New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-07-21
RUSSIA AND POLAND.

ulcu out. 80 cOlnpltltiF nhS ~ uttH ouPPi'HoOo
by HE overwhelming numbers of Russian forces
that not even scattered guerrillas appear any
longer to be left to represent the national cause
| The result might have been foreseen. A nation
so small in comparison with the Russians a
the Poles, could not possibly compete with the
former for any length Of time. Aid from France
or England. the leaders Of the insurrecton had
| little or no reason to expect. The revolutionary
party OF Europe, which, it was supposed, would
use the war in Poland as fit occasion for a
general rise throughout Europe, has hitherto
gained very little renown as war power.
Lastly. the Polish peoplc%erc from beginning
to end anything but unanimous. However
noble the efforts may have been, by which the
Headers of the insunection endeav0rcd to give
to ,bc peasants Of Poland equality of rights,
and tins reOrganizc the social basis OF Polish
nationality, they had to admit that they did moi
succeed in gaining the entire confidence OF the
country people. aud that very large numbers OF
them remained, not only indifferent, but hostile
to the Instruction.
These gigantic obstacles the heroism of the
Poles was unable to overcome, and once more
heir country lie, PROSTATE at the feet OF the
,ict6r The Russian Government we'll appre-
.iates The danger with which the disailection OF
lle Poles threatens the peace OF The Empire,
and they are making greater efforts than ever
- create in the country Il strong Russian party.
VERY extensive ind thorough reforms in the
condition of the peasants have been carried
Trough thi, year. The peasants have not only
l.come proprietors of the soil, which hitherto
/ ticy have been cultiyating for the nobility, but
/ tiey have at the same time received the right
O municipal sclf-goyenment, and nave already,
f,r the iirst time, exercised il. We deem 1t
highly probable that. conscious Of the new
rrhts which they have obtained from the Rus
sim Government, the Polish peasants will, for
tie present, be more than ever opposed to in
: s,rrcciions We DO not expect that they will
b, in any way denatonalzed; for in Poland
pOper the Polish nationality is not mixed with
aly foreign elements; nor is there likely to be
Al influx OF Russian immigration; and thus the
Polish nationality remaining homogeneous
whole, it is not probable that II will lose its
place among the nationaltics of Europe.
II ia, however, different with those provinces
wlich before the last partition of Poland were
detached from Poland proper and annexed to
R,ss The best Autographed works OF this
part of the ancent Polish Empire seem to leave
10 doubt that only the predominant classes OF
/ ia, population. especially the nobility, were
| Pdcs. while the bulk belonged to other races.
It's Russian Government has learned how TO
tum to advantage those powerful national
aspirations which are playing 50 great part in
the rcmodcling of Europe. II is widening, by
! all means within it, reach the breach which
| ha. always existed between the Polish aristoc-
racy Of these provinces and the races which
wee kept by them in a state OF subsection.
Church, school, and the press are successfully
employed to destroy the controlling influences
OF the Polish aristocracy and bind these
provinces more closely to Russia, not only to
tho empire, but also TO the people of Russia 1t
seems highly probable that in these efforts the
Russian Government will meet with speedy and
complete success, and that III any future
attempt of the Poles TO restore the indepen-
dence Of their nationality, they must abandon
the hope Of recovering these provinces of West
erIt Russia.
! Almost simultaneously with the Polish nsur-
recton the Russisns have brought to conclusion
the long war against the mountaineers OF the
Caucasus. With regard TO this war there can
! little be said in honor of Russia. II has been
one of that class of wars which The leading ma
,ions of Europe, and especially England,
France, aud Russia, have always been prone TO
engage in with borbarous tribes and nations,
often under the preteAt OF spreading clvlil]a-
I ion but, in fact, to satisfy their thirst Tor Oh
increase Of power and territory. The treat
ment of the Circasaians by the Russians has
been beyond expression disgrtceful, and even
the Russian papers, which have taken so much
trouble to justify their conduct toward the
Poles before the bar of public opinion, have
found very little TO say in extenuation OF the
crueltics committed in tine Caucasus. Having
been at last conquered. these tribes OF noun
taneers have begun 70 emigrate BY tens Of
thousands to Turkey, but, a. no sufficient prep
arations had been made for their reception, they
have suffered unspeakable hardshpS, and large
numbers Of them have persisted from starvation.
Russia i now enjoying peace throughout her
vast territory. Tho Emperor and his Cabinet
show great wisdom III keeping ont of the
troubles which have recently disturbed the rest