Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-09-18
WAR IS HELP TO
JEWS And POLES
cs-,s Promise to Recreate An
cient Kingdom Is an
Epoch in History.
HEBREWS TO GET RIGHTS
,..g,sn Following Conflict TO Be
Equal to Russians u Pledges
Are Kept
washington. Sept. Is-Ths European

.-.-.s os surprising importance and
80. 70 the world; yet they have
- lost sISht OF IN the cataclysntc
s.,,susues in the actual theatre OF
hestilittes-
-. hrSt Of these events is the prom
-. =, the car tina: II victorious over
4. cs-mans and AustriGns he will re-
s-s.,s the ancient kingdom OF Poland,
srd under his suzerainty give 10 the
p,Iss complete civic freedom and free
soa Of language and religion.
TIE second Is the cars granting
.o-,nissious In his armies to Russian
Jews.
Affects Russian People.
Each Of these steps. in normal times.
rouId have aroused the most intense
.,tsrest. not only because of the ire
Jealous departure II marks from the
,zAjous policy pursued. but because
~ the effect the new course will have
mon the destiny OF the Russian people
md their neighbors.
Russia has treated the Poles with
rsxcusabIe brutality. Her attitude to-
vsrd the Jews has aroused the keen
World. Now. IN the extremity of war,
rscui-ing the help of her own Poles
End her Own Jews and DESTROYS of neu-
t-arzing or obtaining the support of
he Poles Of Germany and Austria, she
Il making concessions TO them which
could not have been wrung from her
without such a terrible conflict as that
Il progress
Gear to Annex Posen.
To analyze the rescript issued by the
car It Is apparent in the first place
hat il is her purpose to annex Posen,
which comprehencs German Poland
and Galicia- which forms Austrian Pc
land These German and Austrian ter
ritories are TO be combined with Rus
Ezn Poland into one autonomous state
Under the suzerainty of the car.
Germany and Austria naturally will
1ot agree 10 such action II they have
any power OF resistance left at the
ea5 OF the war. To take Posen from
Germany would bring the Polish from
tier. or 10 give It is true name, the
Russian frontier, too close to Berlin
tcr the comfort Of Prussian statesmen
and soldiers. Austrs-Hungary would
kse ell that trans-Carpathian terri
tory stretching from Cracow to the
northsrn boundaries OF Roumania.
Il Poland should be recreated, as
pledged by the car. 100000 Poles
would be accorded self-government
and the further rights for which they
psssionateIy have fought-freedom OF
language and religion.
Pledge of Liberty.
This pledge is thus a pledge of lib
cry; and Great Britain. which would
Be Wiling 10 permit Russian annexa-
tioa OF Posen and Galicia on condition
o. reOrganizsd Poland. would not be
Wiling 10 permit Russian absorption
II the one case, q buffer state would
be constructed and placed between
Russia, Germany and Austria and the
100000 Poles inhabiting it would be
able 10 make a vigorous fight for their
neutrality. In the other case, Russia
would extend farther into Europe, q
condition upon which England could
hot look with equanimity.
England will have a great deal 70
cay about the matter should the allies
crush Germany and Austria Under
the agreement signed week ago in
London, the allies pledged each other
TO make no demands not approved by
al Without disrupting his relations
With the British government, as well
as violating his solemnly pledged
word, the car must carry out the
pledge he has Issued.
Pole Urges Aid for Gar.
The effect Of the cars declaration
upon the Polish people Is not definite
" known. At the same time 1t is sig
1ineant that Henry Sienkievicz. the
Follsh author, known through this
country for his Quo Vadis, Pan Mich
ae- Knights OF the Cross and other
works. has made an appeal 10 the
austrian Poles 10 join Russia in war
ing upon Austria and Hungary.
sienkievicz has done this because OF
Ne constantly burning spirit OF ma |
Ionality which animates all true |
rolea He knows, as they all do, how |
uefrloly Russia has prosecuted their |
ace He knows that Germany, in |
ls1niess fashion, has pursued a policy |
q Germanizing the Poles.
austria alone has respected the Pol I
M language and the Polish religion, /
@no under her dominion the Poles have 1
oSeH less unhappy than have been
leeir kindred under Russian and Ger
nan rule.
let from neither Germany nor Aus
VA can the Poles expect the restOra-
s'on OF their nationality. The former 1
SSsres TO incorporate them into her /
10y polite, TO make OF them Ger
mana The latter. tottering on the
ssfss OF destruction, might postpone
ne date Of her dissolution. but she
ond not make q beginning TO this
.-a oy assisting the Poles 10 realize
rrHyhing approaching freedom. The
roies themselves can do nothing, held
w as they are by each state con-
SoHihs them and situated between
sss powerful military states.
Russia Must BE Savior.