The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1919-01-02

change very quickly. In the throes of
her defeat Germany may seem-will
undoubtedly deem Observation-Disclosures
ed with the fruits of her national
ambition. But what man experienced
in the workings of the human mind
would venture to risk the possibilities
Of another war like this one on the
chance that Germany's disenchant-
ment will be permanent, that the final
outcome Of the defeat, in German
minds, will not be discomfort, humilia-
ton, angry or sullen, and persistent
determination to recover at least part
Of what has been lost; or, failing that,
to seek recoupment and expansion and
domination in fresh directions? No
man of probity and experience will
risk so fateful a gamble. 1t must be
made impossible for Germany to be
unsafe to the democracies of the
world. To do that 1t is vitality nee
essary to have a strong, trustworthy
non-German state on Germany's east
ern marches. And the one region ca
pable of becoming such a state is
Poland.
For 1t Is idle. worse than idle, to
dream Of constructing such a new
state in Europe for these specific pur-
poses unless the work is done along
surely effective lines. The require
ments are extremely definite. A small
state will not do. Who would set
pygmy Waterman to guard a full
grown desperate? A state incapable
of full economic development will not
do. The chance of entanglements are
too great 1t must be self-contaIned
as regards natural resources. A state
artificial racially will not do. 1t must
be one, as far as possible, raclally CO.
hesive. A state wherein irresponsible
Missionaries play the demagogue over
an unleavened lump of peasantry will
not do. 1t must be a state capable of
having a real citizenE. as the United
States has-composed of a people of
established and developed civilization
racial culture and traditions, practical
abilities, proved liberalism.
Poles Best Fitted.
81 believe you will find nowh, re in
central and eastern Europe a race
more fitted than the Polish people to
be the citiZenry of such a state. And
l can state without fearing contradic-
ton that nowhere else in that region
will you find another race with SC I'M
al ;Al,
to the territory which will be needed.
Just what is Poland, aside from be-
ing the region from which many immi-
grants came to the United States?
Where is It?
ITO see real Poland you will have to
make a map Of Europe in your mind.
On that map note how Germany lies
In a great alluvial drainage basin,
with the central mountain masses of
the continent walling it to the south
and with five rivers running down
from them to the North sea and the
Baltic. Westernmost Is the Rhine.
Next comes the Weser, with its port
at Bremen, and the Elbe, with Ham
burg. Fourth Is the Oder, with Frank
fort and Stettin. Last and eastern
most the Vistula, which rises in the
Carpathian ridges, flows down by War
saw and emptles into the North sea
at Dantzlg In West Prussia.
'In the Vistula valley and its drain
age areas live the thirty-five million
people of the submerged Polish ma
ton. That region is Poland. Part of
1t is still marked Poland on the maps,
but most of it needs Identification
since the partitions when the auto
Gratis who then ruled Germany, Russia
and Austria each took his helping.
"Germany's slice you will find on
the west, extending all the way from
! the mountains to the Baltic. Silesla