New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-23

Cretans Irish or Jews. But somehow or an
other tho case Of Poland has appealed moro
strongly TO the American heart than that or any
Of the unhappy people Just mentioned. Ihelr
fight for liberty which has continued almost
without interruption for more than one nun
drcd years has been signalized by so many
romantic episodes has furnished such remark
able examples OF bravery. Of patriotism ana OF
chivalrous self-sacrifce, that anything which
affects their welfare meets with keener appre-
citation in North America than anywhere else In
the world.
This being the case, attention should be drawn
10 a remarkable feature Of the new policy OF con-
Citation which young Emperor Nichoias from
the very moment of his accession to the throne
OF Russia has begun in the Polish provinces or
his domnons. IL is nothing more nor less than
the repeal Of that iniquitous law which pro-
hibited every one processing any other than the
Orthodox Greek faith from owning or occupying
land In the former Kingdom Of Poland. mas
much as the Poles, in spite OF the cruel persecu-
lions TO which they have been subjected on re-
ligious as we'll as on racial grounds have re-
manned fervent adherents OF the Roman
Catholic Church, this was equivalent 70 de-
barring them from retaining possession OF such
OF their ancestral estates had been left to
Russian Government was in the habit Of de-
creeing after every revolutionary movement and
even without any such cause. but on the most
frivolous and trivial pretexts 1t Is worthy OF
note tina. In spits Of the reputation for tyranny
entoyed by the first Emperor Nicholas, and tho
renown for the possession OF more enlightened
and liberal principles accorded by history to his
son. the nl-fated Alexander II, this law was en-
forced with far greater severity under the reign
Of the latter than under that Of his father. In
deed there is Gar Of Russia beneath whose
rule the Poles may be said to have suffered SO
much from persecution and oppression OF every
conceivable character that Of the so-called
Liberator Car.
POLISH MOBILES REGAIN THEIR ESTATES.
The present Emperor has changed all this and
has caused II 10 be made known that not only
Is the obnoxious law in connection with the
tenure of land in the western provinces re-
pealed but. moreover. that he would be glad to
see the Polish nobility once again occupying their
ancestral estates. Ever since this has been un-
derstood abroad there has been steady flow
eastward Of the Polish arlstocracy. and they are
rapidly recovering by means of purchase all
those castles and domains with which the
names Of their families have been identified
already taken advantage OF the Cars new
policy In this particular the Counts Potocki,
Zamoyski. StarZenski. Czartoriski and about
one hundred more bearers OF equally illustrious
names who will doubtless become in course of
time quite as loyal to the Gar their fellow
countrymen in the Austrian portion Of Poland
are TO Emperor Francis Joseph. 1t Is pleasant
under the circumstances to be able to state that
these Polish princes and counts are recovering
their estates at a relatively small cost For the
old proverb according TO which violence and
persecution always end by inficting more injury
upon the people who made use thereof as instru
ments than upon those against whom they were
directed, has proved true once more In this In
stance While the Russian mobiles who obtained
the Polish castles and estates either by grant
from the Russian Government. which had con-
hscated them, or else at a merely nominal price |
at the compulsory sales are now In such a state |
OF financial distress and bankruptcy that Mich
olas has Just been forced TO appoint an i'm |
perial commission TO devise some means for |
their relief the Polish nobility have prospered |
TO such degree in exile that ere long they will |
constitute what Is to every monarchical country |
q source OF boundless strength namely a rich |
and afiiuent territorial aristocracy possessed OF
sufficient means to develop the latent resources
of the country and. above all. to ameliorats the
condition Of the peasantry and masses for whose |