The Smoky Hill and Republican union. [volume] (Junction City, Kan.) 1861-1864, 1863-05-02
A Lesson from Poland.
WASHINGTON, April Ii. 1858.

WAsRINGroN, April Ia 1858.
The fate Of Poland contains a Lesson thAt
America should learn.A can. of course.
hnd NO comparison in these countries be.
yond this, that America is fighting to main.
tain her nationality, while Poland is fiebtiup
to obtain the birthright which an oppressor
took away. The great crime of history
holds Poland in chains; the great crime Of
modern civilization caused the South to
rebel. The fate of Poland is so far devel.
oped that We can profit by her unfortunate
example. Size perished because of dssen-
sions and rivalries in her own counsels.
The leaders failed to realize the sublimity
of patriotism which yields everything to
the good of the cause. Instead Of CONSOLE
dating and making effective war upon the
common enemy, they quarrelled with one
another. Langiewicz had hardly assumed
the reins of power, and made the cause of
Poland respectable in the eyes of the world
by bis energy and valor, before another son
Of Poland advanced bis claims to the illus
trious and perilous position. The rest Is
briefly told. Tha armies Of Poland were
demoralized; they wasted the energies that
should have been directed against Russia in
civil commotion, and their cause perished.
Laugiewicz is prisoner and fugitive, and
Russia is again the master of the kingdom.
Diplomacy has been appealed to to do what
the sword of the Pole might have more
eAectually accomplished. The elements
that combined to produce the overthrow of
Poland may be found in the United States.
We have seen among our generals the same
spirit of rivalry and jealousy that resulted
so shamefulIy to them. We have seen
generals discussing personal grievances
within sound of the enemy's cannon. We
have seen timidity where we looked for
courage, and apathy where we expected
devotion; deceit instead of honor, aud fraud
instead of honesty. The report of the
Committee on the Conduct of the War
is a vast catalogue of these sins and
errors and if we look over the roll of bat
ties we shall be mortified to see how many
precious golden moments have been lost,
because the proper spirit did not animate
the servants Of the Republic. Then turn
to the political situation. In every part of
the loyal North we find men bold and bad
enou sh to avow sympathy with the South,
and to make that sympathy the basis of
political action against the Administration.
" Let the Administration be overthrown,"
say these enemies, and we shall construct
another" This was the cry in Poland.
Langiewicz fell, but the Russians, and not
bis rival triumphed. Depose Mr.. Lincoln.
aad Mr.. Davis, or worse than Mr.. Davis,
will take his place. Then we shall have
the FIRE, the sword, the scaffod, and a
bloody sa,urnalia of retribution and crime.
We have reached the tumbling-poiDt in this
struggle. One or another must fall, for
the strength of the North aud South are
braced to the utmost. The country needs
the energy and faith of every man, and
whoever fails her in this hour Of trial is
traitor more degraded than Judas, and more
infamous than the frst-born, Cain. One
betrayed his Master, the other betrayed and
slew his brother, and to-day our master
aud brother is the nation.
-War Press. OCCASIONAL.