Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-02-09
Dream of Free Poland Coming True

Koscmszlso sought by every means to
rouse his fellow countrymen 10 the
need of preparedness. But the coun,
try failed to heed his warning ana
against the nation. on the ground
that IL had no right to change It's
form of government without the con-
sent of it's protectress, Russia the
Poles realized their danger.
The genius of Kosciuszko won him
a hard fought battle against great
odds at Dubienka, but it was of small
avail for the people lacked the means
of battle. and when their KING re-
undated the constitutional govern
ment the structure Of the new nation
collapsed
II 4
new partition OF Poland followed.
Then il was that Kosciuszko showed
his mettle as an organizer and as n
"bitter-ender," He became command
er-in-ohief of a volunteer army, and
the nation, aristocrats and peasants,
fiocked to the banner. BY this merg-
ing of classes Kosciuszko was apie
to meet the enemy with a solid front.
He drove them from Warsaw, ana III
the battle Of .Raclavice led peasants
armed with scythes against the Rus
sian cannon. But the people OF Poland
were unequal to the great odds OF
organized autocracy, and following
the defeat at Maciejowice the thlrd
partition of Poland took place, IN
1795. -,
Russia. Prussia and Austria. and put
to an end the hope Of Kosciuszko
that he could give to his motherland
q government which would empouy
the spirit of the French revolution
chastened by the breath OF American
liberties.
For ali that the soul of the nation
had been born and through the many
vain efforts that were to follow IN
the next century willing hands We're
always found to take up the fallen
banner of scarlet and carry forward
the struggle to achieve a place among
the peoples of the world.
For Poland the battle of Macie-
jowice was disaster in many ways,
for 1t was there that Kosciuszko fell.
He was taken to Russia. prisoner.
and held in the royal prison until the
Russian Gear Paul. who assembled the
Russian throne after the death OF
Catherine III. admirng great KOS
ciuszko's talents, gave him his free.
dom In 1896.
1t was then that Kosciuszko,
DTOken III nGdiLfs eNpatI thi hCu
TO the land for which he had fought
so valiantly in the days of '76. He
was acclaimed returning hero when
he reached merica's shores and was
given a grant of land by Congress.
But the desire to be with his fellow
countrymen in their struggle for
new freedom was uppermost in his
mind and he returned to Poland to
offer his aid. Little could be done,
l. L., h
went to Switzerland to recover his
health. He died there on October Is,
1917. His body was taken to his ma
tive land. where it was buried with
great ceremony, monument being
erected of stones gathered by the
peasants from every part OF the
country.
Kosciuszko. hero of Poland. COM
panion OF Americas heroes in their
struggles, was known throughout the
world, gallant figure lighting al
ways for the liberty he knew the
Australia his name brought inspira-
ton to the young colonists battling
for livelihood in strange land. The
Australians conferred his name upon
the highest mountain in that great
land which stands an ever watchful
sentinel and beacon over the strug
giles of those who labor beneath its
shadows to solve the problem of es-
tablishing n pure democracy.
Kosciuszko labored in the cause
of many, but his name has always
been associated by the world with
Poland. His country has given to
the world many other men and women
of genius, and it is we'll in thinking
of the race of Kosciuszko to remem-
Der the names of other famous per-
sonages of Poland Among them are
such names as Pulaski, the father OF
American cavalry; Sobieski. the de-
liverer Of Vienna from the Turks; NJ
Kopernik (Copernicus) the astrono
mer, who first demonstrated that the,
earth moves around the sun: Chopin
and Paderewski, the virtuosos of the
piano; Sienklewicz, the author OF
Quo Nadis?" Modjeska. the actress.
and Joseph Conrad. famed for his sea,
stories, whose real name is KorzeT
niewski. II