[Footnote *:  The news of the coup d’etat had not yet reached him.]

You have spoken about certain persons who will have “peace at any price.”  Of course you feel that permanent peace cannot be had at any less price, than that which buys justice:  nor can there be justice, where is no freedom.  Under oppression is neither contentment nor tranquillity.  There are some who prefer being oppressed to the dangers of shaking off oppression; but I am sure there are millions who fear death less than enslavement.  Peace therefore will not exist, though all your Rothschilds and Barings help the despots.  To withhold material aid from the oppressed will not avert the war, but by depriving the leaders of the means of concert will simply make the struggle more lingering:  a result surely not desired by friends of peace.

But, sir, I thank you for your dollar.  The ocean is composed of drops.  The greatest results are achieved, not by individuals, but by the humble industry of mankind, incessantly bringing man nearer to the aim providentially destined for him.  Not all the Rothschilds together can wield such sums as poor people can; for the poor count by millions.  Those dollars of the people have another great value.  One million of them given by a million of men gives hope to the popular cause:  it gives the sympathy and support of a million men.  I bless God for that word of yours, that the one dollar should be followed by many; for then your example would not only in a financial respect be a great benefit, but afford a foundation for that freedom which the Almighty designs for the nations.  Here is a great glory for your country to aim at.  It is glorious to stand at the top of the pyramid of humanity; more glorious to become yourselves the pillar on which the welfare of human nature rests.  For this, mankind looks to your country with hope and confidence.

* * * * *

XI.—­HUNGARY AND AUSTRIA IN RELIGIOUS CONTRAST.

[Address in the Plymouth Church at Brooklyn, Dec. 18th, 1851.]

The Rev. H. W. Beecher having assured Kossuth of the deep and religious interest long felt and expressed towards him within those very walls:  Kossuth replied, declaring that he felt himself always in the power of God, and believed Christianity and freedom to be but one cause.  He went on to add: 

The cause of Hungary is strongly connected with the principle of religious liberty on earth.  In the first war of the sixteenth century a battle was fought by the Moslems in Hungary, by which the power of our nation was almost overthrown.  At that time the monarchy was elective.  A Hungarian, who was Governor of Transylvania, was chosen king, but another party elected Ferdinand of Austria to be King of Hungary.  A long struggle ensued, in which the Princes of Transylvania called in Turkish aid against the House of Austria.