New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-08-18
Russia's Promise of Reunited
Poland.

..,.,o~totiop facilities has been the determining
factor in Gcrmanys plans for quick ana CRUSH
,,,. c.n,naicn against France. Few experts think
that the Russian first line mobilization VIII De
CONNECTED before the end of August But II kuS-
sin has not been able TO deliver serious oloW at
the armed forces Of her enemies she has diScon-
certed Berlin and Vienna by political stroke
which may have a considerable influence on the
progress Of the war I'm the eastern half Of Europe
The Grand Duke Nicholas. the commander IN
chief Of the Russian army, has issued procama-
ton to the Poles in which as a return for their
loval support OF Russia he promises recreation
under Russian sovereignty Of the kingdom Of
Poland. with practically the boundaries it had
before the Pr7ISsian- RuSsian-Austrian partition
free in her religion and her language and "au-
,onomous." That is a bid for Polish sympathy
and gratitude which may 90 far toward assuring
the active aid Of Russia's Polish subjects. and
may also appeal strongly 10 the Poles who owe
allegiance to Prussia and Austria.
The vitality of the Polish race is extraordinary
Poland collapsed as q state because of la1ity In
government and internal dissensons. But despite
their loss Of nationality the Poles have always
maintained an ardent patriotism and have sue
cessfully resisted for a century and a half all the
efforts Of their conquerors 10 assimilate them
They have never surrendered their language
their religion or their racial conference. The
dream of an independent reunited Poland still
persists. and even the limited realization Of 1t
promised by the Car through the Grand Duke
Nicholas must stir Polish pride and strengthen
Polish national aspirations.
The Poles owe very little TO Russia. Prussia or
Austria. In all three realms they have been held
down as a subject race. There has been little
difference between Russias attitude toward them
and Prussia's But Russian despotsm has been
tempered by its own ineficiency. while Prussian
repression has been unrela1ed and thorough. The
Poles Of Posen are more bitter against the Prus-
sim government than the Poles Of Poland prope'
are against the Russian government and 1t is this
fact which gives most point politically TO Russia's
,ror,ise 10 reconstruct united Poland, free in
religion and language. The Prussian Poles are
free in neither Even in Berlin the language of
the forms Of worship in the Polish churches IS
under the supervision Of the police authorities.
The Austrian Poles have Jared somewhat better
than their Russian and Prussiau brethren Galicia
has An autonomous form Of government so far
a. any form Of local government in Austria Hun
cary can be called autonomous. The Poles are
,o-ored nv the powers in Vienna because they
Constitute check on the Ruthenian population IN
CaIicia Many Austrian Poles hold high govern
nent positions and the proportion Of them IN the
officers corps Of the army Is large OF all the
Stay subjects " Francis Joseph they are the most
trusted and honorcd Their present lot may ap-
near 10 them as hopeful union with Pcsen and
Russian Poland in new Polish state under the
cars rulershp. Yet, if Austria Hungary is to be
broken up as a result of the war the Poles Of
Galica would undoubtedly be glad TO take their
chances In reunited Poland.
That they will have to do whether they want
to or not, if Germany and Austria Hungary are
beaten The war will leave the losers financially
exhausted aud the indemnities collected will have
10 be in the shape of territorial ceSSiOhS. kuS>la
will undoubtedly demand Galica and Bukowina
from Austria Hungary, and Posen and perhaps a
part Of East Prussia from Germany. II would
be easy in that case to reconstruct the old king
dom Of Poland minus its independence. How
FAR the autonomy promised by the Gar would 70
there is now no way Of telling Finland was
long supposed TO be autonomous" and may be
sun 80 In name. But perhaps the kind Of autono-
my which Austria granted to Gslica would sat
isfy most Poles for the present. so long as they
had entire freedom in religion and in the use Of
N their language
Russia can expect little or no military aid FROM
y The Pole, Of Prussia or Austria. The population
Of the Province Of Po>en Is only 21O0Oo0 and the
men available for military service are doubtless
an now lighting in the German ranks on the
French frontier in Belgium. Polish recruits
are usually sent 20 Alsace and Lorraine and re.
cruits from Asacc and Lorraine TO the Russian
borders In Galicia there are about 5!OO0OOO
49,. ..,t IL a. ,nt.f uouutation NJ Tglonp Rut