Dziennik Chicagoski. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1890-1971, 1918-08-29

KLEIN pO anSlelShu mdyOAO"A W
Detroit ~podziekowae. Pozwolicie, ze
sic ku MENU W tym zwroce jezyku.
Mr.. Mayor: -
The citizens and residents of the
United States, all people OF Polish
blood have conferred upon me the
honor of expressing to the noble
CITY and its distinguished mayor their
sincere gratitude cor the hospitality
extended to their First Polish Con-
vention. They have assembled here
this Convention which is held
under the auspices Of the Polish Ma
tional Department for the purpose
Of discovering means and ways OF
mutual and complete understanding.
They come here from almost every
state of this glorious Union, from
almost every large city and man
small villages. They have come mere
70 talk about POLAND and as you
nav noticed their first thought and
act was to solemnly confirm IN
words what they are proving In
deeds: their absolute and unbounded
LOYALTY to this country and Govern
ment.
The Polish immigrants in the Uni
ted States is but a vigorous branch
Of an old - thanks God a powerful
tree. The Poles in America are
more numerous than the NorWe-
gians in Norway, Danes in Denmark
and swedes in Sweden. They are
more numerous than Serbs in Ser
via. Belgians in Belgia - all small
nations. There are over four mill
lions of them in this. country, a con-
vincing proof of how wrong is the
opinion prevailing, distributed pur-
posely, or malicious German propa-
ganda which insists on calling n
Polish a small nation.
The Poles in America do not need
any americanization. It's sup~ertluous
and useless to explain to them what
are the principles and ideals of A
merica. They know them we'll, De-
cause they have been following them
for one thousand years. At the first
meeting of the Polish Parliament in
1850 il has been proclaimed that
every individual, even the poorest,
should be granted the right OF tree-
don of person and possession. BY
here free union with Lithuania and
Ruthenia concluded in 1413, just
70 years before the discovery OF this
continent, Poland mas been the first
to realize and adopt the form OF the
United States Government. In 1873,
the year of the most cruel religious
oppersion in eentrai and western
Europe, our own noble Polish Ro-
man-Catholic clergy had introduced
a bill favoring a complete freedom
OF confession in the whole Polish
republic, inscribing on their flags
the words: For our liberty and for
yours.
The Polish warriors, u worthy
ancestors, have spread their pre-
vious blood wherever freedom and
Justice needed assistance. And what
about the Poles here living? The
Poles in America are very hard
working people, contributing by
their efficient and conscientious Ia
bor to the development Of natural
resources and to the progress OF
your industry and growth of Ameri-
can prosperity. They are not rich,
they are just making their honest
living. Out of four million Of them
not one is a millionaire and yet they
are fulfilling their duty imposed
upon them by circumstances with
loyalty, determination and enthu-
siasm.
No other nationality here in the
United States has IaSen such an
active part in the Red Cross cam
paign as the Poles had. In proper
ton to their number they have been