Francis Jackson Garrison, William Lloyd Garrison, 1805-1879; the story of his life told by his children: volume 3

‘ [345] all the friends of my cause, not to do anything in respect to myself that could throw difficulties in my way, and, while expressing sympathy for the cause, would injure it.’ Like Father Mathew, he placed his selfish mission above a transcendent interest of the human race—subordinating American slavery to European political oppression; and pursued the phantom of a recognition by the United¹ States of the independence of a conquered Hungary, a union with England in a paper menace to Russia, an insistence on the right to maintain commercial intercourse with the nations of Europe whether in revolt against their governments or not!—a policy which rationally could proceed only from principles fatal to the existence of chattel slavery.

‘The die is cast,’ said Mr. Garrison (in an article headed² ‘Kossuth Fallen!’).

All speculation is now at an end as to the position Kossuth means to maintain on the slavery question in the United States. He means to be deaf, dumb, and blind, in regard to it! Like recreant Father Mathew, to subserve his own purposes, and secure the favor of a slaveholding and slave-breeding people, he skulks—he dodges—he plays fast and loose—he refuses to see any stain on the American character, any inconsistency in pretending to adore liberty and at the same time multiplying human beings for the auction-block and the slave shambles! It is not for him to “meddle” with anything in this country—not even so far as to express an opinion. O no! But he enforces it upon us as a religious duty, to interpose nationally for the liberation of Hungary, by threatening Austria and Russia that, if they do not stand aloof and let the Hungarians do as they please in the management of their own affairs, we will add to our threats blows, and let slip the dogs of war! Beautiful consistency! O, this is pitiable!

On the same page of the Liberator with this censure, Mr. Garrison printed twenty stanzas, addressed to Kossuth, which were his contribution to the Liberty Bell for 1852. They bore date December 10, 1851, the author's 46th birthday, and had this foot-note appended: ‘Since these lines³ were written, Kossuth has made a dishonorable election. ’