The National Register.
London, England, 1814-08-14 00:00:00

POLITICAL 1)1S2CTISIIION.

THE FATE OF POL tND.

To the freedom of our oWn institutions we owe the interest
*which the people of England have always taken in the atTail s
of Poland—an interest, indeed, which time nor ei,cutnitnnce
ein ever abate, so long as independence shall be dear to the
hopes and wishes of civilized Turope.

It is, however, the province of despotism to confound the
simplest propositions by an elaborate display of self-sufficient
knowledge, and to speak in the abstract of rights and immu-
nities that are derived from the first p' inciples of nature.
Hence men are acenstomed to reason upon questions which
they do not unders'ancl, and which, if they did, fluctnate
too much for sober deducti9n, and leave the mind exposed
to doubt and uncertainty,

This' has been the trick and custom of the enemies di'
mankind for ages, and men were even found, whin the in.
famous partition of Poland took place. to justify the invasion
Of the independence of a brave people, and to pretend to see '
ThOilVeS of profound policy in 2 measure that *at a gross
Outrage upon every principle of moral-justice. Time, that
leas not changed the character of the proceeding, or made
the disgrace less indelible, seems to have wrought as little
change in the policy of those who succeeded to the inhet it-
ance obtained by crime; and if we may judge by what is
going on, the same fraudulent spirit continues to animate the
designs and hopes of those, whom no lutTerings can teach, and
whom the experience of the past can never enlighten. If
indeed better principles and difrerent maxims prevailed, the
rights of Poland to an independent Government could never
be brought into the deceitful discussions of modern states-
men. Restoration otrtltt to precede arrangement, and Po
sand be allowed to act freely and for heiseif before it he pre-
sumed to dictate her form of Government. lf. indeed, those
who are called magnanimous, mean to act magnanimously.
they will give her a voice at the ensuing Congress, and trust
to her gratitude. instead of her fears. It is folly to ta'k of the
rights of Pot Ind, if she who i, alone interested be excluded
from all share in the discussions that are to revive her liberties,
or, evinguish them for ever. She must he mule a party to
every measure, or it is adding mockery to insult to sas that
she exi-ti. The dismemberment of Poland in 1771, and its
subsequent divi-ion in 1793, were marked, part
Vol. Vii. Ng. CCCXLI.

SUNDAY, A(' ti 1814

Pr>yr.r.

latter, by crimes which Were never exceeded, and which eNen
!It this day have given in comparison the character Of werci•
fill tonne of the most destructive of all conquerors. Are these
trocities forgotten, or rather do they not still serve to clieri4l
the secret disgust which every rational man on the continetit
thl.n felt at those fearful enormities. and still throw doubt
and distrust over the subsequent policy of those cabinets
which meditate so Many new and extensive changes ? At
Leipsic, poems and addresses presented to the Emperor A'ex-
ander term with this feeling: all that is felt by the Favonc is
felt by the Poles, And the afrecting mr.ntiments of the one
are not necessary to rekind!e and inspire a nation that has
never been subdued. and whose perseverance and vaTolir
entitle them to a permanent rank amongst the nations of Om
Con!lnent,

In our opinion the Allied Sovereifns cannot depart a tithe
from the moderation of their first views, wahout a dauger-
()us imitation that may sow the seeds of subsequent jealousy.
Russia is large enough ----and her pourer tog) securely
predo-
minates for the safey of Europe. All barriers are fietifous
that are not founded on the
.attections of the people. Po,-
land, to, efreetnally protect Piussia on the one hand, or to
serve as a balance, on,the other, must be made independent.
In this age of miraculous succession and depositiot., there
can be no objection to make the crown of Poland be. edit iry
in some of the native families, thou.th we confess we should
prefer the dominion of Augus'us as best ealen4ated for se-
curity and protection. Besides, we believe him to be re.
vered and esteemed by the Poles themselves. Indeed hr ap-
pears to us at this moment to be one of !he most into. esti ti;,t
sons now engaged in the great drama: he is mild, fa',l.fn and
braye,and hears his misfortunes with the heroism of one tha' is
sensible of having done his duty. his c,'nnsc•tion wir 13..0-
naparte makes nothiog against the mo. a' g•andenr of his
character. All the Governments of the Coot;neot are
answerable equally with Saxony, with this difference. that fie
was too generous to betray, and too manly to alYindim
Hs
ally at the critical moment, as Bavaria an:l otllers (la -'1,(1)
a man offers more security than any of the Powers sve ate
I speaking of. and !lie division of Ins dornini,mi woai I:e ;
! act only differing in the nu.nber of its aches and ,he ex Cot
of its population, with the second partition of P

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