New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-01-25
TIE FATE OF POLAND.


II is singular that at time when the OPP
pressed and dismembered Dationalities Of Eu-
rope are regaining their unity and independ-
ence, one of the foremost of these natiOnalities
one which for the fulhllment Of her national
aspirations has suffered more than any other
should be threatened with new dangers. Such,
however Is the case Of Poland, the larger portion
of which was never in greater danger than now
of being absorbed by Russia. Instead OF being
q Venice, with the certain prospect OF being
reunited with other parts Of the same national
stem, It seems to be on the point OF becoming
an Alsace, where the cOnquering race grad
ually but surely, forces upon the conquered
its language and other national character
istics.
Amid all the vicisstudes of the times, the
Poles living under the seepter Of Russia had
heretofore had the satisfaction of possessing
semblance of national existence as Kingdom
"of Poland" The Treaty Of. Vienna of 1915
had guaranteed to the Kingdom national insti-
tutions but these the Russian Government had
deemed itself Justified, by repeated insurrec-
lions, to withhold, or, if they had been conceded
for time, again to abolish. Virtually, Russian
Poland has long been assimilated, In point
of administration, to the Governments OF Rus
sia, but the continuing union of all the five
provinces constituting the kingdom Of Poland
under one central administration, left the Inn
mediate supervision of the civil service, to
large extent, In the hands of natives, and pre-
served feeble remnant of Polish nationality.
This remnant the Russian Government has now
DESTROYED by three ukases issued on the 9th
of January. The old division of the country
into five governments gives way to new
division into ten, each having a separate
! Governor, almost wholly dependent upon
orders from st Petersburg. The other ukases
place the finances and the postal administra-
ton under the direct control of the Russian au-
thorities at the Russian capital. Together, these
ukases leave hardly anything which dis
tineuishes one of the now Polish Governments
| from those governments of Russia proper, ana
! the removal of the last remnant OF this dis
tinction will hardly be delayed for any length
of time. If Poland, like Venetia, had an inde-
pendent people of the same nationality to
lean upon, or if Russia were peOpled like Austria,
by number of different natiOnalities with
clashng interests, the changes in Russian Poland
might be regarded rs more nominal than sig
nificant. But as neither the one nor the other
|
than ever, will be fully incorporated with one
of the most powerful and compact nations of
the world, the danger of progressing Russifi-
cation of tic country is great and immediate.
| There are strong reasons for believing that the
fate of the Russian Poles will be similar to that
of their Prussian brethren, who have to witness
every year On increasing inrOad of a German
population upon their territory.
The severe measures which the Russian Gov
crnment has adopted with regard TO Poland
have chiefly been Occasiened by the great
patronage which has of late been extended to
| the Poles In Austria. 1t has, on sudden,
| granted to them nearly all their demands. 1t
has appointed an enthusiastic champion OF re-
| stored Polish nation, Count GOluchOwsh, Gov
ernor- General of Gallica; it ihas allowed the
Provincial Diet of Gallcia to be opened for the
| first time in the Polish, instead of
the German language; it has discontinued
| the official German papers published
| in the Polish crown land; it has gone so far
! in complying with the wishes of Poles as to
allow them 10 pass the most oppressive and
unjust measures against the Ruthenians who
! constitute about One-half Of the population of
! Gallicia. BY these and other measures Austria
| has raised in the Poles the most sanguine hopes
for a restoration of their nationality, and the
Poles In Russia and Prussia openly avow their
readiness to cooperate for reuniting oil the
Polish territory under the rule of Austria.
If Austria were possessed Of greater strength
and vitality than she really is, these move
ments might become dangerous to both Russia
and Prussia But as it is they only serve to irri-
tate and unite Russia and Prussia against Aus
tria. and IL seems likely that the Poles will have
to pay dearly for putting their confidence in
Power that is not strong enough to avert It's
own ruin, much less to restore shattered ma
tiOnality.
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