The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1871-09-10
The Approaching Centenary of tho Partition q
Poland.

In 1853. Kara Mustapha, at the head o.
ESQ, 900 Moslems, set forth to accom- plisl
the mission of his Sultan :. Make unto me
the cities of the Christian West what yont
forefathers made of the cities of the Chris,
tian South--Smyrna and Antioch, Alexsn-
dria and Hippo" Without check they
moved upon imperial Vienna, the key
of Europe. When it fell-woe to the rest
of the continent.
Almost every Christian nation was en-
gagged in desperate and exhausting war with
some rival, and it seemed as though moth
ing less than miracle could prevent the
total subjugation of Europe, iur its united
armies would hardly have surpassed that
of Mustapha, and but one nation came for
ward to struggle for the salvation of Eu-
rope. Yes, one nation alone, a hero peo-
ple-Poland-led by hero king--John
Sobieski-came to the rescue, and by pro-
digies of valor defeated the myriads of dis
cipiined invaders. Poland had saved Eu-
rope, and Europe was grateful. Before a
century had passed away after the great
deliverence, Europe stood by with folded
arms while Poland, tue land of Sobieski,
was basely broken up and partitioned by
three great European powers, to rescue the
capital of one of which the best blood of
Poland had been shed like water around
the ramparts of Vienna.
1t is not necessary for Us to dwell in de-
tail upon the picture of the fall of Poland.
Bfoodiest picture in the book of time;
Sarmatia fell. unwept, without crime.
1t is known to all how cruelty, how trea-
cherously the deed was brought about
how the armies of the partitioning Powers
poured their overwhelming numbers over
the land, just as the armies of Robber
Kings have done in later days; how the
Polish confederates, ranged under the
banner of the Blessed Virgin and her Child.
yaiinly opposed their lessening forces and
failing strength to the invading torrents,
how ut length glorious valor could do no
more. Poland was partitioned.
More important is it to note how it stands
with Poland and her hopes day, after so
many instructions dreadfully suppressed,
on the eve of the centenary of her BETRAYAL.
We are recalled to the consideration of
this question by the spectacle of that great
gathering which, we learn from the Ger
man and Austrian papers, is taking place
at Lemberg, in Austrian Poland, within
the present week. According to the Neus
Freie Presse, six hundred delegates from
all parts of the divided realm of ancient
Poland met on Monday last to give ex-
preston to the undying aspirations of their
race, to repeat the undying protest against
the oppression of their country and the
prescription of her fame. 1t is particular
ly mentioned as an exemplification of the
manner in which the national sentiment
defies all the difficulties Of distance, and
evades all the restraints of power, that
even the remotest provinces have, in spite
of bayonets and the police, sent their de-
puties to the Assembly. From Prussian
Poland it is announced that fifty eight re-
come, each bearing a portion of earth, ac-
cOrding to the striking Polish custom, to
form a mound of testimony to the indisso-
fuble unity Of the Polish Father-lend. The