The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1875-10-19
THE CLOSING CHAPTER IN POLISH
HISTORY

sia against the Sultan Mustapha, the
power Of Catharine might have been
so crippled that the movement which
led to the disintegration of Poland,
could not have taken place till long
after. In this case Poland would prob
ably have been saved, for the succeed
ing events Of European history crowd
ed so fast upon the destinies of the ma
lions of that continent, that the infa-
nous alliance could never have been
formed. The French revolution fol
lowed in less than twenty years. The
figure which Napoleon cut in the his.
tory of the times occupied all the ut
tention of combined Europe for some
twenty years more. After Waterloo
the world wanted rest, and Poland
would have had II further immunity
from storm. BY the time that black
compact could have ripened into posi-
tive action, that great ruling principle
In European diplomacy and politics,
"Balance of Power" would have come
to the rescue aud the Crimean war, or
or u war having the same object in
view, would have kept from the page
of history the blacklist stain that de-
files 1t. But the long wars that pre-
ceded these events Ind weakened
France, while the Jesuits had excited
the fears of Count d'Aranda and other
leaders in Spain, 10 that the latter
country had all OF its time occupied in
controlling religious dissentions at
home. There is no question that in
tracing back to their sources the origin
of the events that led to the downfall
of Poland, religious bigotry will be
found ut the bottom. But whatever
may have been the original course, and
whatever may have been the JUS
tillcation which the sentiment
of an hundred years ago might
have allowed to this shameful trans
action, we cannot forget that this clos
ing outrage occurred in the broad light
of our present civilization. II IL but II
short time since the peasantry of Po-
land We're forced to surrender their fee
simple IN the soil upon which they
were born. The august despotism Mt
st. Petersburg permitted the mobiles to
retain their titles to lands which they
owned. This, to the poor Poles, who
had not known the meaning of an in
dependant right for nearly CEN
tury, seemed IA great concession. But
now, even this crumb thrown from
the robbers table, Is withheld, and the
Government launches an edict to the
effect that all lands held by Poles mus;
he sold, at prices fixed by the Govern
meDt, to their Russian tenants. 1t
seems strange to us here that England's
royal daughter-iu law could not have
absorbed enough of civilization from
surrounding influences, to have had
some effect with her arist0cratic tat her,
and thereby prevented this last sad
scene in the shameful drama that
blottcd the name of Poland from
the map of Europe. The Eng
lish were ever Jealous of land
tenures as their laws show, but that
statute of frauds which can regulate
the transfer of real estate In Russian
Poland will have to be written with u
bayonet Instead of n pen. With, the
great questions and issues which the
aspect Of present European politics
presents, no one power could be eX.
pected to interfere by force of arms, in
the final details ola wrong whose first
steps could never have been taken but
for Its own selfish cowardice. But it
might nave been expected that the re-
lations between England and Russia,
resulting from the marriage of the
Duke of Edinburg with Alexan-
droyna, might have given the
former some influence to
prevent this-Alast injustice. But TO do
this would have been simply TO graft
fy asentiment, and diplomatic inter.
ference might have affected in some
degree the relations between the two
governments, The wrongs of Poland
have been sung by poets and the part
played by Russia has been anathama.
tized by all lovers Of liberty, of Justice
and Of right. Yet, we find that the
United States, boasting itselfthe home
offreedom, Is the closest ally1of Russia,
confessedly the most despotic civilized
government pp tile world. Tie
party which controlled our gov
eminent and made that alliance
iisT the party which has made
anotherp Poland fout of the south
aud pariitioned iy-Mealth among the
~ ~
corrupt and-vicious. The only differ.
ence between the two is that the ruder
Russian tookVhisspoil openly aud only
pointed to hismlghtto justify his fight,
while the Republican party perpetrated
theirwrongs under the guise OF leuis.
lation. They are not pleasant thoughts
tcr1pa that Americans should elect to
affiliate with q Government whose
every principle isin direct conflict with
ths theory q our own ;-apd IL these
Thoughts bring feeling OF bnmilia.
uon' lot us console ourselves with the