Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1863-05-30
Che Ohio 6tatesman
lRrom the Boston Post
The Polish Question.

The Poles are still In insurrection. The
gravity of the situation Ia very great IL looks
much like general European war. There
must be concession somewhere, or war must re.
suit. England, France and Austria have re-
monstrated. They ask for concession from the
Emperor TO the Poles-the granting of an am
nesty. But the Emperor does not like the stu
alton, as he does not wish to be forced into
concessions If they will lay down their arms,
then he will treat with regard to more liberal
form Of government. n
Il Ia thought the Poles have moro encourage
ment through secret sources than Ia we'll known.
The secret committee conducting Polish affairs
10 said to have been asked from Paris If the in
snrgeute could hold out two months longer, and
they replied that they could, and during por
ton Of these two months the insurrecli0n has
been gaining ground. That the Poles have
some thing more than vague hope must be true,
for it Ia reported that tho eccfet committee will
soon announce q loan, based on the property OF
come of tho wealthiest Poles. II 10 certain
that they get the most cordial sympathy from
Paris, that Napoleon is not afraid to puraue his
purposes alone, but that he pTefer3 the co-opera.
tiou of England and Austria. It aeems 10 be
tho impression that the Emperor will act alone
II he can not get the other powers to cooperate.
That he will fail in getting tho cooperation
of the other powers, 10 not altogether evident.
England does not want war, but tho popular
judgment is with the Poles, though the Govern.
ment will demand nothing further than the car
rying out OF the treaty of 1915. Tho Earl Of
Salisbury, on the 9th, in the House of Lords,
made strong pro Polish speech, denouncing
the character OF the Russian rule, and alao the
expressions of Prussia over the Poles. In his
opinion, the Emperor of Russia intended no con.
cessions, for, while he eaid "pesce" In his re-
plies to the several notes. he acted war 10 hs
relations with Poland. The only result, 10 hs
estimation, for the Polish question. was the
separation of Poland from Russia. Lord Har-
rowby strongly supported him, but deprecated
war. Earl Russell expressed great confidence
lin the humane intentions of the Gar, but he
could not sec how, after years OF oppression
and peI6dy, the Poles we're to exhibit that con-
fdence in His Maesty's policy, without which,
according TO Prince Gnrtschakoff, 1t was impos'
sible to hope for fair trial OF the promised con-
cessions. The question of separation was sur.
rounded with great difficulties and involved tho
possibility OF q long and costly war, into which
Her Msjesty's Governm ent "would be 10th to
enter without the most pressing necessity"
Her Msjesty's Government had advised the
Emperor to restore the constitutions granted by
Alexander l., to give the Poles free Parlia-
ment, and to place the judicial, civil, and po-
ltical administration OF the country In the hands
of men whom the people could trust. He hoped
the minor States would back up the representa-
tions of the great powers on the question, aud
be could not but believe that ultimately public
qpinion thus forcibly expressed would tell even
upon the conduct OF the autocrat of all the
Russias.
So We see that the great Governments, which
bave addressed their notes to the Emperor,
have advised tho concession Of free parlia-
ment, and the placing of the civil, judicial and
administrative departments in the hands oi
men the Poles can trust. Will Alexander con-
cede this2 We believe he will NOS. IL ia too
radical change. It Ia too decidedly opposed
to the old regime, to the past policy of the
CZsr5. Whether this advice will be followed
by its enforcement by arms, is the great ques-
and the Union forces side with them, the Gar
muet concede or fight; which he will do re-
mains to be seen
The Gar says he Is willing to negotiate on
the basis of the treaty of 1915. BY that treaty
Poland received new Constitution, by which
q Biennial Parliament was guaranteed, con-
siSting OF Senate for life, and Chamber Of
Deputies, separate responsible ministry, an
Independents Judiciary, free press, national
army of $4,000 men, and all Russian soldiers
should evacuate Poland. This did not avail
much-there is essentially Q want OF harmony
between the Poles and their Russian rulers.
Russia cannot rule in Poland without opprss-
sion. This 10 settled point. Since 1915,
this is the sixth armed insurreclion that has
bro zen out, ban.
The question'is plain one, Poland must rule
herself, or be oppressed terribly by the Czar,
and this is chronic cause for European war
ls it well for Europe that this state of things
exists1 CeIt,inly not. If Russia c0ncede all
Of the treaty of 1915, il will amount 10 an
abandonment OF her claims of sovereignty over
Poland. II she don't oOncede all this, the
Poles will fall back to chains, unless released
absolutely by o general European war. The
next half century must not be disturbed by
this Polish question as the last half century has
been. 1t would not be wise for the statesmen
of Europe 10 permit it. Better general war
now, against Russia, to settle the question
The independence OF Poland must come. This
ia the direction of the age. Europe will not
consent to continual disturbance to crafty the
will OF one or two nations. The march Of
events ia more powerful than the diplomacy Of
Russell, or the arm OF Alexander.
H .-& ---->~~-~-
Moisture in the Atmosphere.