most largely in all the improvements and progress which distinguish the age.  Certainly, the United States may be pardoned, even by those who profess adherence to the principles of absolute government, if they entertain an ardent affection for those popular forms of political organization which have so rapidly advanced their own prosperity and happiness, and enabled them, in so short a period, to bring their country, and the hemisphere to which it belongs, to the notice and respectful regard, not to say the admiration, of the civilized world.  Nevertheless, the United States have abstained, at all times, from acts of interference with the political changes of Europe.  They cannot, however, fail to cherish always a lively interest in the fortunes of nations struggling for institutions like their own.  But this sympathy, so far from being necessarily a hostile feeling toward any of the parties to these great national struggles, is quite consistent with amicable relations with them all.  The Hungarian people are three or four times as numerous as the inhabitants of these United States were when the American Revolution broke out.  They possess, in a distinct language, and in other respects, important elements of a separate nationality, which the Anglo-Saxon race in this country did not possess; and if the United States wish success to countries contending for popular constitutions and national independence, it is only because they regard such constitutions and such national independence, not as imaginary, but as real blessings.  They claim no right, however, to take part in the struggles of foreign powers in order to promote these ends.  It is only in defence of his own government, and its principles and character, that the undersigned has now expressed himself on this subject.  But when the people of the United States behold the people of foreign countries, without any such interference, spontaneously moving toward the adoption of institutions like their own, it surely cannot be expected of them to remain wholly indifferent spectators.

In regard to the recent very important occurrences in the Austrian empire, the undersigned freely admits the difficulty which exists in this country, and is alluded to by Mr. Huelsemann, of obtaining accurate information.  But this difficulty is by no means to be ascribed to what Mr. Huelsemann calls, with little justice, as it seems to the undersigned, “the mendacious rumors propagated by the American press.”  For information on this subject, and others of the same kind, the American press is, of necessity, almost wholly dependent upon that of Europe; and if “mendacious rumors” respecting Austrian and Hungarian affairs have been anywhere propagated, that propagation of falsehoods has been most prolific on the European continent, and in countries immediately bordering on the Austrian empire.  But, wherever these errors may have originated, they certainly justified the late President in seeking true information through authentic channels.