The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-09-21

.ss Pss=<tsr empire" The policy pro-
rosss. however, Is similar % that adopted
hx the er,,sror Of Austria 10 THAI portion
CT the ancient kingdom OF Poland wnacn
was annexed 20 Austria a. the time OF
the distribution OF that unhappy country.
and which IL known row by the name Of
r,alfesa- TIE considerats treatment was
adopted IN the first place as a contrast
% that Of Russia for the purpose of max
ing Austrian Poland consentsd by COM
par;rg fts advantages with the miserable
condition OF Russian Poland. II did have
that effect. ard the result Is that all pes
PIE. whether % the nobility or the peas
sntry. have become the most loyal and
devoted champion of the Austrian crown
In fact. so high is the standing OF that
province for loyalty 20 the throne that
Polish mobiles have held the portfolios OF
premier % the empire. OF minister Of for
eIgn affairs and even Of the imperial
household.
There can be no doubt that IL is better
for a country which is so far united as 70
have one language and disssnctively ma
tlonai customs, but this harmony can sell
dom be secured by harsh measures unless
the oppressed people are hopelessly In the
minority, and they are not always sue
cessful then. The Jews and Ro-nanys.
each In their way the most prosecuted
people the world has ever known. have
retained their language IN spite Of all
that tyranny could do. Wherever the
Hebrew or the Romany language has
succumbed TO the influence surrounding
IT, the result is that or voluntary and IN
been easiest reached where the laws have
been most liberal.
This subject has only attained impor-
tant proportions in this country in dis
tricts where Germans. Italians or Scan
dinavians have congregated. There has
ing by foreign-born people of their Ian
guage or customs. and IL is only where
the taxpayers have been called upon 10
pay for the education OF the children that
they have raised the question. American
citizens. either of native birth or who
to which they have sworn allegiance,
have sometimes taken the view that while
there can be no objection to children be-
Ing taught German. Spanish, French or
Italian, it is no part of the purpose of
the public school TO give more than fair
edacs ton in the American tongue There
Is a great difference between this matter
of public policy and a despotic order that
no person shall speak In any but the Ian
guage of the tyrant. In either case. how
ever, the surest way TO bring people to
the wishes of the majority is TO do Ii
cogrteously and considerably.
The historical student will regret the
disappearance of any ancient language,
but that seems to be inevitable Lam
guage is not science, and il is changing
as fast as the world changes In other re-
spects. Only once Is there any record of
the sudden creation or destruction of
language. The most ancient language
known is the survival Of selections from
stu more ancient languages, and IL is
only after lapse Of years that the tran
sirion becomes apparent. The sentiment
which seemed TO keep alive the Celtic and
the Saxon was not genuine. 1t only sur
vlved so long as resistance to the invader
survived. With the gradual submission
to the new order of things, the sentiment
as to language died away. and is only
preserved by few enthusiasts who would
regard their ancient language with the
same veneration that they have for the
moss-grown ruins of an almost forgotten
mast.