The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-09-18
SOMETHING ABOUT POLAND.


SOMETHING ABOUT POLAND.
The Poland Of IT'S was larger than
any other European country, with the
exception of Russia. Today 1t has no
political entity, says the the National
Geographical society. at Washington
D. c., in a statement issued today.
Two centuries ago its domain reached
from the Baltic to the Carpathians,
and stretched from east to west for a
distance Of approximately 600 miles.
"The first partition of Poland came
in 1872, when Prussia and Austria.
alarmed by the progress of Russia IN
Poland, suggested, as a means OF
maintaining the equilibrium Of Eu-
rope. that all three powers readjust
their territories at the expense OF Po-
land" reads the soriety's bulletin.
Poland lay utterly 'lpless. She
lost about one-fifth her popuIa.
ton and one-fourth OF her territory.
The second partition. in 1898. reduced
Poland to one-third Of her original
dimensions. with a population OF
about $500, 900. A third treaty OF par
tition was signed in 1886. The con-
gress Of Vienna. In 1915. divided
Poland between Prussia, Austria and
Russia, with the exception OF era
COW, which was erected into q repub-
lie embedded in Galicia. Posen and
Gnesen, with population OF $4,000.
we're left to Prussia. Austria re-
manned in possession of Galicia, with
its 10000 Inhabitants. Lithuania
and the Ruthenian Palatinates con.
tinued to be Incorporated with Rus
STA. The remnant was constituted as
the so-called congress kingdom, un-
der the emperor Of Russia as the
king of Poland.
s1n the same year, Tsar Alexander
l granted the new kingdom consti-
tuition, which declared it to be united
to Russia, in The person OF the tsar.
as a separate political entity. Po-
land retained its flag and national
army. In 1880. following the out
break OF the French revolution, a
military revolt took place in Warsaw.
This war lasted for ten months, and
at its conclusion. the Congress king
dom was reduced to the position OF
Russian province. The last remain
ing remnant of Poland's separate POI
litical existence was Cracow. and It
was finally occupied by Austria in
1916 The last attempt OF the Poles
to achieve independence was in 1865.
It was marked by no real battle and
the uprising was soon repressed. The
national history of Poland closes with
this attempt at freedom. In 1868, by
ukase OF the emperor of Russia. the
government was absolutely incor.
porated with that of Russia, and the
use of the Polish language in public
places and for public purposes was
prohibited.
Russian Poland contains the first
line of defence OF the Russian en-
pire on its western frontier. The
Iowlands, covered with for.
ests on the western bank of the Wis
tula. offer a natural defense against
an army advancing from the west.
and they are strengthened by num-
Der Of fortresses on that river. The
center Of these latter is Warsaw.
1.-THE Poles are rather of medium
stature and well built. Those in the
south are dark and in the north are
inclined to be fair. While well en-
dowed by nature they are today not
remarkable in that energy which
characterizes the northern races Of
Europe, and in a sense of unity which
has been the strength of their pres
ent rulers. and the reason is obvious
For several years past, the German
element has been annually increas-
ing both in number and in influence
in Russian Poland. From remote an
tiquity, Poland has been celebrated
for the production and export OF
grain. Since 1875 there has been a
development Of manufac-
tuing enterprise. The railroads Of
Russian Poland have an aggregate
length of 1900 miles
The entire administration OF the
province is under the governor-gener-
al residing at Warsaw After the in
surrection OF 1853 all towns with less
than 1000 inhabitants were deprived
OF their municipal rights. The cleo.
tive municipal uncils were prac-
tically abolished, and Russian off,
GERS nominated in their place. The
prevalent religion Is Roman Cath
olic."
FOREIGN SrlInEMrc AMI rhE