The Sun.
London, England, 1863-04-04 00:00:00

THE POLISH INSURRECTION.

(From the times' Special Correspondent.)
BRESLAU, MARCH 31.
I subjoin another article from the Czas, illustra-
tive of the apparent determination of the Poles to
be satisfied with no less than a full and unstained
concession of the national programme. Referring
to the alleged proposal of independence, the paper
indulges in the following criticisms :
" The situation of Europe becomes more and more depen-
dent upon the question of Poland. The idea of a Congress
started as a baloon d'essai and framed upon the model of the
Vienna Assembly in 1815, has not prevailed with the ma-
jority of the powers. Not even those desirous of handling
the question as an international concern, and referring it to
the action of the Vienna treaties, have been able to make
up their minds on this head. Another combination is fur-
nished by the mooted alliance between France, England,
and Austria, having for its object to extort the concession
of solid guarantees, and force Russia into a different course
with regard to Poland and the Poles. Further news refers
to the intention of the St. Petersburg Cabinet to preserve
the status quo, and decline making any alterations, except
an understanding has been previously established between
her and the two other Powers who participated in the divi-
sion of Poland. That the Cologne Gazette alludes to a French
proposal said to have been made to the Ambassador of the
Powers our readers have already been informed by telegram.
According to the latest plan the kingdom of Poland, in its
present extent and within the frontiers of Vienna , is to be
recognised as an independent Ste, e in the form of a Rus-
sian Secundo •Geniteure.
" But all these plop3sals fail in one important respect.
They give no guarantee of durabiiitY. The clauses of no
treaty in the world are nowadays sufficient to support a
political arrangement now based upon the nature o f things,
and the legitimate demands, both moral and material, of
the public mind. It is not enough to:draw a line upon a bit
of paper to settle the boundaries of contiguous States ; it is
not enough to lay down a contract to define the relations
between the contracting Powers ; and it is altogether in-
sufficient to force npon a poople a charter to secure the
solidity and flourishing existence of the same. Na-
tionality is an airy nothing without freedom; freedom
relies for its protection upon independence; and
how can independence be secured except by power ?
Power, not treaties, is the only guarantee of a na-
tion's existence in the world. Whatever mode,

then, may be adopted by Europe in restoring the nation of
Poland, nothing, we aver, will ever come of it while they
cannot resolve to abandon the strait-jacket arrangements of
1815. _ _

