Dziennik Chicagoski. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1890-1971, 1918-03-04
NOVA D, |, J. PADEREWSNEGO WYGEOSzONA Ma
PRzYJECIU WIECzORNEM " HOTELU MORRISON.
(Tekst o~rySinalny.)

NSANASAASAf - SASNSAS NAN
theirs:
1t is rather late. / am a little tired,
and still | am obliged to take my
humble share in this oratorical con-
test, which up to this moment, has
been so exceptionally successful and
brilliant. l feel embarrassed. Sc
many kind and gracious things have
been said during this memorable day
about Poland, about our more
guests and members of the Polish
Military Mission, and about myself
that l don't really know now 10
xpress my appreciation and graft
tude. I feel very embarrassed. There
is. however, a fact, a positive and
undeniable fact, which 70 a certain
extent, simplifies and facilitated my
task Long before my assuming the
responsibility of representing the
people of Poland in America, long
before the arrival Of a Polish Mill
tary Mission, Poland had already
over four millions of ner representa-
tives in this country. Four millions
people, peaceful, loyal, laborious and
worthy people. Not all of them labo-
rers, workmen or farmers. A great
many of them were and are clergy
men, physicians, lawyers, bankers
or merchants, men Of responsibility
and Of knowledge and of distinction.
Some of them, like Bishop Rhode;
(applause) like my dear friend Smul-
ski (applausel let us call him Jonn'
and like DR.. Frunda, like the Presi-
dent of the Polish organization, He
linski, Piotrowski, StarEynski and
quite a few others, who rank very
high among the American citizens OF
foreign birth or extraction. The pu-
rity. the honesty, the dignity of their
life, has taught youl more about
Poland, about her character, insti-
tutions. integrity and honor than
any official spokesman could do
This magnificent meeting Of today
the splendor of this very reception
must be considered as a compliment
to them, and We are all glad and
proud, we feel joyful and thankful,
we feel infinitely grateful for having
been permitted to see at this solemn
hour those of our blood enjoying
sucn unanimous respect and such
fraternal affection of the masters of
the country of the old stock Amerl-
cans. (Applause).
Over seventy years ago, the great
est poet of Poland, Adam Mickiewicz,
towards the end OF his wonderful
book on the Polish Pilgrims. wrote
in poetic ecstacy, a fervent, glowing
prayer which contains the following
words:
,,Oh God Of Kosciusko, nave pity on
our country and US.
Grant US to pray again to Thee as
our fathers prayed on the battle
field, with weapons in u
hands before the altar made OF
guns and cannon beneath the
canopy of our eagles and OF u
flag; and
Grant unto cur families to pray IN
the churches OF u towns and
hamlets and to u children to
pray.
Then in a sublime litany, which
closes the inspired poem, Mickiewicz
exclaimed for a universal war, for
the freedom Of the nations, with
this passage:
oh Lord, for national arms and
eagles, we beseech Thee;
Oh, Lord, for the independence, inte-
gritty and freedom of our coun-
try we beseech Thee, Oh Lord.
The poets prayer has been answer
ed. (Applause). His prophetic
dreams have been almost material
tied. The great war has come. Cap
plause). 1t has come with ale the
brutality and horror, with all the
wanton and savage cruelty Of the
past, bar%ITous times, only multi
piled and magnifieG and intensified
by modern science. The great war
has come and is still raging over
Ihe fields of old Europe. But has it
realized the poets hopes? Has it full
filled mis- unselfish desires; has it
brough independence, integrity, and
freedom to the country on whose be-
half the inspired exile implored the
Almighty with his eioquence and
ardor, For almost three years, tor
tured by the invader, liberated by
the defender, by the so-called Rus
sian brother, s~landered by u nu-
merous enemies, with our complain
ing voice scarcely audible in the no.