The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-05-08

A"t par lclpduon or the Germans In
the mutilauon Of Poland was a necessary
compliance with the law Of self-preserva-
ton, according 10 Bismarck. Before The
first partition. Berlin was barely thre,
days march from the SlavOnic western
frontier The Great EIector had freed
Prussia from Polish feudalty. Frederic
the Great, by recovering possession OF
West Prussia. then inhabited by a
large number OF German coIonists. con-
nected 1t solidly with Pomerania and
Brandenburg, thus securing il provision
ally against hostile irruptions from thu
east
The second partition achieved too much
In the direction OF extending Prussia s
lines Of defense as far eastward as pos
sible. for the vast amount OF inteIli-
gence, physical force, and capital ex-
pended by Prussia In securing and utu-
izing the annexed Slavonic territory did
not suffice 20 effect those objects. The
third partition did too little.
Il was no great evil that only the
smaller moicty OF South Prussia was re-
united 10 the Prussian state as the Duchy
OF Posen, by the convention OF ISIS but
the territory in question did not sufi-
ciently connect the extensive and nat
uraIly open frontiers o. Snesla and East
Prussia, and, but for the formidable
forTesses now nearly completed. would
but incompleteIy cover the capital OF
the German empire. meanwhile. the Ger
manizing Of the province has made sat
isfactory progress, by which we do not
only mean the dissemination Of the Ger
man language. but that Of German mo-
arlity and culture. and the upright ad-
ministration OF justice, the elevation Of
the peasant class, and the prosperity Of
the towns.
The peasant. from being despised. III
used and merCilessly plundered vaSSal OF
some noble tyrant is become a free
man, the owner Of the soil he cult
Yates German farmers. machines, and
have promoted agriculture
and husbandry. Railways and good roads
have increased the general well-beiEg Of
the province Schools organized after
the German pattern impart elementary
instruction 20 Polish children; gymnasia
teach the higher sciences, in that solid
German way which enables people 10
think for themselves.
Army service completes whatever is
left unachieved by the popular schools
In the army the Young Polish peasant
learns to understand and speak German
Through what he is taught in his COM
pauy or squadron. and through inter
course with the German inhabitants Of
his garrison town, he acquires Ideas
which enrich and emancipate his poor
and fettered intelligence. His notions Of
meum and tuum become clearer: he
adopts Cleanly and orderly habits. and
for the most part retains them. When
he loses them and other more intellec-
.ual boons IL is generally because certain
parties wish 20 keep up the old
-uinOus routine as a part OF good old
Polish patriotism.
This method OF Communication has been
'urthered according to Bismarck by the
government, which, he said has never
oracticed any other, despite its many
opportunities for so doing. When. shortly
after its acquisition by Prussia. the
province fell into distress through bad
the administration could have
EASILY relieved the Polish mobiles az half
heir property by a comparatively small
1ecuniary outlay. II preferred. however.
% assist them by founding a credit in
ititution In Posen with advantages such
Is had not been accorded TO any similar
establishment in other provinces.
No political conditions were attached
o the assistaRce thus afforded nor was
my favor shown to persons Of German
nationality. OF the landed proprietors who
ettled and carried out the provincial
ordinances, siXty-seyen were Poles and
'nly seven Germans. The province was
administered by a committee exclusively
Of Poles, nor did the state alter
hese arrangements by reason Of the
vents Of 1880. II was only after the con-
piracy OF 1876. in which several provin-
lal officials had taken part. that a royal
'fhcer was appointed as chief OF the in
Tuition; and this nomination was re-
oked in lSiS. The period above referred
o had afforded ample opportunities for
iermanization.
In 1870 400 persons were condemned
o suffer confiscation and Imprisonment. 1
M LOO OF them were pardoned. Only /
twenty-five landowners were deprived OF /
heir estates, which. however. they were
to redeem by paying one-ffth /
I their value into the state exchequer. /
ne disturbances Of those days shook the /
'oiiSh provincial nobilty's hold upon its /
ahded property very seriously. Had the /
overnment simply shut its eyes to the /
act the greater portion of the land de-
reciated in value. would have fallen of |
self into German hands; but the state
anne forward as buyer in order TO save
ne sums lent upon the estates. raise the
rice of land. and attract to the province
len who might further its agricultural
eVeiopment. So much for Bismarck's /
Jews OF the situation: the convention /