Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-10-26

POA euAAtSs ~ TeSlu0nl ldII at |
Polish College dedication. Cam
bridge Springs. Pa.
CAMBRIDGE SPRINGS, Pa, October
26.-President Taft came to Cambridge
Springs today and delivered an address
at the dedication of the Polish College
here. He spoke as follows
Mr.. Chairman, members of the Polish
National Alliance of America, Ladies and
Gentlemen:
I'VE are met today to dedicate q COL
lege founded by, and to be conducted I'M
der the auspices of Polish National AL
lance. This expression on the part of
the Poles of the United States of de-
sire to perpetuate in this the land Of their
adoption the highest institution Of learn
ing, for the purpose of furnishing to
their educated youth an opportunity for
the study of the language, the literature
and the history of Poland, presents an
interesting phase of the settlement of
this country by immigrants from Euro
pean countries.
"If such an institution as we are now
welcoming into life were to have the
effect of separating into an isolated COM
munity the Poles who come to this coun-
try. Or preventing them from learning
the English language, of reducing their
interest in the political life of the United
States and OF minimizing their sense or
10y atty to the government and cOuntr!
of their adoption. then it might be ques-
toned how far those of us who are not
Poles. and whose first interest Is that OF
the country at large, should encourage
this effort, but fortunately no such mar
row limiting motive actuates the move
ment the contamination OF which we
dedicate today.
..Experience has shown that the free
air of America creates a natural tendency
ON the part of those who come to live
with us and enjoy our institutions. 10
learn the language, to amalgamate with
other peoples and to take an actlVe IN,
terest in the politics OF the country, ana
that this is so strong as 20 arouse m. no
fears that In the end it will not be the
natural and prevailing force i'll all Tor
eign population. If a family of foreigners
comes here 1t finds that its chiidren
quickly pick up the. English langage. ana
IL it would preserve its own language II
must be insisted on by family discipline
Lesson Of Experience.
'In other words. our long experience
has confirmed the view that there is moth
ing at all inconsistent in the respect and
in the cultivation of respect by those who
come to us from other countries for their
yuaee. their national literature and the
assimilation Of their aims. political. social
and economic, to those of the people or
their adopted country. Indeed, the IerVor
with which they celebrate their national
anniversaries, the enthusiasm With winch
they sing their national songs and review
the great deeds of their national heroes
instead of detracting from their loyaItv
to their new home and its government.
seem, as the years go on. to strengthen
Americans because, as in the present in
stance they are better Poles. Therefore
have not hesitated to come, upon the
kindly invitation of the Polish National AL
lance of America, to JON You IN ceieorat-
ing the foundation Of a Polish university
in which the more fortunate of the Polish
Youths, who wish to perfect themselves
in the language and Its literature, and
at the same time acquire a lDeral educa-
ton. may spend few years at the forna-
tive stage of their lives in acquiring what
wil contribute to their happiness all
through their lives. and will enable them
to enjoy the literature. history and spirit
Of two languages and two countries IN
stead of one.
1.-THE history of Poland records the his
tory of a wonderful people, whose pecu-
liar form of government and whose geo.
graphical position in Europe first gave
them great influence and great power for
good in the protection of western Euro
pean Christian civilization against the in
vasion of the Tartars and the pagan
tribes of the east and then led to mtsgOv
eminent. and offered their territory. lying
as it did, without natural boundaries. in
the center of Europe. to be diviced be-
tween the three countries having more
stable governments, but altogether for
getful of the gratitude due to Poland for
what she had done in saving Europe.
Record of the Polish People.
..,r. -. ,o+ 1arp,;t v,oro %b,r
passing reference to the noble record that
the Polish people made while a nation.
Their territory in it's greatest length ex-
ceeded 100 miles and in its greatest width
was little less than that. 1t covered a
space of $50. 900 square miles and a coun-
try which now has population of 24.VOo.-
600. 1t reached from the Baltic at one
corner to the Black sea at the other.
The Carpathian mountains separated it
from Austria and the Danube provinces,
and it lay in mid-Europe, a rich agricul-
tural country, with no natural protection
on any side sufficiently extended to be
important. 1t had a landed nobility and
a peasant class, and there seems to have
been no burgher} or middle class engaged
in business as middlemen. This function
was performed by Germans and foreign
ers who lived in the cities.
1.-The people of Poland in early days
were adapted to farming and fighting.
The government control was in diet of
the landed aristocracy. 1t conformed to
a constitution that contained seeds of Its
destruction. for in that diet every noble
WAS given .hberum vote, SO called
the right to stop proceedings and to pre-
vent action-and this eXaltation of the
individual as member of the diet pro-
NOTED a factionalism that greatly weak
ened the strength of the union of the
constituents of the government.
Discussions Tempt Other Nations.
Continuing the idea of equality in pow
er among the landed nobility. the selec-
ton of a king was by election of the diet.
The jealousy and dissension among the
mobiles tempted other governments to pro-
pose candidates for the sovereignty of
Poland, and there were a number Of such
candidates elected. Early in the history
of the kingdom families who maintained