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A Celebrated, Disillusioned Hungarian Revolutionary's Visit to Pittsburgh in 1852

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A Celebrated, Disillusioned Hungarian Revolutionary's Visit to Pittsburgh in 1852 A Celebrated, Disillusioned Hungarian Revolutionary’s Visit to Pittsburgh in 1852 By Steven B. Várdy, Ph.D. 18 WESTERNPENNSYLVANIA HISTORY | S P R I N G 2 0 0 8 Louis Kossuth, 1802-1894. From Dedication of a Bust of Lajos (Louis) Kossuth, 1990. Courtesy of Hungarian Reformed Federation of America. WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA HISTORY | S P R I N G 2 0 0 8 19 n Hungary, there is hardly a city, University building. Here, Kossuth and his introduced a form of absolutism. Following town, or village without a Kossuth retinue lodged for nine days and nights.1 the Napoleonic Wars, rising nationalism of Street, a Kossuth Square, a Kossuth One of Kossuth’s great political the Empire’s more than a dozen nationalities Club, or some other institution or undertakings was his nearly eight-month- forced the Habsburg rulers to become more organization named after Louis long visit to the United States: December 4, conciliatory toward Hungary. In 1825 [Lajos]I Kossuth. Of all the prominent 1851-July 14, 1852. He came with the Emperor Francis I (r. 1792-1835) even agreed personalities in Hungarian history, no one is intention of securing American help for to call into session the Hungarian Feudal Diet. better known worldwide than this celebrated resuming his struggle against the Austrian This act initiated Hungary’s Age of Reform leader of the Hungarian Revolution of 1848- Habsburg dynasty, which had ruled Hungary (1825-1848), which ultimately led to the 1849. Even in the United States there are over a for over three centuries.2 In the early 16th Revolution of 1848. During the reform dozen towns, counties, and institutions named century the Kingdom of Hungary was divided period, Louis Kossuth became one of the most after him. In Pennsylvania these include the between the Ottoman Turkish and the recognized and revered leaders of his nation’s Village of Kossuth, located 12 miles northwest Habsburg empires. With the decline of struggle against Habsburg absolutism. This of Clarion, but he is also remembered in Turkish power, by 1699 all of Hungary came fight landed him in prison for three years Pittsburgh by a Kossuth plaque on an outside under the rule of the Habsburg dynasty. They (1837-1840), but Kossuth used his “free time” wall where the St. Charles Hotel used to stand deprived the country of its constitution and well. It was during his imprisonment that he in the mid-19th century, now a Point Park learned English—largely by reading Shakespeare and the King James Kossuth’s image was placed on a variety of postage stamps. From Dedication of a Bust of Lajos (Louis) Kossuth, 1990. Courtesy of HRFA. This plaque, mounted on the site of the former St. Charles Hotel, commemorates Kossuth’s 1852 visit to Pittsburgh. Photo Steven Vardy. 20 WESTERNPENNSYLVANIA HISTORY | S P R I N G 2 0 0 8 version of the Bible. He emerged from sums of money and retained it for himself. materialize, but also because he was unable to captivity in 1840, more popular than ever. And finally, Kossuth and his close friends collect enough funds for the continuation of The pressure for political, social, and wanted to travel unrecognized to avoid his struggle in Europe. Already a few weeks economic reforms—and for the restoration being assassinated by Russian agents. Russia into his American tour, Kossuth realized that of Hungarian constitutionalism—led to the was primarily responsible for Hungary’s most of the funds collected would be wasted. Hungarian Revolution of 1848. After a few defeat in 1849, and Kossuth wanted to Instead of accumulating all of the donations months this revolution ultimately turned into reciprocate by supporting Turkey in its for Kossuth’s political goals, local reception a War of Independence (October 1848- upcoming confrontation with Russia in committees—in virtually all of the cities he August 1849). Within a few months Kossuth had visited—used a sizable portion of the became the most recognized and accepted collected money to pay for unnecessary leader of his nation. On October 8, 1848, he celebrations. In other words, the enthusiastic was elected President of the Committee for members of these committees were in National Defense, which became Hungary’s practice fleecing him, and in effect preventing de facto government. On April 14, 1849, him from attaining his goals. This is evident the Hungarian Parliament (formerly the from what happened in most major cities Feudal Diet) issued a Proclamation of he visited, including Pittsburgh.5 Independence, deposed the Habsburg Although today Kossuth’s name is dynasty, and elected Louis Kossuth as not a household word in the United Hungary’s “Governing President” (or States, in