The Sun.
London, England, 1846-12-12 00:00:00

~ ~j~ ~~

POLAND.
PUBLIC MEETING OF THE FRATERNAL
DEMOCRATS.

A very numerous assemblage of the members and
friends of this society took place on Monday evening
last, December 7th, in the German Society's Hall of
Meeting, Drury-lane. John Moy was called to the
chair.
JULIAN HARNEY said,
.he had received some letters
from the country, the writers wishing to know if they
could be associated with the society as honorary mem-
bers. He was sure :hat the society would be happy to
have the co-operation of all good democrats anxious to
advance the principle of human brotherhood.—(Cheers.)
Two of the persons who had wt itten to him he had much
pleasure in proposing as honorary members:—Peter
Gray, of Dumfries • and William Beesley, of Aecring-
ton, North Lancashire ; both men of integrity and ster-
ling. patriotism.—(Cheers.) He hoped to see the leading
democrats throughout the country, cre long, associated
with the society in promoting the principles of fraternity
and freedom.—(Cheers.)
Messrs. Gray And Beesley were, unanimously elected
members.
Several candidates for membership were then pro-
posed.
JULIAN HARNEY reported that the resolutions adopted
by the Democratic Committee for Poland's Regeneration
had been forwarded to Lord Palmerston, and to the lead-
ing public journals. The Nortlurn Star, Morning Ad-
dertiser, and The Sun, had published the resolutions ;
the Globe, and Douglas Jerrold' s Newspaper, had merely
noticed them ; and the Times, Chronicle, Daily hews,
and Weekly Dispatch had not even noticed them. _

CARL SCRAPPER reported that an account of the
me,;ting of the Poland's Regeneration Committee bad
been pub;;Aed in the Rejorme.—(Cheers.)
Subsequently A vote of thanks to those journals which
had published the democratic resolutions was unani-
mously adopted.
JULIAN HARNEY, after rettd;;ig the address of the
French Democracy to the Democracy of Europe, which
was loudly cheered, proceeded to read the address of the
Fraternal Democrats, given below. The address was
warmly applauded. J. H. proceeded to speak at some
length on the Polish question, and concluded by Inoving
the adoption of the address.
CARL SCRAPPER, in an energetic speech, which was
loudly cheered, seconded the motion.
The address was then unanimously adopted.
The meeting then adjourned until Monday evening,
December 21st, when Christopher Doyle will deliver an
address on " The State and Prospects of Democracy
in
Scotland."

THE FRATERNAL DEMOCRATS (ASSEMBLING
IN LONDON) TO THE DEMOCatATS OF
EUROPE. _

" All men are Brethren."
Fellow Men,—The last act of imperial brigandage
towards Poland has been consummated—the last shred
4' Polish nationality has ceased to exist—the " free city"
.if Cracow has become an Austrian out-post, the pirate
flag of the Kaisers of Vienna floats over the tombs of
Sobieski and Kosciusko.
The Polish exiles, wherever scattered, have, in the
name of their bleeding country, protested against this
crowing wrong ; in the name of the gagged millions
within Poland. in the name of the living martyrs suffer—
ing in dungeons and captive chains, whose cries cannot
reach us, they (the exiles) have appealed to Europe
against this last outrage on the part of their remorseless

enemies.
Ti.e democracy of France have also protested against
this latest crime of purple-clad criminals, they have ap-
appealed to Europe to assert with them the rights of
man against the unholy conspiracies of the usurping
despotisms. To those appeals we add ours, in full oon-
fidence, that the nations vt ill not for long remain silent
or inactive.
We deplore not the reading of the treaty of Vienna
The pact of 1815 was an unholy bond of alliance
against the people of all nations. Whether victors
or vanquished in the preceding war, the people who.
had fought the battles and paid the cost, and
borne the suffering of the struggle—the people—
the people of all nations were conspired against by
the signers of the treaty of Vienna ; a treaty made to
perpetuate injustice in the name of reigion, and tyranny,
:n the name of peace : a treaty entered into for the pur-
pose of suppressing liberty, obstructing popular proress,
and protecting corrupt governments and perjured
kings from the just vengeance of the people they had
used, cheated, and were then preparing to enchain.
The people of France, Belgium, Germany, and Poland,
in 1830, combatted against the treaty of Vienna ; subse-
quently the people of Spain and Portugal rose likewise ;
almost yearly Italy has been the theatre of " bloody
protests ;" and years ago, the British people joined in
the general renurciation, if by a more peaceabio ex-
pression of public opinion, not on that account the less
decisive.

