Norwich bulletin., 1916-12-12

hidden in schools and public Offices,
including the courts, under both gov
ernments. Many decades of violent
prosecutions and tyranical expressions
followed.
The imperial government of Austria,
not content with ruthless economic ex-
ploitation Of Galicia, nor with cruel
oppression and attempts at German
ization of a generation of Poles, con-
nived at one of the most revolving
crimes of the nineteenth century of
the Christian era by permitting her
uprising against the nobility OF Cali
cha in 1S46. Crazed by a drunken
orgy Of these days, at which barrels
Of whisky were freely supplied by
governmental agencies of western
Galicia, led by inhu-nan and treacher-
Gus Austrian officials, they massa cred
more than two thousand men, women
and children of the Polish nobility and
burned and robbed their land owners
estates. Not until twenty years later,
after the defeat at Koenig- graets by
Prussia, in 1856. did Austria mend her
despotfc, cruel and barbarouS ways,
and change her inhuman policy to-
ward the sorely tried Poles whom fate
placed under the rule of this most
backward Of all European govern
Tnents. Under the constitution of 1867
Galicia was granted a semblance of
Polish language restored, and given
the rights guaranteed by the imperial
Austrian word of fifty years before
Such was the perfidy of Austria. In
Prussia the Poles Jared no better.
And after the victorious war with
and imperial German government in
augurated a systematic and most
brutal policy of determination of
Poles. the barbarity of which was
never equalled even in Russia. In
fact, after the Japanese war, Russia
liberal toward the Poles; while Ger
many's motto OPENLY proclaimed in
parliament and advocated by the
Prussian press continued to be Aus
rotten!" "Exter11inate the Poles!"
The story of Wrzesnia, of beating
children to death for saying prayers
in Polish, is well known even on this
side Of the Atlantic.
Every page of the history of the
Polish provinces under the Prussian
rule is a story OF perffdy, broken
promises, and cruelty, and barbarism
on the part Of the rulers. The Poles
have therefore as much right to doubt
Prussian promises as they have
ground to distrust Austria.
The present manifesto proporting to
rehablitate the Kingdom Of Poland
is only a promise. The proclaimed
kingdom has neither boundaries, nor
king, nor government. The German
and Austrian armies are there, their
military governors are there, as is
their iron rule.
The promised kingdom is only on
paEer. In the light of history not
much weight can be attached to the
paper manifesto. Conditions may
arise rendering 1t "a scrap of paper"
like the Belgian neutrality treaty.
Assuming, however, that the ex-
lngencies of the war will make 1t good
policy to carry out the promise con-
veyed by the manifesto, the creation
of a small portion of old Poland will
not solve the great Polish question.
Poland must be: First, reunited;
second, absolutely free. Most Of the
people Of the United States are ia
miliar with the history of Poland ana
the crime OF the partitions, and will
be spared historical review at this
time. The partition of Poland was, an
| important, though indirect, cause of
the present European eonfiict. A
reckoning was due. and It is at hand,
The minimum demand OF the Polish
nation is the reunion OF the Polish
| territory now under Austria, Prus-
sia and Russia. and under the slogan
OF Poland for Poles.Y No claim Is