the years following the Governor). He retained this position Hungarian Revolution of 1848 he until August 11, 1849, when, was well known to the American following the Russian military public. Many viewed him as the invasion and the defeat of the embodiment of human freedom and Hungarian revolutionary armies, he equality, which was the result of the resigned and fled to the Ottoman heavy press coverage the anti- Turkish Empire. After two years in Habsburg Hungarian Revolution Turkish exile in Asia Minor, Kossuth received. Americans often compared was permitted to leave for America.3 the Hungarian Revolution with their Having been freed from his Asiatic own War of Independence against the banishment, Kossuth came to America British seven decades earlier, and their with great hopes and expectations, but he sympathies lay fully with the Hungarians. returned to Europe nearly eight months later Upon Kossuth’s arrival, his brilliant as a disillusioned and dejected man under oratorical skills, his personal magnetism, and the assumed name of “Mr. Alexander his very presence in the United States was so Smith.” He and his friends traveled overpowering that millions of Americans fell incognito for several reasons: First, because Because of America’s noninterventionist under his spell. His public speaking skills by the time of his return to Europe, Kossuth stance, Louis Kossuth returned to Hungary were attested to by many of his contemporary a disillusioned revolutionary. knew fully well that he had lost his struggle From Dedication of a Bust of Lajos (Louis) Kossuth, 1990. Courtesy of HRFA. observers, including John Langdon Sibley for an American intervention. He was very (1804-1885) Harvard’s chief librarian during disappointed, but at the same time he did what turned out to be the Crimean War that period (1841-1856), who kept copious not wish to voice his disappointment openly, (1853-1856), which resulted in Russia’s diaries for those years. As Sibley writes: because he did not want to offend the U.S. defeat by France, England, Turkey, and His talents place him among the giants government. Kossuth also chose anonymity Piedmont.4 of the world.... Kossuth uses but little action when speaking and in his most to avoid those Hungarian political émigrés Kossuth’s visit to the United States was eloquent passages stands with his arms in New York City, who believed—quite unsuccessful not only because the hoped-for folded across his breast. The variety, incorrectly—that he had collected huge American military intervention failed to the strength, the greatness of thought, WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA HISTORY | S P R I N G 2 0 0 8 21 1892), a Quaker poet who was a forceful advocate of slavery’s abolition; Horace Greeley (1811-1872), reformer, editor of The New York Tribune, and a founder of the Republican party; and James Russell Lowell (1819-1891), a noted poet, satirist, journalist, and diplomat.15 John Whittier greeted Kossuth as “the noblest guest, the Old World’s wrongs has given the New World of the West.” A section of his poem, dedicated to Kossuth, reads as follows: Who shall receive him? Who, unblushing, speak Welcome to him, who, he strove to break The Austrian yoke from Magyar necks, smote off At the same blow the fetters of the serf, -- Large crowds of supporters met Kossuth in every town as he traveled throughout the United States. Rearing the altar of the Father-land From Dedication of a Bust of Lajos (Louis) Kossuth, 1990. Courtesy of HRFA. On the firm basis of freedom, and thereby Lifting to heaven a patriot’s stainless hand, the knowledge of our country and its We welcome thee, we welcome thine Mocked not the God of Justice with a lie! institutions, the command of the With pleasure to our land, Who shall be Freedom’s mouth-piece? Who shall give English language which are exhibited And gladly aid to break the chain, Her welcome cheer to the great fugitive? 16 in his innumerable speeches are Forged by the oppressor’s hand. At the same time Horace Greeley painted the almost incredible.6 To thee the hand of love we give, following exalted portrait of Kossuth: Proud are we of our guest. The impact of Kossuth’s presence is also Of the many popular leaders who were God speed the hour when thy loved home, described in detail by Donald Spencer in upheaved by the great convulsions of 1848 With freedom may be blest. his 1977 book, Louis Kossuth and Young into the full sunlight of European celebrity 7 and American popular regard, the world has America. Kossuth’s name resounded Thou’rt welcome here, thou’rt welcome here, already definitely assigned the first rank to everywhere during the early 1850s, and his Though from a foreign shore, Louis Kossuth…. He may be called to die in cult spread far and wide across the continent. Thou’lt find Columbia’s sons for thee, palace or dungeon, in his prime or In Have sympathy in store.
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