Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1851-01-03
Poland as it Is.


There is no nation of great historical fame so com
pletely shorn of its beams as Poland Spain still
retains an independent existence, and Italy is still the
seat of that tremendous spiritual power, which
would fam arrogate to itself supremacy and soyer-
eighty over the souls and consciences of all man
kind But the wall of Europe against the Tartars,
the rescGsr of Vienna from the Turks, is fallen, as
1t were, for ever, and her children are known in the
rest Of Europe but the conspirators against peace
and quetness, the enemies of all rule, the leaders
and soldiers of every revolution. Yet the Poles
themselves do not all despair of the future of their
nation; there are too many still undeveIoped eIe-
ments existing within 1t to justify excuse them in
doing so nor do they all look TO dsquet and reyo-
luton, and the misortunes of others, as the means
of reinsating and establishing themselves They
begin to see that the fall of Poland was necessary
consequence of her institutions, and exclu-
slve systsm of privileged classes and that any event
ual greatness which she may hereafter attain too
must arise from the development and elevation of
those sturdy peasants, who, to adopt the language of
one of her living poes-ssbear her future on their
shoulders. Well might the ssIachtic or noble, in
the pamy days Of Poland, have been proud of his
brotherhood and equal privileges with his three hun
bred thousand fellows, when the poorest gentleman
was addressed by the wealthiest and most powerful
magnate as Panic Bracie-'Sir BROTHER and each
and all looked upon themselves as the guardians and
protectors of the peasant and the artizan; but as
nations advanced in political knowledge and nsti-
iutons II was but selfish patriotism that promtped
him to refuse even small share ofcivc rights to
those, by the sweat of whose brows he obtained his
subsistence. An elective monarch is rarely in DO
sltion to struggle successfully against a proud and
powerful arlstocracy without the aid of a numerous
and influential middle class, and in Poland the
crown was gradually deprived Gifts plerogatives and
the peasanry oGts projection so that at last, when
the grand attack made from without, it was
made upon king without power, a people without
rights, and nobility divided against itself MANY
Of the mobiles sunk into the condition of mere farmers
OF their own small estates many others occupied po
sitions in the households of the magnate, analogous
TO that Of Sir William of Delorane, in the castle of
the Lady of Branksome and the magnates them
selves, moved abont with large armies under their
command and even carried on foreign wars on their
| own account, while the ojc2y5nd, or fatherIand,
was all but bankrupt and defenceess and the peas
antry exposed TO every oppressor.
Well and nDbly did portion of the Polish nobility
exert themselves for the general good after the first
partition oil Their country (l772), investing with civic
rights the burghers Of the towns who being to great
extent ofioreign, and chiefly of German origin had
hitherto possessed considerable privileges within but
little influence beyond, their walls, and preparing
the way for the emancipation of the peasantry but il
was 100 late the overwhelming power of Russia, and
the proverblal lahlessness of Prussia, rendered all
their efforts nugaory and all their plans aborve One
opportunity was still given, but it was unfortunately
not taken advantage of. The first glorious victories
gained by Koscu,ko (l794) were won at the head Of
the peasants of the district of Krakow and had he
proclaimed freedom to the peasantry, it is thought by
many that his army would never have dwindled as i
did and that he would have been exposed to de-
leat and ruin by inferior forces at Macieiowice Its
not true that saImaia fell "without crime " buthe,
crimes were confined TO her own home, and she I'm.
nerved and unweaponed herself while her neiobh,r,
were extending and consolidating their power in ever,
possible manner Poland is now PROSTATE, but she ha,
SUI her own glorious history to fall back upon ami il
the event OF general European war; the indirect cec
sue w''Lexert by Strengthening paralysing Russia
WIN probably be oil the greatest Importance.
Fraso's Magazine