Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1914-08-14
SOLDIERS of THE SERWAN ARMY

| Magyar and Slav Is as strong as be-
tween German and Pole.
A few years ago there was no CON
sciousness in Galicia of linguistic die
tinction between Poles and Ruthe
mans; Ruthenian peasants we're con
tent to remain serfs of Polish nobility.
There was no Ruthenian literature;
R~uthenian was not q polite language
Today there are distinguished scholars
who seek to found q Ruthenian univeS
sity.
Rouses National Spirit.
And this brings US to q strange and
interesting phenomenon that has
swept across Europe, now even around
the world. in the last half century:
the rise Of a linguistic consciousness
which in so many instances has sought
expression In statehood.
Primitive man knew his enemy a.
n OF strange tongue, and language
was the basis Of social organization.
That was the condition in Europe
till Greece. and later Rome, began the
game Of conquest.
The holy Roman empire gathered
these diverse savage hordes under q
single government. but never into q
homogeneous state.
HH
The modern empires of Germany,
Russia. Austria have continued the old
game. And the tendency to central
lie and build up even larger empires
grows apace on the one hand, with
the other tendency equally strong for
the diverse elements of these modern
states to resolve themselves into an
cient tribal elements, based on lin
guistic lines.
Trouble In Barring Language.
And the whole trouble is due to the
fact that European statesmen were
not far-sighted enough to know that
often the easiest way to get some
thing is by pretending you don't want
1t.
The Polish language wal never SO
dear to the Poles Of the kingdom az
when Russia forbade its use In pub
lie places and for public purposes.
The %sympathies of the Roumanians
Of Hungary are not so much with the
flag OF their country, or their loyalty
so much for the emperor Of the Dual
as for the flag and the king
Of Roumania.4
The case Of Poland ID, probably ia
miliar to all. 1t ii enough here to rs-
call that by a process of dismember-
ment, which took place about 100
years ago, the ancient and honorable
kingdom Of Poland, which had had q
long and illustrious career, ceased to
exist.
Lions Share to Russia.
The greater part Of the kingdom fell
to the lot of Russia, with the an
cient Polish city OF Warsaw as its CEN
ter.
A smaller portion fell into the hands
Austria. and today forms the prov.
lnce Of Galicia, with its two important
cities. Lemburg and Cracow.
A still smaller portion, with Posen
its center, passed into German
Russian Poland was permitted to
have a constitution Of it's own from
1915 to 1913, and its @ N government
ILL 1854, at which time 1t quite lost
It's administrative independence. Four
years later its government was abso-
utely incorporated with that Of Rus
'ia, and the Polish language was de
lied a legal existence.
Coercion Causes Discomfort.
Possibly Russia governs Poland bet
:er than the Poles could have gov
,rned it themselves. It is conceivable
hat In the substitution of the Russian
or the Polish language land the two
ire closely allied the Poles would
rave little, If anything, to lose.
1t Is quite within the bounds Of i'm.
Igination to believe that Poland az q
'art Of Russia could participate in
! much larger world than could have
,een possible to her had she remained
But 1t is contrary to human nature
o be coerced; 1t Is contrary to hue
nan nature to be compelled to give
lp that to which we have become
The Poles Of Russia naturally have
'een discontinued. They have not
'een satisfied with their representa-.
ion in the Russian duma; they are
with Russia's treatment Of
he Jewish question in the kingdom.
Russia's efforts at repression not
My double but redouble Polish Of.
ort to gain recognition, to win free.
ON. There are millions of Poles who
ream Of and hope for a reunited. free
nd independent kingdom of Poland.