South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-12-29
AN APPEAL FOR POLAND.
South Bend, Ind, Dec. %. 1914

South Bend, Ind, Dec. %. 1914.
Editor News-Times.
With the millions Of people out of
employment, despite the oft repeated
promises of industrial betterment,
with winter at the door, it cannot be
gainsaid that charity should begin at
home.
Yet the United States is a country
big enough and rich enough to en-
compass within its mercy the allevia-
ton of suffering humanity here and
in war-scarred Europe.
The terrible fate of heroic Belgium
has deeply touched the heart and inn
aginatiOn of the American nation.
Large amounts of money have. been
subscribed. huge quantities of pro-
visions and clothing are being collect
ed. to be sent to Belgium. American
citizens by the thousands are opening
their homes TO receive the bereaved.
The widows and orphans. scores of
kind hearted American women in
dustriously ply their needles to give
comfort and protection against the
rigors of war and winter to which the
shelterless in Belgium are exposed.
But how about Poland? If Belgium
deserves sympathy. and she surely
does Poland deserves it a hundred
fold If Belgium needs material help,
Poland is starving for it.
Belgium, in proportion TO her pOpu-
lation, is the richest country on
earth Belgium faces the enemy but
has friends on all sides. Holland,
England and France receive the
shelterless with open arms, feed,
clOthe and comfort them. And Hol-
land. England and France are i'm
measurably rich. But, above ALL Bel
gium fights for her honor, and in all
the expressible sufferings. in all the
flood o. tears which this terrible war
has inflicted upon and Wrung unfOrtu-
nate Belgium, there is that one consO-
lation. which makes death an honor
and suffering a glorious scarifice.
cit is sweet and worthy to die for
ones country
But how about Poland For whom
does she suffer and die? For her arch
enemies. who have partitiOned her
more than a century ago and opposed
and prosecuted her ever since, for
whom does she scarifice her youths.
her flower Of manhood and worldly
goods? For Russia. Prussia and
Austria. into whose armies Poland
sons have been impressed so that
brother meets brother as enemy upon
the battlefield, and the father dis
charging his weapons knows not what
cruel fate may send the bullet into
the breast of his ov 1 son.
And who is TO comfort the sorrow
ing? who is to dry the tears Of the
countless widows and orphans? No
matter where they az 2. they are in
the enemy's country; matter
whittier they turn. they face toward
the enemy Poland is poor, bitterly
poor. Her industrial progress check
ed by her enemies, oppressed by mill
tarism and taxes without national
unity. she is indeed the Niobe Of ma
tons. with her children cruelty slain
by Mars.
Who will help and console her?
/ Can the civilized WORT. Will the
] American nation forget the debt Of
[ gratitude 10 Poland? When powerful
/ she was the bulwark Of freedom, the
/ breastwork on which Mohammedan-
/ ism shattered. the haven where those
I whom religious fanaticism prosecuted
/ sought refuge
And. even dismembered. POland's
sons have fought for the freedom o,
, other peoples and she has freely Civ
en- 10 the world Of her talents and
! genius
We American citizens of Polish
birth or extraction are poor in world
" goods. most Of US very poor. Blu