The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1914-11-11
POLAND LOOKS
TO AMERICA IN
!. HER DISTRESS
|Recites Its Woes and Calls At
tention to'Famine That is
Impending.

tentl0n to Famine That is
Impending.
The following appeal has been re.
ceived here:
To the People Of the United States:
We are living today in times of uni
yersal dread. and distress; the widest
fancy before the war could not have
pictured such unspeakable scenes as
are witnessed at present by the in
habitants of Europe.
tits Poland, however, with her U.s.
100000 unfortunate inhabitants that
finds herself in the direst predica-
ment Of all.
That country, since the first out
break Of hostilities, has been the
theater of many battles; the enemy
have swept the country from end to
end, so that where formerly -four
ished thriving villages and towns,
there are now found ruin and DESC
lation.
The world has heard Of the afro
cities perpetrated within the con-
fines Of Belgium; the American press
has published whole columns of de-
scriptive matter regarding the devas-
tation wrought there by the instru-
ments of war. Very little has been
written regarding what takes place
in Poland; the press has not been
admitted to that stage Of action.
The world has already heard Of
the burning Of Kalisz by the Prus-
slams and Of Jaroslaw by the Aus
trians; yet 1t is not aware that thou
sands OF .flourishing villages have
been RACED to the ground and that
hundreds of thousands OF people in
consequence have been reduced to
extreme poverty.
All available men have been
forced into military service. The
Frenchmen, the Englishman. the Bel
gian the Russian, and the German
have each the consolation that they
are defending their respective coun-
tries. The Pole, most unfortunate
of them all, whether in the Austrian,
the Prussian or the Russian army,
is fighting in the interest Of his OPP
pressor.
The people of Poland are threat
ened with famine Of which we at
best can have only poor conception.
France and Belgium, though in the
throes OF the war. are countries still
possessed Of their own governments
and powerful means of support and
assistance.
Only Poland has been abandoned
by all. Yet not all. There is Amer
ica-that most remarkable champion
of democracy and freedom the world
has ever seen. There is no need of
any extra effort toward enlisting the
sympathy of America for Poland /;
America has ever borne good will
towards the country of John Sobieski
and will demand at every opportuni-
ty that justice be melted out to all the
down-trodden nations OF Europe. Po-
land is convinced that the United
States will work toward justice for
all people who wish to share in the
bounties Of peace.
And it is but natural that the
Poles should look up to America for
aid and fair play, for the tremen-
dous moral force Of her endorse
ment.
America is indebted to Poland for
the services of her illustrous sons
Kosciuszko and Pulaski. Kosciuszko
has been called the Father of Amer
lean artillery" and Pulaski the
Father Of American Cavalry" The
Polish heroes fought for indepen-
dence and helped the Colonies ito
form a more perfect union. establish
Justice, insure domestic tranquility,
provide for the common defense, pro-
mote the general welfare. and secure
the blessings Of liberty"
| Poland has always championed the
cause of freedom and Justice; we say
of freedom, inasmuch as she was the
bulwark of Europe against the bar
barism Of the east. because she re-
ceived the Jews and emigrants of the
Thirty Years War when all the rest
OF the world would have none OF them
and because she has ever held UP
high the torch Of idealism; and we
say Of justice, because she has never
believed in force and violence, while
her greedless policy as carried to-
wards her neighbors. is unparalleled
with perhaps one exception, in the
history Of the world.
In view of these past services rem
dered to the world in general and to
America in particular. Poland is as
sured that the people Of tip United
States cannot remain Indifferent to
the horrible lot of her children.
Poland looms up above the ashes
and ruin Of her fertile fields and
prospecting towns and bids us remem-
Der the example of that most emf
nent champion Of the oppressed
Thomas Campbell.
Thomas Campbell freely expressed
his sympathy for the sufferings and
wrongs Of Poland. Nor did he show
his sympathy by words alone. but by
resolute and continued action. He
founded the association in London OF
the Friends Of Poland. which not only
maintained the strong interest felt
by the British people for the Polish
nation, but was the means Of pro-
viding assistance and giving employ
ment TO large numbers of the unfor-
tunate exiles driven from the con-
fines Of Poland
Poland asks citizens Of this great
republic to emulate the notable ex-
ample of Campbell. Convinced OF
the sacredness Of her cause. she ex-
poets from America not only words
Of sympathy, but. above all, resolute-
- IL.