New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-05-02


ulation of this territory in 1772. the time o
the first partition, was more than 1900, 600
and has since increased TO about 2O,OO0,OOO
The people were, however, not oil Of ont
origin. The Poles were everywhere the rulinl
and most cultivated race. With them Tn
Lithuanians-preyailing in the three Govern
ments Of Koyno Wins md GrOdnO-had Ion,
before cOalescsd into ON nationality. A iarg'
portion of the lower classes consisted of an
other Slavic race-ths Ruthenes; but the.
also, by both language and religion, were NOR
nearly related to the Poles than to the Rus
SLAMS If the National independence Of Polan'
had not been destroyed, the Poles could hardy
have failed to become one of the Leading M
tions of Europe. The greatness OF the loss
COMPARED with their present wretehed condl
tion is one Of the causes of the intense to-
nscitv with which the Poles have chung to the
hone Of the resuscitation of their Empire.
The democratic principle which is so rapidly
ginning ground in Europe will be the savior OF
Poland. The cry of despair with which
Kosciusko sank upon the battle-feld-Fmi
Poonie-will not become reality, but ere
long his beloved country will again take its
rank among the nations Of Europe. But il
must, from the start, forego any claim to the
full extent of its original territory. 1t is the
claim of the nationalities as they are now ex-
listing, not as they were existing a hundred
years ago. which is, and will be, indorsed by
the Progressive party Of Europe. The districts
in which tho Poles still form, or in which they
will form at the restoration Of an independent
Poland, q majority Of all the inhabitants viii be
reunited with Poland; those, on the other
hand, in which the soil has passed into the
hands of another race, it will have to rein.
quish Thus in the Prussian part of Poland,
which has still 1850, 900 Polish inhabitants,
many districts have become entirely German
ized and the present population demands to
remain united with Germany, not with Poland.
in some districts of those Govern
ments which were annexed to Russia at the
frat PARTITION and which now belong to Russia
proper, the Russian population has outgrown
that Of Polish origin. In both these cases. the
Poles will probably have to abandon any claim
Of recovery, as Germany must re;inquish her
claim to those German provinces that have be-
come annexed to France. 1t is the free will
Of the people now cultisating the sol that will
be consulted in the political rearrsDgement Of
Europe.
In both cases, however, the loss TO Poland
would be trivial. More important and, in
fact decisive for the future extent of the
Polish Empire will be the relation Of the Poles
to the Ruthenes. The latter are more numer-
Gus than the Poles. The standard writer on
Slavic affairs, Schafarik, estimates the present
number of the Poles at 10 millions, and that
Of the Ruthenes at I3 millions. Notwithstand-
ing this superiority Of numbers, the Ruthenes,
IKE several other Slavic tribes, have until re-
Gently been entirely destitute OF anything IKE
literature. But they have no" begun TO cult
yate their own language, and in Austria, in
particular they find the warmest encourage
ment on the part of the Government, which
considers il to be for its interest ~ Sow
discord between Poles and Ruthenes. This
plan has not been altogether unsuccessful, for,
both in the Austrian House of representa-
tiyes at Vienna and in the Galician Diet at
!. emberg, the Ruthene delegates are generally
supporters Of the Austrian Government die
agreeing with the Poles. Russia, TO the same
end has induced the Ruthenss who were
of the United Greek Church (Which
acknowledges the supremacy Of the Pope) TO-
the union with Rome and unite with
the Greek State Church of Russia. The
organs OF the radical party in Russia, as
BY Alexander Herzen and Others,
agree with the organs Of the Roman Catholic
Church that this step was by NO means volun-
tary Oh the part of the Rntbenes, aud 1t Is
maintained that thousands Of them are now
the more eagerly fighting in the insurrectionary
army because they hope thus to recover not
only national but also religious liberty.
At all events, it will appear from the above
statement that On agreement or disagreement
of the Ruthenes and the Poles is the hinge OF
the Polish question. If the former can DC iu-
duced to enter anew into voluntary' hatiohai
union with the Poles, the two peoples combined
would be nation of considerably more tnah
20, 900, 900 souls, the time Of their NATIONAL IN
dependence would arrive 50 mach the sooner,
and the tixaton of their frontier line would
present, on the whole, but little difficulty. H.
on the other hand, this agreement cannot be
brought about, the restored Polish empire VIII
not only lose very considerable portion OF its
former territory, but at the same time be IN
volved in new disputes about its frontier
which it might find more difficult to arrange
ahliah Ia ralniiana with