The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-06-09
War on Account of Poland.


When country wishes to shake off foreign
domination 1t is necessary that all its constituent
parts should be animated by one common sentl-
ment, and be agreed amongst themselves, both as
regards the end and the means. This is con-
dltion OF success at once primary and lndlspen-
sable. divided nation is already more than
half conquered. DO the different provinces which
ought to reunlte for the formation of new State
of Poland now present that happy state ofharmony
without which their triumph would be impossible!
Evidently not. In almost all those provinces there
is but little sympathy between the lords of the soil
and the people, who are still reduced to state of
serfdom more or less complete. In the Duchy of
Posen there is rooted anpathy of race, caste
and religion between the Teutonic or Germanlc,
and the Scalvonic or Polish elements. II is pretty
much the same IN Gallcla, which, moreover APP
pears to be very sincerely attached TO Austria.
The question, therefore, is to know if the Poles
are now capable OF organising themselves as a
nation in fixed and durable manner. Their IN
telllgence and national character--as is clearly
proved by history-gave evidence in past times,
when Poland was still kingdom, of certain in
detinable disposition 10 disorder, revolution and
anarchy, which never allowed them to constitute
regular and powerful unity; which degraded
them from the exalted rank they once occupied,
and reduced them TO subsection TO foreign influence.
Is this serious defect (whether natural or acquired
we will not pause to lnquire) remedied now |!
There IS every reason to justify reply IN the mega
tive Even should Poland now present that har-
mony, that spirit of consistency and organ satlon
of which she would stand In need to reconstitute
her nationality, she could not succeed IN reconsti-
tuting il IN defiance of the will of her formidable
neighbors. If Russia and Germany were to bring
their whole strength to bear upon her stimuli
taneousy, like the two prongs of powerful pull
verser, she would be Immediately crushed and
ground to powder. Prussia and Austria may GER
tany authorize the resurrection of Poland at some
future period, and even concur in the work of re-
demstion by their arms; they may certainly aban-
don Posen and Gallcia, but only on condition of
receiving sufficient indemnities--thc former on
the Baltic and the North Sea- and the second to-
wards the Rhine and the mouth of the Danube.
Till then it is verYrpatural that they should not
give up what thj 'sess, and you may rcst as
sured that they NH not. The resurrection of
Poland therefore, only be the result of a
general remodelling Of Europe, and that is at pre-
sent impossible. The moment France can rely on
the cooperation OF Germany, il will be her great
duty to fly to the assistance of nation so unustly
oppressed, so generous, SO devoted, and pro-
digal of its blood in her cause. But TO march now
towards the frontiers OF Poland. through Germany
and in defiance of Germany, would be perhaps a
very generous, but undoubtedly very rash enter
prise, more calculated to compromise and ruin
France than to serve the nation we wish to deliver.
We will say nothing of the disastrous consequences
of distant, and necessarily very expensive ex-
petition, in the present state Of our finances.
But we ought to make our dplomatists act
with skill, energy, and perseverance,, in order