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

of the Revolutionary patriots. Kosciusko
and Pulaski A host OF 1000 men will
march in the parade Incident TO the dedi-
loation Of these monuments. which were
lerected by a grateful and appreciatiye
government and the Poles residing in this
country,
Following the solemn dedication Of these
mementos will be held one Of the most
remarkable conventions. the outcome OF
which will be watched closely not only
by this government, but even more close
~ by Russia. Austria. and Germany. The
purpose Of the convention will be to fur
ther the movement for Polish nationality.
II will be the first Polish national con-
gress that has been held in this country.
and 1t is expected that it will bring to-
Igether a striking aggregation Of Polish
patriots. not only from this country, but
from other parts of the world.
| The movement 10 hold this pan-Polish
convention was started by the Polish
National Alliance Of the United States.
liz is the largest Polish organization in
the world. 1t is expected that this meet
/ ing viii have an important bearing on
the question Of making the Poles a free
people and restoring 10 them the ma
tionality Of which they were desDoiled
/ by the combined forces OF Russia, Aus
tria, and Prussia.
/ The congress will be divided into FIVE
lsections-poltical educational. industrial
science and arts, and emigration. The
men who win meet viii have different
/ ideas as To how Polish Independence
ought 10 be achieved. But they will all
/ be convinced Of the necessity OF some
! forward movement in the effort TO rescue
the Poles in Europe from the domination
of governments that they sIlege are not
only uusympathetic with them but are
utterly hostile 10 their traditions and
/ their ambitions FOR a separate national
ity. Few people who have not given the
subject careful attention realize that the
/ Poles are in reality a numerous and
powerful people. In Europe and America
they number about 100000
The Polish question in It's time was
thoroughly discussed I'm the Prussian
parliament and Chancellor Bismarck.
ever keeping the interests Of Germany
In view. entertained decided views against
the restoration Of Poland The Man Of
Blood and Iron" in speaking Of Polands
claims, said that In Prussia the idea Of
transforming Russian Poland into an in
dependent state has always been and
always VIII be out OF the question, al
least among persons endowed with po-
htical sagacity II was once entertained
by mis- excellency Josias Bunsen and was
inscribed upon the creed OF the Old LIB
erals, but all these gentlemen were for
lorn OF statesmanlike ability. The DAYS
when Germans overlooked their own
rights while manifcsting deferentlal re-
spect for those OF foreigners are past
and gone. We no longer dissolve in
sentimental emotion over the 'Finis Polo
Mae OF the mythical KOsCiusko Oho real
one never said anything % the kind nor
do We excite ourselves about tho rhymes
which state that Poland is not yet lost
To Macaulay's allegation that the par
tition Of Poland was the most shameful
achievement Of European policy. we re-
ply: Nothing Of the sort; the Polish
republic owed its destruction much less
10 foreigners than TO the incOncelvable
worthlessness OF those persons who rep
resented the Polish nation when Il was
finally broken up" These are words OF
Bismarck. who also said that Prussia and
Germany have great need Of their share
Of Poland
During the debate on the address az
September p, 1851. the federal chancellor
declared: Il do not consider that German
rule over dissatisfied nations-I viii not
even say rule. but coexistence IN the
relations OF everyday life Of Germans
with disaffected anens-is desirable. but
sometimes Il IS necessary. For instance
II is so in Poland, as a glance at the
map will demonstrate"
ON another occasion, during the same
year, he gave his reasons for the above
dictum in a historical retrospect, the
leading passages of which are as follows:
How did the province Of West Prussia
and the rule Of the knightly orders
originate In Prussia? Duke Conrad. OF
Masovia, to defend his realm against
the inroads Of the Prussian heather.
called i'm the German Knights and be-
slowed upon them a small Polish terri
tory. the Dobriner district. also prom
isirg them all OF the land they could
redeem from the adjoining wastes and
conquer from the savage Prussian tribes
Thus the whole country eastward Of
the Vistula became q purely German ter
ritory. colonized by Germans. and the
Order of German Knights subsequently
acquired that part Of West Prussia which
is situate on the left bank of the Vistula
by legal treaty, for when the dynasty Of
the Neither Pomeranian dukes died out in
the thirteenth century. that territory.
with its capital. Danzig. reverted 20 the
feudal lord. MarSrave Of Brandenburg.
and Margrave Waldemar at once took
possession Of IT,
His successors, unable to defend these
Ceded them to the order, from
which the kingdom Of Poland subse-
quently took them by conquest when the
order had weakened ard the Germans had
been beaten at Tannenberg; finally, after I
many rourparlers. an arrangement was !
concluded between the West Prussian /
Staende and the Polish Crown in virtue /
Of which the former were to be connected |
with the latter by personal union $50
Thus Poland, by conquest. subsequently /
sanctioned by treaties, became possessed /
Of West Prussia. and proceeded TO colo [
nize II: not as we have been accused Of /
doing. to 'Germanze it with culture, !
but to Polonize II with fire and sword !
Contrary to treaty. it sent Polish officials /
into West Prussia. who enriched them
selves by expropriating the local nobility /
The towns were also restricted in their
liberties. Later on. religious freedom was
granted and maintained in theory. but
he Protestant churches were closed con-