"In the name of the people, I tender to you the hospitalities of a
commonwealth founded by Exiles and Pilgrims."
To this welcome to the capitol of Massachusetts, Kossuth replied as
follows:
"I feel deeply sensible of the immense benefit which a happy and
prosperous people has conferred upon an unfortunate people. Moments
like the present can only be felt, not spoken. I feel a deep emotion,
sir. I am not ashamed of it. Allow me to say that, in taking that
hand, the hand of the people of Massachusetts, and having listened in
your voice to the sentiments and feelings of the people of
Massachusetts, I indeed cannot forbear to believe that humanity has
arrived at a great turning point in its destinies, because such a
sight was never yet seen on earth.
"Conquerors, triumphant and proud of success, confer honors and glory
on a poor exile, having nothing to speak for him but his misfortunes.
"Sir, the spirit of liberty is lasting; liberty cannot die, because it
has become the common sentiment of all humanity. The spirit of liberty
takes itself wings,--you are happy to be the first-born son of that
spirit; but we accept our condition just to be one of its martyrs; and
I look with hope, I look with confidence, into the future, because that
spirit which prepared for the poor exile the present day will be
recorded in the records of history, and will mark the destiny of coming
centuries.
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