The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-04-02
Our Polish. Americans.

tory, the anniversary of the first battle
fought by the immortal Kosciusko for
the liberation of Poland, the victorious
engagement at Raclawice, in what 10
now Russian Poland, is particularly
happy one, both on account of the
pleasure it Will afford them, and also
Ivy reason of the educational opportun-
ity it will offer to other Scrantonians.
There are mvny of us VINO do not keep
as closely in touch with the progress OF
this growing element in our citizenship
as it should be our duty to DO; nor ss,
in years to come, it will perhaps be our
distinct pleasure to DO This ia not,
among the great majority Of US, duo to
any narrow feelings of prejudice or
illiberality, but TO n simple state Of
easy Indifference directed toward all
those civic functions which do not in
stsntly fall into the channel of oar
familiar routine as citizens. Some of
Us are aware, in general way. that
the Polish strain which, when
il first came TO these shores. ex-
hibited all too clearly the mark Of
persecution. poverty, distress and op.
preston, has gradually. in the ampler
air of American opportunity, expanded
into a growth that daily challenges ad-
miration by its industry, its lack OF
rude self-assertion, its humility and
docility before the law, and its ready
acceptance, in its nav environment, of
new principles, new aspirations and
new character. But few. even Of our
most enterprising citizens, have pur-
sued this inquiry into its surprising de.
rails, or read in them the story of an
almost phenomenal progress, Few are
co0versant with the directions or the
extent Of this upgrowth of n Polish
American community that, in little be
youd decade, Is already more Ameri-
can than Polish and that is pushing
out with an assimilative and adaptive
energy which must, ere the end of the
century, place them foremost among
the thriving naturaliz9d elements Of
our cosmopolitan civilization.
The impression commonly prevails,
among thosl who have never given
thought to the subject, that as a class
our immicrants of Polish nativity are
almost invariably ignorant. This con
ception is largely erroneous. Statistics
show that of those immigrants who,
since the partition of Poland. have
fallen under Prussian rule, eighty per
cent. are able to read and write not only
Polish but also German. and are rea-
sonably well schooled in European his
tory. In Gllician Poland, the per-
centage of literates ranges from fifty to
sixty uer cent. and only in that part Of
the unhappy Polish fatherland viii ch,
by the greed OF the czariua CAtharine,
fell at partition to Russian control, is
there prevalence of Ignorance among
the Polish people, and this they cannot
help since it is forced upon them, The
outcry which in recent years has gone
out against this nationality has too
often been an indiscriminatiug one. 1t
has failed to recognize that while
ignorance and credulity may be char
acteristic of the Russian Poles under
the iron rule Of the car, these are not
the characteristics of any other portion
Of Poland; and it has also failed to ad-
NIT that, although they are the newest
class Of immigrants we have, dating
back in large numbers, scarcely moro
than fifteen years ago they are
assimilating our American habits
with a TapiditY which threatens,
within a decade, TO put them
on a plane of commanding social
and political influence. There is today
scarcely a settlement of Polish people
anywhere in this country that does not
have its schoolhouse and its church !;
It's local branch of the United Polish
church society. which is a religious,
social aud beneficial organization; aud
its local branch of the Polish National
alliance, which is a secular organiza-
ton for the purpose OF aiding in the
civic development of the Polish people.
In New York and Philadelphia this
latter alliance has established homes
for Polish immigrant girls. where
Young women fresh from the old coun.
try are sheltered, protected and placed
in the possession Of opportunities to
earn an honorable livelihood and also
hotels where, at reasonable charges,
male newcomers are preserved from the
enticements of sharpers anxious, as
soon as an immigrant lands, to hire
him under contract to labor at absurd.
ly low wages. Indeed, in the work OF
organized charity and benevolence. our
Polish-American may be said without
exaggeration to compare favorably
with any other class of citizsns of
foreign nativity at similarly early
date during their residence in America.
But what is most notable about the
Pole immediately upon his arrival in
this country is his willing submission
TO the fact that he must give proof Of
his fitness before he can become use
full and acceptable American citizen.
Let his wealth be ever so small, he will
immediately devote percentage of it
10 sending his children to some school,
naturally. of course, a psrochial
school; and be will, as soon as possible.
purchase a small bit of ground and
bnild on it modest home. Take. for
example, the parish IN our own
city, presided over so efficient
ly by Rev. Richard Aust Enter the
school of this parish at any hour of the
day, or, during the summer, also in the
evening" and you will witness as earn
eat an assemblage Of bright.eyed boys
and girls rs can be found in any simi'
lar school room anywhere They read
and write fuently in English, are
taught every rudimentary branch in