The Placer herald., 1863-04-25
A Lesson from Poland.

To every lover of human liberty through
out the world, the terrible insurrectlonary
war which is drenchng the soil Of Poland
with the blood of its brave inhabitants, rs
well as of the murderous Cossack and the
semi-barbarous Russian serf, possess pain
ful and absorbing interest. What generous
heart does not thrill with emotion at the
mention of the words, "nsurrectionary
Polanda" What glorious ideas, not mixed
with sadness, arise rs the bloody picture of
the land of Sobieski, of Kosciusko, and
other names Of reno"n, is brought again
before the world; and the dark deeds of ty-
ranny, the wholesale massacres, and tiendish
cruelty of the conqnerors, serve but to throw
into brighter contrast the sublime and almost
incredible herosm of the down trodden and
abandoned people. There is one nation in
Europe which, from the similarity of its
condition to that of Poland watches the
present struggle with a sympathetic anxiety,
deeply felt in the heart. though not loudly
or noisey dispayed-for such a display
would be useless Ireland has been called
the Poland of the ocean, and Poland may
reciprocally be termed the Ireland of the
Continent They are both Of them pressed
down to the earth; their energies cramped;
their traditions, their language and national
aspirations despised, and sought to be eradi-
Gated, under powerful, remorseless, and half
civilized enemies. Many a time have both
uprisen to shake off the yoke, and rs often
have they fallen back exhausted; many a
time have they bed almost to the death
under the swords of their fierce and vengeful
| hut thax, Stil1 1.-Two sti1 oh ch
the faith that alone preserves their lives
the unalterable belief that might cannot
finally prevail against the right, and that
when brave people determine to break the
chains that degrade them, they will ultn
nately succeed and force way by their
united strength to the pathway of freedom.
No wonder that Irishmen should witness
with throbbing hearts the wild efforts of the
Poles to right m,eIves onca and forever;
and no wonder that they should earnestly
pray for victory to bless the rude weapons
of the patriot Poles, as they rush in the
fury of their despair against the serried
masses of the Russian despot. At the OUT
break of the revolution in Poand--for it is
no long-r partial rebellion, but has assum-
ed the proportions Of national Ievolt-few
imagined the patriots could make head
against their enemies for many weeks; but
the power Of a people in arms, though these
be OF the most wretched description, was
underraled; they have not only repelled the
attacks of the disciplined troops, but have
become the aggressors. They have won
victories; their numbers are increased; their
hopes are rising higher every day, and they
teach the lesson that a people held in bond
age, outraged, trampled on, and goaded into
desperation. are able to give a good account
with their scythes and pixies of the numer'
Gus and highly disciplined troops Of one OF
the most powerful nations in Europe. So
well have they succeeded without discipline
generals, or the formidable appliances OF
modern warfare, that the Emperor of Russia
has thought proper to relax little of the
cruelty " hch drove them into revolt. These
unfortunate men were driven to the verge
of madness by the military conscription;
they preferred death in battle on their ma
tive soil, and fighting against their tyrants,
to the alternative of spending twenty years
in the Russian army, away from family,
friends, and kinsfoIk; associa;ing with the
degraded serfs, and shedding their blood
perhaps in distant Circassia, combating
against the brave mountainers for their des
potic ruler. They seized on whatever weap'
ons they could get hold of, and giving and
taking no quarter, they performed such
prodigies of vaIor that the Emperor stands
agbast, and fears his countless soldiers and
his great resources may not be able to pre-
vail against such terrible assailants. There
is besides, fear that his serts, with new born
ideas of freedom, suffering themselves great
hardshps from the conscription, may begin
to share in the feelings of the men they are
sent to slaughter Thus, in several respects
the revolt has been success, and the cause
of the Poles begins to brighten. And what
is very important element to be taken
into consideration, in estimating their prob:
bic chances of ultimate triumph, public
opinion in France is already awakening in
their favor. The .Seicle Of Paris speaks out
boldly in favor of the insurgent Poles.
Waterford Citizen.