"But the hallucinations of diplomacy do not even include
the independence of the Congress kingdom. The majority of
the proposals advanced are content with the status quo,
some little tether being, however, allowed f• r improve-
ments and gradual progress. Their only object, in point of
fact, is to restore provincial self-government. Of the other
parts of the Polish spoil, embodied with Russia proper, no
mention has been made as yet, and still this would have
been possible enough upon the basis even of the Vienna
treaties. Already Lord Castlereagh, in his circular note of
Jan. 12, 1815, addressed to the Powers assembled in Con-
gress, dilated upon the danger menacing Europe in case of
Poland being merged in Russia. But for the manifest ina•
bility of Russia to digest Poland, the integrity of Europe
would have been invaded by her. To-day the duty devolves
upon Europe of undoing the evil it created half a century
ago. But, instead of setting to work boldly and determin-
edly, she would fain free herself from her obligation by half
measures. On half measures turns all the famousand widely
discussed fuss of diplomacy.
" As it was not diplomacy which took the initiative in
rebellion, it is not diplomacy which, alone and unaided, can
decide the question of Poland. Teat question was forced
upon Europe by the insurgents ; and it is clearly the pro-
gress and development of insurrection which will exercise a
marked influence upon the conduct and ultimate issue of
the diplomatic business. Last week Europe was under the
impression of garbled news, propagated by Russian agency,
and stating insurrection to flag and subside from day to day.
All she might obtain for Poland then appeared as a crumb
thrown t) a beggar who could not take care of himself.
Hence we derive the lesson that the diplomatic proposals
must be regarded as the upshot of a time highly unfavour-
able to the Poles, and:which:could not but lower their posi-
tion in the eyes of the world. It is just possible insurrec-
tion will increase within a few days. If Europe perceives
her error, and finds the cause of Poland gaining strength,
instead of flagging and lapsing into oblivion, as she fancied,
the opinions as well as the offers of diplomacy will become
far different from what they are to-day.
" The cause of Poland is not only the cause of the Go-
vernments, but, in a higher degree, that of the peoples. From
the first point of view it is a struggle only between two
political Powers, those of Poland and Russia ; from the
second, it ought to be regarded as a moral contention, and
a war between freedom and slavery. For the sympathies of
the civilised world it is only indebted to its identity with the
interests of freedom and progress. This sympathy is apo •
tent ally of Poland ; it exercises a considerable pressure
upon the Governments, supporting them at the same time
in their endeavours, and stimulating them to interest them-
selves in our behalf. In Sweden, for instance, Government
interests are at one with public opinion, and strengthened
by the latter. In Italy, on the other hand, the Govern-
ment continues on friendly terms with Russia, while the
people, animated and carried away by the impetus of feeling,
cannot understand a policy which makes liberty crave the
alliance of despotism.
"The cause of Poland is reflected by, and connected in
manifold ramifications with, the entire condition of Europe.
To Poland Turkey is indebted for the prevalence of quiet in
the Danubian Principalities ; Prussia for liberation from the
gravest troubles ; Italy for a respite which will give her
time for internal development; Denmark for safety from
German intervention ; and even France for the satisfaction
and pleased excitement of the public mind. In the presence
of the Polish question all others have ceased to exist, or
have been reduced to matters of local import.
"There is no cause for surprise, then, that the question of
Poland should. now be passing through an introductory
stage, comprised in a revival of the Vienna treaties."
As will be seen from the above, the Czas, along
with the National Committee, demands not only an
independent Poland, but the reunion with her of
Lithuania and the other " provinces" as a gua-
rantee of power and lasting independence. Of these
disputed provinces Lithuania has been Polonized in
the course of centuries, nnd, it is proved by abun-
dant evidence, wishes for no better future than can
be secured in the closest alliance with the
genuine Poles. Volhynia, Podolia, Slew, and
Ukraine, however, are chiefly inhabited by Ru-
thenians, and, both in regard to nationality and
religion, more intimately attached to Russia than
their former masters, the Poles. But here, too,
though the country is the cradle of Russian power
and faith, and had been possessed by Poland only
from the middle of the 16th to the end of the last
century, the nobility and upper classes generally
are Poles and Roman Catholics.
Prince Napoleon, says the Dztennik Poznansks,
has been challenged by Count Sigismund Wielopo-
ski for having insulted his father in the notorious
speech delivered in the French Senate.
ted ,

ST. JAMES'S THEATRE.—This theatre has been
visited by the following distinguished company since
the production of " Lady Audley's Secret ":—Lord Enfield,
Dowager Countess of Harrington, Sir Thomas Troubridge,
Sir B. Graham, Sir J. Lowther, Duko of Wellington, Earl
Sefton, Countess of Fife, Princess Mary of CamLridge and
party, Captain lust, Hon. Miss Cust, Captain James
M'Donald, Captain Hutchinson, Sir J. Drummond, Lady
Gooch, Lord Pollingtin, Baron Al arochetti, Captain Camp-
bell, Colonel De Bathe, Lord Yarborough, Colonel Caven-
dish, Sir T. Liddell, Hon. Mrs, Duncan, Lady Wallscourt,
Marchioness of Downshire, Lord A. Paget, Earl Uxbridge,
Lord Vaughan, Lord Aylesford, Lord Clanwilham, Coun-
tess of Waldgrave, Lord Cardigan, Earl of Fife, Earl of
Hard wicke, kc,
POETRY THAT IS NOT A DRUG.—Mr. Tennyson's
Poems have just appeared in a fifteenth edition.
The heaviest mail ever known was taken out in
the middle of March by the Ellora to India, China, and
the Australian colonies. It consisted of nearly 1,250 boxes
of letters and newspapers, these latter being unusuallyt
numerous in consequence of the reports which they con-
' of the reception and marriage of the Princessyc
Wales,