New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-03-05
GERM ANY.
VIII.


fresh revolution was to follow that of March,
lsfs, things would inevitably return in Germany
to what they were before this event. But such
is the complicated nature Of the historical theme
upon which we are trying to throw some light,
that subsequent events cannot be clearly under
stood without taking into account what may be
called the foreign relations of the German Rev.
olution. And these foreign relations were OF
the same intricate nature as the home affairs.
The whole Of the eastern half of Germany,
as far as the Elbe, Saale and Bohemian Forest
have, it is well know been reconquered during
the last thousand years, from invaders OF Sla-
vonic origin The greater part of these terrific
res have been Germanized, TO the perfect ex-
tinction Of all Savonic nationality and language,
for several centuries past; and If we except
few totally isolated remnants, amounting In the
epcregate to less than hundred thousand souls,
Kassubians in Pomerania, Wends or Sorbians
in Lusatia) their inhabitants are, to all intents
ard purposes, Germans. But the case is differ
en-. along the whole Of the frontier OF ancient
Poland, and in the countries of the Tschechlan
tongue. ia Bohemia and Moravia. Here the two
nalionalities are mixed up in every district, the
towns being generally more or less German,
while the Siavonic element prevails IN the rural
villages, where, however, il is also gradually
disntegrated and forced back by the steady adj
vance of German influence.
The reason of this state Of things is this. Ever
since the time of Charlemagne the Germans have
directed their most constant and persevering
efforts to the conquest, colonization, or at least
ctx n III, Eae nf EnrOnn he
quests Of the feudal nobility, between the Elbe
AID the Oder, and the feudal colonies OF the
military orders of knights III Prussia and Livonia
only laid the ground for far more extensive and
effective system Of Germanization by the trading
and manufacturing middle classes, which IN
Germany, as in the rest Of Western Europe, rose
into social and political Importance since the
fifteenth century. The Slavonians, and partlcu-
larly the Western Slavonians, (POles and
Tschechs) are essentially an agricultural race
trade and manufactures never were in great
favor with them. The consequence was, that
with the increase of population and the origin OF
Cities in these regions, the production OF all
articles of manufacture fell into the hands oil
German immigrants, and the exchange Of these
commodities against agricultural produce, be-
came the exclusive monopoly of the Jews, who,
if they belong to any nationality, are In these
counties certainly rather Germans than Sla-
vonians. This has been, though In less
degree. the case in all the East OF Europe.
The handicrafsman, the small shopkeeper, the
petty manufacturer is German up to this day
in Petersburgh, Pesth, Jassy and even Con-
stantinople while the money-lender, the pub
lcap, the hawker--a very important man In
these thinly populated counrles-is very gen.
orally Jew, whose native tongue Is horribly
corrupted German. The Importance OF the Ger
man element in the Slavonic frontier localities,
thus rising with the growth of towns, trade and
manufactures, was still increased when it was
found necessary to import almost every element
cf mental culture from Germany after the Ger
man merchant and handicraftsman, the German
clergyman, the German schoolnaster, the Ger
man saponl came to establish himself upon
slavonic soil And lastly the iron tread of con-
quoring armies, or the cautious well-premedl-
tated grasp of diplomacy not only followed, ou'
many times went ahead OF the slow but sure
advance OF Decentralization BY social develop
ments. Thus, great part Of Western PRUSSIA
and posen have been Germanized since the first
partition of Poland, by sales and grants OF
public domains TO German colonists, by encour-
acements given TO German capita lists for the es'
tablishment Of manufactures, &c, In those
rejehborhoods, and very often, too, by excess
lively 6espotic measures against the Ioilsh III
habltantS of the country.
In this manner the last seventy years had
entirely changed the line OF demarcatlon between
the German aud Polish nationalities. Inc reVo'
luton of 1913 calling forth, at once, the claim Oh
all oppressed nations to an independent exist
ance, and to the right OF settling Their own al
fairs for themselves, it was quite natural thar the
Poles should at once demand the restoration oil
their country within the frontiers OF the old
Polish Republic before l772. 1t is true this
frontier. even at tina, time, had become obsolete,
iftaken as the delimitation of German ana Poiish
nationality; it had become more so every year
since by the progress OF Denomination; ou'
then. the Germans had proclaimed such an
enthusiasm for the restoration OF Poland, that
they must expect to be asked, as first proof OF
the reality of their sympathies to give up the~
share of the plumber. On tho other hand, should
wholo tracts Of land, inhabited chiefly by
Gemaps. should large towns entirely German, be
given up to people that as yet had never gwen
any proofs of its capability of progressing beyond
state of feudalsm based upon agricultural
seIidoml The question was intricate enough
The only possible solution was IN war with
Russia the question of delimitation between the
different revolutionized nations would have
been made q secondary one TO that OF first
establishing safe frontier against the common
enemy the Poles, by receiving extended terrific
ries in the east, would have become more
traetsb.e and reasonable i'll the west; and Riga
and Mitan would have been deemed, after all,