The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1883-07-26
The Poor Poles.

Count Charles Felix Bozenta CHAP
owski. the husband of Nine. Modjeska,
who, as was announced recently, has re-
nounced his allegiance to his sovereign,
the Emperor William, was found in his
room bv a reporter last evening, engaged
in preparation for grand bear, moose,
elk, deer and buffalo excursion, which he
proposes to make during his visit to Col
orado. In this occupation he persisted,
despite the manyseloq uent entreaties on
the part of his dusky valet, who insisted
on his dropping. that tomfooling bust
ness and not be fussing around all
night" His prospective hunt was the
subject of many enthusiastic remarks
after he had at last rellnquished his hold
of his shells and shot. When the sub
iect was changed the reporter Asked
"What was your idea in renouncing
the German Emperor, COUNT"
"Oh," he replied, sit has no special
significance; except that I took out my
naturalization papers and became an
American subject, which has been my
intention for long time. Madame, too,
wished very much to become an Ameri-
can, and as this was the only way to &C.
complish that result. went through the
ceremony here, being q Californian by
residence. There surely can be no OBJ
lection to that, since am not danger
GUS character. a political intriguer nor q
revolutionist, for our time for that is
over"
"Then you think that Prussian Poland
has given up all hopes Of severing the
ties which bind her to Germany"
"Yes, though the desire for political
freedom is stronger to-day than ever.
Our persecution, however, by the Prus-
sian government, has so weakened us that
to-day it would be hopeless tack. Our
people have been compelled to emigrate.
Some have come to this country and
others have gone to Russia. There, by
the way the Poles are subjected to much
less persecution than in Germany. A
Pole is treated like the Russians and he
does not feel the hardships of the gov
government as much as across the Dor.
der, where to be q Pole is sufficient to
insure the hatred of the petty officials,
and their prosecutions, oountenanced as
they are by the government, are some.
thing terrible. But. as I said, our time
has gone by. The Prussians have gained
possession OF two-thirds of the land and
the Poles are crowded out by superior
numbers. The emigration from there to
this country is something startling.
When Bismarck aimed his great blow at
Poland, in the suppression of the Catho.
lie churches, he struck at the hearts of
the Poles, as, their schools being Catho-
lie, it virtually abolished them, and they
sought refuge in emigration. They make
desirable class of citizens, these Poles,
especially after the first generation being
really we'll advanced and industrious
people, far in advance of the Russian,
but inferior to the German"
"What was the cause of Bismarck
great hatred of the Eoles?"
"That cannot say. He was, before
coming into prominence. much among
Poles and had very many warm friends
among them, though his later acts
caused their loss, and it is utterly mex
plicable."
'Do you not think that in the event of
q war with Russia, or the death of Bis
marck, Poland would resume her revo-
lutionary tactics, or at least seek anrexa-
ton to Russian"
"There is little chance of that. It is
more likely that Germany's project of
extending her frontier to the Weichsel
will be carried out; owing to the inter
nal dissensions of Russia. There is,
however, some chance of Russia's at
tempting to wrest part of Germany away
from her. but with the encroachment Of
the Chinese on the Russian frontier Rus
STA will seek, or will be forced to seek, q
new acquisition in the West. think
that all the nations will crowd westward,
and that in fact the events of 1909 years
ago will be repeated in history, and it is
likely that we will see the day. 1t will
be q crowding out. and immigration to
America will increase in proportion.
8. F. Chronicle.