The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-05-07
Correspondence Of the Washington Union
From Paris, received by the last steamer.
THE LATE POLISH REyoLUTIoN-FR sly
PATTY

| THE LATE POLISH REYoLUTION-FRENCH SYN
PATTY,
/ The government has had a proof Of the dis
position Of the French people during the late unfor-
tunate Polish resurrection. Had the insurgents Of
Craeoyia but held out six weeks, had they succeed
ed al Posen and Lemberg, or had they been able to
reach the Carpathian mountains Immediately amer
their SUCCESSES at Wiehcka, tbs state of things in
France might have undergone a serious change.
The irony Of the world-sprit which presides over
the destiny of dynasles and Nations often strikes
blow in the midst Of profound peace, and hurs those
from power Who imagined themselves proof against
casualties. The greatest kings and commanders
were at the zenith OF their success nearest their
downfall. Suffice il 10 say that the king of the
French did not feel at ease during the progress OF
this expected catastrophe and that the ministry
expect some little danger from the sympathy which
the fate of unfortunate Poland is exciting at this
moment In the breast Of every generous French
man. Ninety-two newspapers have thus far opened
subscriptions IN favor, of the victims Of the crown
ing act Of European diplomacy and u these presses
| represent but one7foirh part Of the electors Of
France. ahe approaching elections viii not turn out
as favorable TO the government as anticipated The
4 diplomatic questions which will be raised on the
Subject may embsrrass M. Guizot still further, and
turn rom HIM great portion Of his otherwise ready
supporters. AT any rate, II is do proof Of strength
in the government TO be obliged 10 prohibit in Paris
the performance of ballet De diabL guairs) be-
case the is laid in Poland, and the pit might,
during tho dancing Of the polka, call for the Craco-
vienne which wouldplace M Guzot under the neces-
sty Of making explanations TO the Prussian Russian
| and Austrian ambassadors. La many places in the
provinces, where subscriptions were opened for the
Poles, the people in the theatres demanded the
.Marseiilaiss or the Wasopisnne, by dc Layigne.
Where the authority did not oppose this public
demonstration Of sympathy, everything passed of
| without disturbance but at Toulouse, Dion,
| Nett, Tulle, Mans, and few more places where
THE Public authorities bad more zeal than discretion,
disturbances took place, during which the people
cried IA bas GuizotF" "a bas Louis Philippe" The
Journal des Debais, which related these occurrences
contented itself with sneeringly asking whether
people thought that kind of sympathy best calcu-
lated 10 prepare the French government for the ex-
ercse OF the rites Of hospitality to the Polish refu
gees'
SHORT ABSTRACT OF THE HISTORY OF THE DI
VISION or POLAND.
As the Polish revolution, or rather the attempt at
the reunion Of the severed Provinces is the most
important historical event that has taken place since
had last the honor Of addressing you, will devote
few, words TO i, preaced by short appreciation
Of Polish history.
The Poles, from the 9Th to the 18th century, were
by far the most powerful and warlilee of all the
Sclavonc tribes which then extended all over
eastern Europe, from the Black sea to the Baltic
They were governed by military dsspos out of the
House of Past, which governed about 500 years
| to their rule most of those provinces which have
| now become the buwarks Of Russia. Casimir the
Great, the last of that illustrious House, may be
considered having gwen the first regular laws to
his people, and to have limited the power Of taxation
by making II dependant Oh The consent or the diet
| His nephew, Louis of Hungar Jagellon, founded
| the House of Jagelon, which extended to Sigis-
| mund Augustus, who united Llthuana with Poland
From this family the present Prince Adam Czarto-
risk derives his title to the crown Of Poland; but
| - ~ ~. Il 4
TO the democratic portion Of the Polish exiles since
the revolution of 1891, denies his lineal descent
from the royal family.
tho crown became elective, and the custom obtained
to offer il to foreign princess which completed the
distraction Of the country. "To be united as the
Polish Diet" became an ironical proverb in Europe
single voice was sufficient to annul an election;
but this high premium set on individuality, pre-
vented the political organization of the country and
defeated the voice Of majorities. The first purely
elected prince of Poland was Henry Of Valois,
(Henry III Of France,) a poor imbecile, who in
stued the paeha eonpenia, sort Of charter which,
while it deprived the king of all power to do good
did not render him sufficiently incapable to do mis-
chief BY the practice of Poland to select her kings
from among foreign princes, they naturally invited
foreigners to make their Country the theatre Of their
| intrigues. An elective monarchy, with the nobility
for the only electors, was against the sense of all
government and the spirit Of the age which already
called for the social improvements Of mankind. But
| the Poles, whose development Of individuality pre-
vented their political organization on fixed immu-
table basis preserved eminenty the spirit Of chiv-
airy, which enabled them in 1883, under John
Sobiesk their king, to save Vienna, the German
empire, perhaps Christianity, from the sword and
the Koran of the Musseman. By singular freak
Of fate, and species of vandalism which it would
be impossible to credit, were not appraised of
officially through the press, the Austrians have on
the 18th of this month, transformed the old castle of
John Sobiesk, near Zloczow, into prison 10,
Polish patriots, We cannot suppose that this is
more than the fourth act of the national drama; in
the fifth Justice will BIZ done--poetic and divne-o
the executioners of that unhappy country.
The decline of Poland commenced with the cleo
tive kingdom or rather with the election of foreign
ers, for Henry of Valois laid the first foundation
to it. Another cause Of decline were the strictly
feuda institutions, unmtgated as in other countries
by the power of the wealthy towns; for tho mobiles
Of Poland remained what they were at the begin
ning and what all MOBILES of Europe have once been
the oppressors, by brute force of the unarm-
ed masses Vassalage existed in Poland at the time
Of the revolution of Warsaw, and was continued.
till the attempted revolution of Cracovia when the
Austrian government had stolen march on the pa
triots by making more liberal promises to the peas
antry than their own masters. But to return to my
historical abstract.
Not quite century after the glorious feat of arm
of King John Sobieski, who claimed no other re-.
ward from the emperor OF Germany than that Of
being by him styled majesty" the first d.
vision Of Poland took place. The intrgues of Rus
STA brought it about. In 1772, under the reign of
Stanislas Augustus Poniatowski, Poland was sever
ed into what was till then called White Russia, Red
Russia and Polish Prussia Russia, Austria, and
Prussia divided the spoils
At the time Of the first French revolution, Poland,
like all the rest of Europe, attempted to introduce
some improvements into her constitution; but, dis
membered as she already was her attempts proved
futile. Poland, too, it must not be forgotten, was
not yet ripe for social revolution such the French
promised to become for all Europe her chivalric
sentiments were only fully awakened by the ons
Of the French revolution and the dazzling splendor
Of the French empire.
The new democratic constitution had scarcely
been adopted by the Diet, when the confederation
of Tagowisca, composed Of mobiles in the Russian
interest," protested against all reforms. The decisions
OF this confederation were supported by Russian
army and Prussian army likewise invaded tho
Polish territory The Poles at that time, were still
inf.