Evening star., 1922-12-26
Lesson to Polish Nationalists in
Assassination.

Accepting the statement that the
assassination of the Polish president
was the work Of a maniac and not the
outcome of political plot. it still
cannot be held to be without political
significance as most American editors
analyze the tragedy. Following as
it did Immediately after an inaugura-
ton attended by riotous outbreaks Of
nationalist sentiment, it may well be,
as the New York Times expresses the
prevailing belief. that violent party
passions, beating upon a mind un-
balanced, swept it into the crime" In
any event. the murder focuses atten
ton on the cross-currents and antag-
onisms in Polish politics, which in
the opinion of American observers
must be mitigated before the Polish
republic can be assured any measure
of stability or success.
The Boston Transcript finds little
reason to blame the Polish national
lists. either directly or indirectly. for
the assassination of President Naru-
towicz." for cit was clearly not
political assassination. in the sense
in which the murder not long ago in
Gernlay of Walter Rathenau most
assuredly was" His election caused
discomfort among the nationaiists.
admittedly. but. the New York Tribune
noints out, they had nothing to gain
by assassinating him. since the as
sembly which elected him would also
elect his successor Ratner, tne
towicz with Czolgosz's murder OF
president Mckinley.
Rut in view of developments in Po-
land since the creation of the repub-
lie, the assassination OF her hrst
president cannot be easily dismissed
as the act of an irresponsible fanatic"
as the Boston Globe sees 1t. And
many editors believe that the fever.
ish partisan riots that accompanied
the Inauguration instilled the desire
to kill in the diseased mind OF the
shaver. In commenting on the in
ameural riots the Detroit Free Press
expressed the opinion that Poland
was making rather oad starr IN
democracy" and later 1t adds the Iear
that it is now making an excelient
assassination "casts doubt upon the
future of the new republic, the New
Orleans imes-Picayune agrees. Tor
while freedom may not nave snrlekea Ii
Herald holds that his assassination
"is a disturbing reminder OF the
fact that liberty and independence
form a heady brew. and the hera.o
regards the task of Irish Free State
leaders Simple when compared with
that which confronts Polish patriots.
"Youne nations cannot be broughI.
into existence without some travaii.
observes the Asheville On. CO Times.
and "dismembered Poland is NO eA
ceptien ce!ais merely .1 iY'S shows that Poland
has a long way to go before she can
fnd her political self and establish
q durable government that will com
mand the support of the people. II
that ~ I'I The American republic has SUI
fared the stigma of presidential as
sassination three times in It's MIS-
tory. but, as the Pittsburgh Press
noir,ts out, I'VE had existed num-
stability as an independent, seif-gov,
erninr nation was established oeyond
a doubt when this kind of episode
heesn to appear in our political his
tory" and whether POLAND, nd "a4se difs
cnIt to administer than ours. is pre-
nared to withstand so unfortunate 2
romnlicat tion at the very threshold OF
its career as a self.governing repuo-
lie, is not certain .,. III.
Certainly the crime Indicates the
.xtrameIv critical condition of Polish
noiitics." and, in the opinion of the
i CSeyeiand Plain Dealer. will not help
the cause Of the nationalist" Inere
is no doubt, the Plain Dealer conceoes,
That Narutowicz was not the choice
majority of the yGtses Of hs ssSas aas
alscted "in q perfectly constitutional
manner" since the Polish constitution ion
gives full citizenship rights TO tne
Jews. Ukranians, Russians and Litnu.
snians within the Polish state. and If
these elements were able to combine
with a sufiicient number of Polish
radicals their choice was deserving OF
acceptance by out-and-ogs tpo Poles les whess P,s
the nationalists proved mot good
losers" the Pittsburgh G.zette.Times
says. and they exhibited their dis
pleasure in SO many ways that 1t is
not astonishing If man Of unbalanced
mind became ohsessed with the idea
that he would perform a patriotic serv-
ice by staying the object of the up
roar" Thus race hatred; @ n;nt int1ieranee. II S;
periority have reaped the results they,
|Eensrnlly ryaps N any eoYatrys tAs