2 NOVEMBER 1951, Page 12

"the spectator " Aobeniber 1851

A LARGE portion of the week's news has consisted of the doings with, by, and about M. Kossuth, and of reports of his remark- able English eloquence. Further speeches have been made by him at Winchester, at Southampton, and at the Guildhall of London. The first was historical ; the second was the discur- sive complement of the first ; the last was a well-cogitated thesis on various " principles," prominently brought to the orator's mind by the circumstances of his visit to the Metropolis. His hearers wondered at his wealth of words ; his earnestness affected them ; his natural tact and professional training enabled him to be "all things to all men," while he watchfully avoided some popular traps that he had been warned to shun.

The aim and tendency of the demonstrations are sufficiently obvious. The object of M. Kossuth is to appeal in behalf of himself and .his cause to the judgement of Englishmen ; the object of the parties who assemble to hear him is to pronounce in the name of England a verdict in their favour. The position which M. Kossuth and his audiences seek to affirm has gradually shaped itself into this: No government has a right to interfere in the intestine dissensions of a foreign state ; and if any government so interferes, others have a right to combine to prevent its intervention.