The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-28
sIENKIEWIcz 4 coNvERr.
The Polish Author Now Numbered Among
the Reyolutlon's SynpathzcrS


News of a letter written by Henryk Sien-
kiewio2. tho Polish author Of Quo Nadis,s
and other novels well known here, to the
Russian Minister of the Interior, lamentn9
the present state of that unfortunate litte
country and by implication espousing the
cause of the revolutionists, has come BY
underground services to Stanislaus Demb.
ski. leader Of tho Polish socialist party
who ia now in New York
The letter Is anonymous, although il IA
known TO the revolutionists that 1t came
to the Minister from Senkewlcz. It IA
entitled: An Open Letter from a Poe
to the Minister of the Interior OF Russia
Its authorship is not publicly known even
in Poland.
Senkiewicz is conservative. OF nobe
birth, and with wealth and estates, though he
ia a patriot, az are all Poles, he is still OF
the aristooratic few in his unhappy land
who have endeavored to accept the for.
nation of society as it Is.
His opinions are known in Poland to
be more than moderate-they are narrow.
He has formulated no programme, made no
demand. He limited himself in this leitc.>
to a simple statement as to the present
actual situation of Russian Poland This
is translation;
THE bureaucracy il absolute master
OF all the affairs of our unfortunate little
country. No local autonomy IL In existence
The Polish language Is banished from the
schools and from the administration Of
tribunals. Besides this the civil authorities
pursue at all costs the aim OF Russianiz-
ing the country. That the corruption OF
the Russian bureaucracy holds everywhere
and. above all, in this conquered country,
is fact too well known to DO again pointed
out
ALSO the religious oppression which
is going on il a fact to he observed in no
other country Of Europe for centuries
The country has not enough schools nor
railroads. nor even proper roads. although
the Government taxes the population to
excess, ostensibly for these purposes, But
the funds thus raised are dispersed in the
pockets of the functionaries.
IF Poland il not yet completely ruinsd
she owes it only to her own vitality and
patriotism, which continues In spite Of
national and religious oppression, In spite
of the wicked administration
The letter has come from the author
following a great demonstration OF 5000
persons who gathered recently at DOM
browa. Two causes brought about this
concourse. The national Republican com
mittee had at last declared its hatred OF
massa ores and outrages which are cited
by the latest bulletins Of the underground
service" Cossacks attacked several young
bridal couples and their guests az they
were emerging from the church at CarInes
criminals were turned loose. with permis-
sion to pillage and outrage strikers. and
5000 workmen who had formed before the
Governors house at Radon to listen 10 a
speech were fired upon without warning
The open sympathy. however anony-
mously published of their greatest author
Is expected TO do much to encourage the
Polish people News comes that a detach-
ment Of Cossacks which met the great
Dombrowa gathering was afraid to attack
because of the threatening throng, in which
many had drawn revolvers
According to Mr.. Dembski's information
troops are being concentrated in Poland
and are beginning TO surround trains al
stations and cross-examlne travellers,
masses of loot are in the soldiers quarters,
and Cossacks attack those who are on foot
in the side streets