The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-07
GERMANS IN POLAND.
Unable to Compete with the Poles in
Compulsory Colonization.
New York Press.

New York Press.
Prussia seems to be literally at its wits
end with regard to it's Polish provinces.
The bill now before the Prussian Diet Is
simply provision for trying over again
the attempt at colonization made by Bis
marck in 1856. and which proved a failure.
Yet nothing else presents itself TO the gov
eminent which affords the hope Of solu-
ton of the present highly unsatisfactory
state of the relation of the vexed
provinces to the empire, unless it
is the drastic measure of depriva-
ton of all civil rights for the Poles and
complete reversal of the policy regarding
them inaugurated by Frederick the Great
The plan now proposed by the govern
ment for Germanizing the Polish provinces
has less chance of success than it had
when first tried. Prussian Poland assimi-
lated the Germans which were aforetime
sent there as colonists and apostles of
German ideas, and did it when the finan-
cal, social and political state OF the coun-
try was much less thoroughly consolidated,
much less powerful and much less Polish
IMAM now II is proposed to rush Germans
into the Polish provinces in such great
numbers that they cannot be Polanized;
10 repeat the plantation of Ulster" and
to allow the inning especial privileges.
But the English plantation OF Ulster was
predlcated upon entirely different condi-
lions from those which exist in PruSSian
POLAND. Ii followed and accompanied a
state or war which left in the hands of
the English large conhscated estates 10
portion out among the people sent for the
Angllcizing of Ireland and tracts of terri
tory denuded of their original inhabitants.
Ulster was planted by tyranny and
watered with blood, while 1t is proposed to
plant German people and German ideas in
RUSSIAN Poland by constitutional methods
wi nf
peace and commerce. Where are the Ger
mans 10 settle after they arrive in the
Polish provinces? Where is the land for
them to till 20 come from? The great
PonSh mobiles live on their estates now
and cultivate them and have their own
peasantry. The middle class apply the boy
colt to every German who goes to Poland
and refuses to become one with them.
Ii he remains German he can neither buy
nor sell. He or his children must become
Polish in thought and feeling and politics
II he is to live in the provinces. This fact,
with the intermarriages of the immigrants
with the Poles, has brought ii about that
previous attempts to Cermanize the prov
lnces by immigration have only resulted in
adding to and STRENGTHENING the antag-
onistic Polish race in them.
Germany would hardly undertake by fire
and sword to create in Prussian Poland
such a condition precedent as existed in
Ireland before the Ulster plantation. And,
after all, the Ulster experiment was not
such a glittering success that the policy
or the nations of to day need be guided
by its light. Yet something must be done
about the provinces; every day that things
are allowed TO go on as they do now in
creaSeS the menace to the peace of central
Europe by the aspiring Poles: AS little
working satisfactorily to the Prussians,
trial of 1T once more will furnish at least
palliation of the more severe methods
of dealing with the provinces of which
later 1t may become absolutely necessary
to make use.