On the other hand, the violation of the " treaty" com-
menced by the hypocrite Alexander, and consummated
by the tyrant Nicholas towards the " guaranteed" " con-
stitutional" "Kingdom of Poland;" has been at last
completed by the confiscation of Cracow, the free and
independent existence of which was " guaranteed" by
the treaty of Vienna " for ever." The Russian, Prus-
sian, and Austrian despots have joined to share the
infamy, the last-named takes the spoil.
But for Poland, the imbecile Ferdinand would never
have had a throne; but for John Sobieski and his Polish
heroes, Vienna would have fallen before the assault of
Mahommedan hordes; yet now Sobieski's tomb is at the
mercy of au Austrian gaoler. Behold the gratitude of
kings !
The confiscation of Cracow does not induce us to de-
spair of the cause of Poland, on the contrary, we-are
satisfied that its fall will hasten the moment of Poland's
restoration. Governments can no longer profess to be
bound by the treaty of Vienna ; the whole question of
I'olish nationality is re-opened for governments as well
as for nations ; if the governments of western Europe
refuse to perform their duty, the people must do their's.
And the people must act. Already Switzerland is
threatened with the fate of Poland. Nor is this all.
Could popular inaction be counted upon by the despot-
isms, the probabiiity is that the entire of Germany
would be siezed by Austria and Prussia ; that Italy
would become the sole property of Austria ; and north-
ward and southward Russia would seize upon her wished
for prey, and Scandinavia and Turkey become part and
parcel of the Muscovite empire.
This is no dream—it is the undoubted aim of the
triune despots. Will the nations permit it ?
We abhor. war, but even war is less terrible than
slavery.
One thing is earnestly to be desired before all others,
that the people of Europe, no matter by what name
calling themselves, should learn that their true interests
are oue and the same. The abolition of national pre-
judices will prepare the way for general and effective
action. Let the nations 13, but united in sentiment, and
their moral power will be more invincible than all the
physical force of their opprezors. Should those op-
ssors madly dare the ph) sical force of united myriads,
woe to them.

We hear a whisper of the probability of a new Con-
gress of Kings to patch up broken treaties, cement royal
differences, and form a new league against the people.
Against any such Congres,, no matter under what pre-
text called together, we warn you. Instead, let A
CONGRESS OF NATIONS ASSEMBLE TO PRE-
PARE FOR THE GREAT " CRUSADE."
Our Polish brethren have appealed to the nations of
Europe, and the rations will not let them appeal in vain.
By the blood of Poland's martyrs—hy the wrongs and
sufferings, tortures and rni,eries of Poland's children—
by the foul dishonour we have suffered in permitting so
long these ctimes against humanity, we swear to de-
vote our enemies to the triumphant restoration of
Poland. _ _

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Our French brethren have demanded the fraternal aid
of their brethren of every land in this holy work ; and
that demand we are convinced will ere long be univer-
sally responded to. For ourselves, we swear that our
lives shall be dedicated to the glorious mission
of rescu-
ing humanity from the thraldom of aristocratic institu-
tions, and despotic governments.
Our cause is the cause of right and justice, progres3
and freedom. Up then men of every land—
" Rise and rally ! forward nations!
Will must ripen into deed." -
Signed by the Secretaries :
G. JULIAN lIARNEY, native of Great Britain.
J. A. MICHELOT, native of France.
CARL SCHAFFER, native of Germany.
PL,NT.EO.
sTUNcilitimAOHEl3lloHEOL.LltminSTal.tzi.in:,aeit,oilaNaieto,ii.o‘ie- native of
on(si,
gfcgalrn'(:l.liannadvia.
Switzerland.
December 7th, 1846.