The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-10-16

although surrounded by Polish districts the city
itself contains more Germans than Poles and has
risen to It's present Importance under Prusslan aus
plces. The government has spent eight millions
OF dollars in erecting the most powerful fortlfica
tiOns on the borders of Russia, at the spot where
the possessions of this dangerous neighbor extend
into Prussia like wedge; and, to abandon this to
other than German hands, would be to lay all the
eastern frontier OF Prussia open TO the lnroads of
Russia at this most dangerous epoch Since the
city of Posen has passed into the hands of
Prussia, he population has increased from fifteen
to forty thousand, and the landed property of the
Poles IS little more than million of dollars, while
the German Jews alone have three millions. The
lire of demarcaiOn was, therefore, altered that
the city of Posen was also Incorporated into the
Germanc COnfederatlon-that Is to say, excluded
from the Polish re- organization under these CIR
cumstances the elections tor the National Assem-
bly, at Frankfort, were held in those districts that
We're declared German The result was, that
twelve deputies were sent here who were receIv-
ed Professionally until the subject could be fairly
inve stIgated by this Assembly. The question was
the most interesting one that we have had OF the
central executive power, and called forth the very
best talent OF the House. The sins previously
committed against Inflated Poland were the work
OF princes her cause was now laid into the hands
OF the people. Two parties presented themselves,
with the following demands The ultra radicals
commended tor the entire restoration of the Grand
Duchy OF Posen to the hands of the Poles, includ-
ing the halt million of Germans living within It's
borders; they would re-organize as they might see
fit, retaining the German PrCtectorate, that they
should not instanter fall into the jaws of Russia.
The German party took national, not terri
tOrlal, grounds, cOntendlng for a line of de-
marcatiOn that would separate Germans from
Poles, restoring the former to their country
and leaving the Poles free to re-organize
under the Protectorate of Germany; at the
same time retaining the fertilization of POsen as
the only bulwark against Russia OF the twelve
deputies from the Grand Duchy, but one took the
tribune for entire restoratlon but he handled his
cause nobly, and threw back, with contempt the
appeals to sympathy that had been made in behalf
OF the Poles :" we appeal to virtue and honor, we
want but justice" SAID the speaker, and that, if
the Heavens should fall we have long ago been
swallowed but, sure there is God of nations,
we will never be digested while one Pole lives to
fight his cause Had enthusiasm gained the vic
tory over expediency he would have carried his
cause. 1t was sou-thrIiling moment to see two
nations drawn upln array on the battlefield of in
tellect; IN the same Assembly-the one lighting
tor justice, with the weapons OF poetic Il, senI-
mental enthusiasm, heavlng sigh for fallen
greatness with every pusatiOn OF the heart--tte
other, with the cool calculating eyes of expedlen-
cy, governed by circumstances as they now pre-
sent themselves, and followngthe dictates of prac-
teal conviction. need scarcely add that the Ger
mans ganest the vlctory-for to say otherwise,
would be to announce that still another part
of Poland had been delivered up to the Rus
yields her right. Russia will seize, and it is
folly to suppose that Germany can involve her.
self in war with this colossal power, to avenge
the wrongs OF another nation, or make good
those of her forefather war with Russia would
blast all the prospects of newborn liberty, and
lead tyrant, with his myrads, into the heart of
Germany to annihilate the Poles and suppress
the liberal movements of the Germans, by joining
the aristocratlc party, and forging new chains OF
bondage stronger than those so lately burst No
man, who loves his fatherand, can be destitute of
sympathles for an unhappy, half-rulned nation !;
for nation whose bloody fragments hcve been
dragged through half the continent of Europe.
| But this nation has grave faults, which are the
| secret spring of all its misfortunes. "Unity is
| strength" is motto that Poles have ever trodden
the dust, and for centuries that nation has been
| divided in itself. What Americans consider the
Polish nation, is not the nation, but the mob lily.
The glory, the bravery the splendor, that rests on
POland's history, is not that of the people-these
belong to the mobiles, and to them also belong her
| SINS and the long catalogue of her mlsfortunes.
| 1t is said that the Polish peasants moistened the
of of their rulers with their tears,
he had been their only protection, and, as they
too truly feared, was their last. If, in the memo
rable contest OF 1880, the Poles, who are ever
found on the battlefield OF liberty against oppres.
sion, had granted those rights to their peasants,
which they demand so loudly for themselves, the
fate OF this chivalrOus nation would have been
very different. Like the Bourbons, they had
learned nothing and forgotten nothing, and, like
the Bourbons, in the family of Kings, so do the
Poles, in the family OF nations, seem singled out
as the shuttlecock for the battedore OF fate. The
revolutions that have swept like a hurricane over
Europe, reached the plains of Poland, but only
revived her hopes to carry them again to an un-
timely grave.
FROM THE RHINE, August %, 1913.
abolition of Titles IN Germany Curious Suosti-
tmes-Gern,an Navy-Printcrs' Strike, &c. &c.
For the last six months we have been blest with
one continued season of April weather. mean
in the world of polltics-to.day sunshine and calm.
to- morrow thunderstorm and hail; or, forsooth,
have been favored with all the varieties of the
seasons in single day. Seedtime, however, has
not been succeeded by harvest, and Is not likely
to be go as long as our April weather continues
Indeed, it is beginning to be doubtful whether the
political harvest will correspond to the brilliant
promises of spring; and some wiseacres prophecy
that April weather always makes April fools.
Nous rerrons. Be that as it may, politics, IN thls
quarter Of the world, has more shady sides than
sunny ones ; and, to drive away dnl care, allow
me to indulge in little political gossip.
Everybody Is writing history nowadays, as it
requires all shoulders to the wheel to keep up with
the progress OF events Among other novelties,
History OF the Barlcades Is announced from the
oath Of Feb, 1913. Some enthusiastic friends of
this mode OF warfare are about reducing It to
improvements. in barricade architecture" l was
forcipy reminded of the sold General on the
bloody night In Berlin, as ! saw splendid barri-
cade being built, OF Immense bags OF flour, sup.
ported by oil hogsheads at intervals this barri-
cade, it is true, was not successful as the
cotton bags though it held out for six long hours
with desperate fighting, against a strong division
OF the PIusslan troops OF the line. With the
science of barbados, an entirely new field for the
development of musical genius has been opened
to the .music-lovlng Germans | allude to what
we call charauaris or calithumplan concerts; but
the Germans are SIMPLE. hearted people, and
always call things by their right names their phi
Illogical accuracy will admit Of no other term
than "cat-muslc,'"' and 1t certainly deserves the
preference over all others; cat music Is the only
combination Of sounds internal. TO which all can
didates tor political favor are treated here # they
happen to remain behind the sovereign people on
the political course instead of keeping ahead
of them. TorchlIght professions for the man that
talks lOudest about bis own PATRIOTISM and shows