peasants, rich and poor, progressionists and | had for recognizing the Emperor of Austria conservatives. Ferdinand was still regarded as King of Hungary at all. as their legitimate, but unlawfully deposed King. XII. The English crown is peculiarly affected by these events; because they destroy IX. Between the Theiss and the Morosch, the confidence of nations in the oaths of prinKossuth organized the means of fabricating ces; especially considering that Hungary arms and money; and in the course of March was the only great community on the Contiand April a series of tremendous battles took nent, whose ancient liberties had not been place, in which the Austrians were some fif- violently and treacherously annihilated by its teen times defeated, and without a single king. No guarantees of right any longer exchange of fortune their armies, 130,000 ist, except those which have been wrested strong, were swept out of Hungary with im- out by popular violence, and established on mense slaughter. Only certain fortresses re- some doctrinaire basis. The aristocracy of mained in their power, and those were sure England are deeply concerned, when the only to fall by mere lapse of time. The Austri- remaining continental aristocracy possessed an Cabinet was desperate at losing a game of constitutional rights, and taking the lead in which it had risked so much. Its more Its more of a willing nation, is remorselessly trampled scrupulous members had retired, including under foot. Our commonalty is concerned, Stadion himself. Bloodier generals were when deprived of commercial intercourse brought forward, and the intervention of Rus- with fourteen millions of agriculturists. Our sia (long promised, and granted as early as religious feelings are shocked, when HungaFebruary in Transylvania) was publicly avow-rian zeal for universal toleration is overridden ed. This act finally alienated from Austria every patriotic Hungarian. X. Upon the entrance of the Russians with the consent of Francis Joseph, the Hungarian Parliament, on the 14th of April, after reciting the acts of perfidy and atrocity by which the house of Hapsburg had destroyed its compacts with the nation, solemnly pronounced that house to have forfeited the crown. During the existing crisis Kossuth, according to constitutional precedent, was made Governer of the country. XI. We all know how Hungary, deprived of her ports, taken by surprise, isolated and abandoned, has been overwhelmed by the combined hosts of her unscrupulous foes. But has England nothing to say to this? For three centuries at least Hungary has been a prominent member of the European family of nations. Her constitutional union to the house of Hapsburg has been a notorious public fact; and in the Emperor of Austria, as King of Hungary, Europe has long seen a powerful barrier against Russian encroachment. That Hungary is not Austria -that the Emperor of Austria has no right in Hungary except as its Constitutional King -is as public a fact in Europe as that Hanover was never part of England. When Hungary proclaimed to us that the Emperor of Austria was no longer her King-that she had found the house of Hapsburg traitorous, and had legally deposed it; and when the Hungarian nation had, by a unanimous effort, actually expelled her invaders-there was the very same reason for our acknowledging the independence of Hungary, as we ever by the Romanist bigotry of Austria. Our liberties are endangered by the spectacle of two sovereigns tearing in pieces a noble nation from pure hatred of its constitutionalism which nine centuries have not made sacred in their eyes. The security of all Europe is endangered by the virtual vassalage of Austria to Russia, which this calamitous outrage has entailed; for Austria is now so abhorred in Hungary that she cannot keep her conquest except by Russian aid. Every one foresaw this from the beginning; the government of Vienna knew it, as well as that of St. Petersburg. Such are the results of the conspiracy of an Austrian cabinet against their Emperor, against his kingdom of Hungary, against the new-born liberties of Vienna, and against the balance of power in Europe. XIII. What remains for England to do, but firmly to declare to Austria:-"Until we see the Constitution as it was before October, 1848, re-established in Hungary, we do not acknowledge your position in Lombardy; for Hungary had a far better right to her national existence and independence than you to your empire over the foreign Lombards?" A military tyrant may at any moment commit an act of rapine with summary speed ; sage and moderate by-standers need time to learn and judge of the case. If we extend the doctrine of faits accomplis to the highhanded crime under which Hungary still lies bleeding, we proclaim impunity and recognition to every unprincipled marauder. |