoms.

Gentlemen, the cause of Hungary, even were it not the cause of Europe and of all earthly freedom, deserves your sympathy and active protection.  Like other free nations, we were brave.  The Austrian dynasty was perjured and treacherous; and our bravest bled on the scaffold.  Tyrannies are cruel:  only the people knows how to be generous in victory.—­Let me rather say, the People was generous:  for the future I hope it will be just.  I hope this, not because there is any deep truth in the Irish poet, who sang