The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1914-08-07

Macy ana OIdN IS as strong as De
tween German and Pole.
A few years ago there vas no con,
seriousness in Galicia Of linguistic dis
tinction between Poles and Ruthe
mans; Ruthenian peasants were COL.
tent to remain serfs of Polish nobility
There was no Ruthenian literature;
Ruthenian was not a polite language
Today there are distinguished scholar,
who seek to found a Rutheuiau uuiyer
sity.
Rouses National Spirit.
And this brings Us TO a strange and
interesting -pheuomenou that has
swept across Europe, nov 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 as
one of strange tongue and language
was the basis Of social organization
That vas the condition ia Europe
till Greece, and later Rome, began the
game of conquest.
The holy Roman empire gathered
these diverse savage hordes under 6
single government, but never into g
homogeneous state
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 hard. with
the other tendency equally strong for
the diverse elements Of these modern
states to resolve themselves into an
cient tribal elements. based Oh lin
guistic lines
Trouble in Barring language
And the whole trouble is due TO the
fact that European statesmen were
not far-sighted enough 10 know thai
often the easiest way To get sons
thing IS by pretending YOU don't want
It.
The Polish language was never 50
dear 70 the Poles of the kingdom as
when Russia forbade IFS use iu pub
lie places and for public purposes
The symqathies of the Roumauiaus
Of Hungary are not SO much with The
flag of their country. or their loyalty
so much for the emperor of the Dual
Monarchy as for the flag and the king
Of Roumania.
The case of Poland IS probably IA
miliar to all It is enough here To re-
call that by q process Of dismember-
ment, which took place about 100
years ago. the ancient and honorable
kingdom Of Poland. which had had d
long and illustrious career, ceased &c
exist.
Lions Share 10 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
of Austria, and today forms the prov
ince Of Galicia. with its TWO important
cities. Leuburg and CracOw.
A still smaller portion. with Posen
as its center, passed into German
hands.
Russian Poland was permitted 70
have a constitution of its own from
1915 to 1873, and its C n government
till 1864, at which time it quite lost
its administrative Independence Four
years later its government was abso-
lutely Incorporated with that of Rus
STA and the Polish language was de
MED a legal existence.
Coercion Causes Discomfort.
Possibly Russia governs Poland bet
ter than the Poles could have gov.
erned it themselves. It is conceivable
that in the substitution of the Russian
for the Polish language land the two
are closely allied the Poles would
have little, if anything, 70 lose.
1t is quite within the bounds Of i'm.
asination to believe that Poland as a
part OF Russia could participate in
a much larger world than could have
been possible TO her had she remained
Poland.
But it is contrary e human nature
to be coerced; It is contrary 10 hui
man nature to be compelled to give
up that to which We have become
h~abituated.
The Poles of Russia naturally have
been disconnected. They have not
been satisfied with their representa-.
ton in the Russian duma; they are
dissatisfied with Russia's treatment OF
the Jewish question in the kingdom.
Russia's efforts at repression not
only double but redouhle Polish Ell.
fort to gain recognition. to win free
dom. There are millions Of Poles who
dream of and hope for a reunited, free
and independent kingdom OF Poland,
mems in South America,
AFrioo CHINA oD5 -+h.- Dos,+s -