The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-07-05
POLAND NAY Be FREE
Not as of Right, But for "Buf-
fer Kingdom" Purposes.
HER ANCIENT STRUGGLE
For Liberty Under the In
comparable kosciusko.


the following sketch of the Polish strug
gle for liberty in the last century and o.
koscuisko, the illustriOus patriot:
A Russian statesman recently made tn,
rather startling suggestion that indepen
dence be restored to Po.and. The sug
gestton was surprising from the fact that
IL emanated from a representative of q
nation that had dismembered the king.
dom Of liberty-loving people, had slaugh.
tered its Inhabitants, and wiped its name
on the map Of Europe.
But there was no real occasion for sur.
prise. The proposition was not made from
any motive of justice or humanity, but
purely from political and economical
standpoint. The astute statesman pointed
out that Germany and Russia were oblig-
ed to maintain enormous standing armies
on the frontier separating their empires,
so that neither should have the advantage
OF the other in the event of war. This
meant an immense expenditure to both
nations both in men and money, which
might be better utilized in other direc-
| tions.
To attain this highly virtuous object the
| Russian proposes TO restore a measure OF
| independence to Poland, make IL a sover-
| e!gn state, and thus create a buffer
| between the two empires. In the event
| of war between the two great nations the
sovereign state" lying between them
could exert its rights for a sufficient time
to enable the empires to mobolize their
| troops. and then, of course, the ''hoof of
the ruthless invader would trample over
| the, liberties of the fair land of Poland -
| as 1t did more than a century ago.
But, it is said. the Russians proposition
has found favor with many German states
| men and has been commented upon ia
vorably throughout the official circles of
Europe.
II such plan was consummated the
irony of fate would reach a climax. When
the Poles had nationality they were
among the bravest and most patriotic
people OF Europe or Of the world. They
fought for their liberty against the hordes
of Russia. Prussia. and Austria, and were
never conquered until the earth of their
country was soaked with patriot blood.
and their mathematics the Poles call
their country-was torn apart and dis
tributed among three great nations.
If such things could happen surely
Thaddeus Kosciusko would turn in his
grave and the shades ofthousands of other
patriots would revisit the haunts of life
in protest OF the pItiful travesty on JUS
tice.
The struggle Of Poland for liberty has
probably furnished more material to the
Romantic novelist and the poet than that
OF any other nation of modern times. 1t
was a struggle replete with acts of indi-
vidCal heroism, of personal sacrifice, and
OF national devotion. Delicate women
and children. of al franks in life. worked
side by side with the soldiers; mighty
mobiles, armed with fowling-pieces, fought
in the same ranks with their serfs and
peasants. whose weapons were scythes
and pitchforks and all were animated
by a love Of liberty and a hatred Of ty-
ranny almost unexampled in history. And
in this superb galaxy Of patriotism the
figurue Of Thaddeus KosciuskO looms re-
splendent. His life was consecrated to
patriotism, and a purer and nobler life
does not illuminate the pages OF history.
From its beginning to its close there
WAS never a suspicion of the soldier OF
fortune attaching to his deeds. His
every act. both public and private. bore
the stamp Of honesty and pure purpose.
His whole life" one Of his friends said
after his death. was a romance" And
II was a beautiful romance, unsullied by
a tinge of selfishness.
In the Polish character OF a century
ago there was something Of barbaric
splendor and rudeness. of the spirit of
Orientalism, mingled with European edu- !
cation and refinement The entire nation
was almost dominated by spirit Of in |
tense patriotism. And this applies with I
peculiar force to the nations champion, |
Kosciusko When the Poles rose against 1
Russian ascendency he was the one man
without whom resistance would have
been impossible.
Kosciusko was born in LIthuania, in .
174s, according to some historians, and in /
lI5s according to others. II IS probable /
that the latter was the correct date. He
was the only son of Casimir Kosciusko. a
nob,eman The latter was an intimate
friend Of Prince Adam Czartoryski.
through whose influence the son was plac-
ed in the Cadet Institution, which had
been established at Warsaw by
King S;anisIaus. That ne was an ardent
and Industrious student is testified 70 by
one of his cofradcs, who declares that in
order to make sure OF rising a. o'clock
every morning kosciusko commissioned
the stoye-heater TO wake him by pulling
a string. Of which one end was tied about
his arm. while the other passed out under
the door Of his room.
He studied until late IN the night. and
when sleep threatened to overcome him
he kept himself awake by putting his feet
N cold water ard repeatedly bathing his
Forehead and neck. His favorite studies
we're mathematics and history. He was
)ne OF the four students selected by the
professors cut Of a competitive class OF
welve TO receive a foreign education at ,
he expense Of the King Of Poland. and
ie studied for several years a. the MILL
AIRY academy at Versailles.
On his return to Poland he entered the
Iimy and was given command of COM
any By order Of the king. Almost i'm
nediately romance entered into his life.
md his first adventure resulted in his
xpatria,ion and gained for the Ameri-
an revolutionary army an enthusiastic
nj capable soldier.
He fell pasSionateiy In love with the
Dung daughter OF one OF the dtguitaries
{ the kingdom Joseph SosnOwski. mar
hal Of Lithnsaia and vice general Of the :
rown. Towards the end OF III Koscius- I
o's regiment was sent 20 Lithuania and 5
. was CHARTERED in the mzrsaai's castle. .
there he pressed hts suit and succeeded I;
4 winning the affections Of the Lady
.ouisa Sosnowski. The young Sheer pnT- :
1ed an honorable and many course and
eeged the fathers ps4srl.s 30 70 harry !
Is daughter. while the girl confessed her /.
We n h-- mother. The parents were