Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-12-03
CAN POLISH NATIONALITY BE RE-

eaSAcl having al upPoulouC0 VI tiutnj "O "Aii
leave aside the others, such as the strength Of
Russia in her Polish provinces, the sluggish
ness Of the peasantry, and the poisonous pa
nacea Of free trade" Our readers have too
much judgment not to see that, when nation
atty has to be restored, when every bondman
within her limits asks for freedom; war and its
consequences must be looked upon as one Of
the necessities of the position, but not as an
impediment to the accomplishment of success.
The chances Of contest may turn against
Poland but, in that case, her defeat would not
impair the justice Of her cause. Freedom and
the restoration Of her former possessions is a
stake well worth battles and bloodshed; and
the Notifications of Russia, and the apparent
sluggishness Of the peasantry, are no reasons
for not commencing the battle, when it can be
demonstrated that the former may be taken,
and the second called, as they often have been,
from the dumbness Of oppression to the
awakening activity Of liberty.
We said, yesterday, that the portion Of the
Polish people to which show of liberty has
been permitted has always used tin asking for
the reconstruction Of Poland. Unhappily for
these devoted patriots they found in all Euro
pean cabinets, a selfishness which they could not
overcome. The most striking evidence Of life
in the Polish nation exists in the hope and
faith of her noble exiles who, never tired, and
never Responded under disappointment, and
who, though scattered about the earth, without
any means or unity Of purpose, have applied
time after time to the European monarchs to
engage their assistance in the reconstruction
Of Poland. When rejected by one nation they
have knocked at the door of another. Napo-'
leon the Great who for long time was looked
upon by every Polander as the restorer OF his
country, constantly deceived them in their
hopes. Kosciusko, who perfectly knew that
the French Emperor, without any respect for
the principles involved in the resurrection Of
his country, would make his assistance submits
sive to his policy, always refused to believe in
his promises. The great Polander, who was
good statesman as well as good general
was we'll aware that his country could never be
re-established, unless every portion of her
former possessions was restored. A partial re-
establishment Of Poland, was, in his opinion,
the worse policy for her to pursue. Also, when
Napoleon, who had his eyes upon him, and
who wanted to gain him to his cause, sent
Foucae, his minister, to him with the PROPOSE
ton Of q partial restoration Of Poland, Kosciu-
sko answered
aT ,ciH nerer NEEDLE NTH your undertakings
in Pofsad, unless you secure to my country a na-
tional government, liberal constitution, and
her ancient limits"
Napoleon did not comply with the wishes Of
the Polish hero; Kosciusko did not want to
Weld, and the fate Of Poland was given up in
despair. When the former entered Warsaw,
on the FIRST of January, 1907, he was received
with enthusiasm by the people. But soon after,
the fears of Kosciusko were realized. Napo-
leon, not content with being inactive in regard
to Poland, oppressed her, and exacted from the
people all sorts of heavy tributes. Once more
her expectations we're dispelled, and she fell
back in state Of immobility, which was mis-
taken by some persons for apathy and uncon-
Germ.
Since that time years have elapsed, thrones
have crumbled, new nations like Hungary and
Italy have raised their heads, and the face Of
the political world, if not altogether changed,
is sensibly modified, and dangerously threaten.
ed. If we look closely into the history Of these
events we will soon discover that their tenden-
CIV is to weaken some nationalities, TO strength
en- or re-establish others, and to give to the
map of Europe new form and shape. The
influence of that change must produce re-
action somewhere. If il acts against any Of
the constituted powers it must be against Aus
tria and Prussia, who, in the late revolution
Of ls4s, were on the brink ofdestruction. They
would evidently have persisted had il not been
for the interference Of Russia. The preserva
ton Of their integrity is owing to the Gar and
TO him alone. If his power be reduced, they will
be thrown back upon their own resources, which
are too small to preserve them from the peril
of a revolution. 1t is useless TO dwell upon the
importance Of that point to show our readers,
how this war might completely change the sit
uation Of Europe, and render Austria and
Prussia entirely dependent upon the joint ac-
ton Of France and England, in case those two
powers should succeed In reducing Russia.
The allies themS ives constantly in want Of
men and money to carry on the war have to
make concessions to the public feeling Of the
Ffench and English people, who are in favor,
as everybody knows, Of restoring oppressed
nalionalities, like Poland, Italy and Hungary,
Those various feelings, currents and undercur-
rents, constitute new order of things well
worthy to be considered By our people
Let us, then, sum up the political situation
Of Europe in few lines. In the first place, the
war carried on by England and France makes
the two governments more dependant on Their
people, and, as q consequence, more sub
missive to the democratic feelings prevailing