New-York tribune., 1905-02-05
Poland Once More.
of Divided and Oblerated Kingdom in the
Present Crisis

same laws and eventually in the bosom OF ths
same Church. with the elimination OF every
vestlge OF nationalist sentiment or racial feel
ing. that II IS hopeless to dream OF any recourse
70 such remedy the only alternative being force.
Nor must Il be forgotten that the masses IN
Poland are far better educated than their Rus
sian fellow citizens OF the same class. This is
due to the native Catholic clergy, whose infu-
ence. especially among the peasantry. IS very
great. Thanks to the priests both peasants and
Iaborers In Poland. as a general rule. know how
to read their own language But they have
nothing to read. For the newspapers are mostly
printed in Russian. and IN the few public libra
ries that exist the works almost exclusively
Russian. while booksellers who venture 70 en-
bark in the sala OF Polish literature ara dis
couraged' by the Russian police. who fear. not
perhaps without reason. that Polish works VIII
tend to foster the nationalist sentiment at tha
expense OF Russia. The result OF this Is that
practically the only reading matter within ths
reach OF the masses in Poland IS those revolu-
tlonary and socialistic pamphlets books and
papers printed IN Polish with which thu
revolutionary and socialist committees n1anags
to flood the entire kingdom. II has mora than
once been suggested at st. Petersburg that great
advantage would be derived from the establish
ment In Poland Of a system OF public Libraries
filled with works printed IN Polish. with means
Of circulating the books. not only IN ths IN
dustriaI centres but also in the villages Il
being pointed out that in this way the laboring
man and the peasant might be weaned from
revolutionary literature. which now constitutes
their only mental pabUlum- 1t was even shown
how this might be done at relatively small cost
| especially II the cooperation OF the Catholic
clergy were obtained. But this, Ike many other
excellent suggestions, remains hidden away n
some pIgeonhole at st. Petersburg. where tha
statesmen in control are too often Handicapped
by their ignorance Of the true situation OF az
fairs in Poland. and unwilling to follow the rec-
concentrations Of those able Muscovits officials
on the spot who really understand the cCudl-
tions which prevail there
From this it viii be seen that. as 7 ha-s
stated above. the state OF Poland is very grave.
economically as well IS politically. Not that
there is any danger OF Russian Poland recover
ing her independence by means OF a revolution.
for neither Austria nor Germany could perut.
this. but would be forced IN seIf-protectton %
come to the assistance OF the Gar in suppress
ing any revolt Still. at the same time. rising
in Poland at early date is more than prob
able. and inasmuch as on this occasion tbs
Russian government viii hnd itself confronted
by the aristocracy. the middle classes. ths
peasantry and the labor element al working to-
gether in unison. encouraged, too. by the clergy.
which is essentially nationalist. the rebellion
will be much more difficult TO deal with than
any Of the previous Instructions. and viii con-
stitute a dismaying addition TO the numerous
troubles which are now crowding one after an
other upon the Car and his empire. Every
thing is ripe for revolt in Poland, and un-
fortunately there IS no means Of bringing home
to the people there the hopelessness or their
cause. for. while individually clever and brilliant
the mobiles as well as the educated classes IacS
that Ievelheadedness and judgment which may
be described as political sense. and though
some OF their number have achieved disJinCCi1a.
especially IN Austria, as statesmen, IS soldiers
and diplomats. yet the Polish people, eve,
when-they enjoyed independence have neve-
given any evidence o. the possession OF thOsS
qualities which Indispensable to successful
self government. Indeed. until the kingdom
was. absorbed by Russia, Prussia and Austria.
Poland. was, by reason Of Its internal dIsturb-
ances the political volcano of Europe.
EX-ATTACHE.