Evening star., 1926-06-08

Poland is ahame with revolution
and unrest. The news of rebellion
in southeastern Poland-where the
UkrainianS are numerouS-WaS not
alarming, for the Ukrainians are not
Poles, by race and are said to be
bolshevik in sympathy. They have
never accepted the unification OF the
Polish Republic and have agitated at
every opportunity for autonomy II
not separation into an Independent
country.
What makes their present revolt
especially significant is the report
that. simultaneously with it. German
troops are crossing the Polish corr1-
dor from west to east Prussia with
out the consent of the Polish govern
ment to the invasion of its territory
This raises the question as to how
far Germans are conspirlng with
Ukrainian bolsheviks to upset the
Pilsudski dictatorship or even to
break up the Polish Republic. Ger
many has recently made a treaty
with Russia. Poland has had to face
enmitv from both her old partitioners
Russia. on the east and Prussia on
the west, north and east. Austria
Hungary on the south. though help.
less, is supposed to have experienced
no change of heart.
X X
The poet Campbell, a century ago,
when Poland lay bleeding at the feet
of her partitioners-Russia Prussia
and Austria-was optimistic enough
to declare. "She, like the eagle, Will
renew her age" and the admirers OF
her brave struggle through the cen"
tury and a half of imperial persecu-
tion and wrong have hoped that her
revival, through the peace OF the
World War, would be lasting and un'
troubled.
Gen. Pilsudski a few days ago over.
turned the presidency and declared
that Parliament had demonstrated lts
incompetency and must be disposed
of. He refused his own election TO
tho nresidency. because the constitu-
tion does not give sufficient power to
that Office. Putting into office a man
without any political experience
whom he could control, Gen. Pilsudskl
retained command Of the army. me
Seim Tor ParliamenD will be sus-
nended until Fall, and in the mean
while Pilsudski and his PRESIDENT,
guided by an extra constitutional
Council of Patriots and backed by
the army, will rule the country.
That is the setting into which now
comes the open rebellion OF tns
Ukrainian Nationals in south folano
and the invasion by the Germans
across the northern corridor.
One Of the famous Fourteen
points" of President wilson was
"Point 13: Poland, to include lnols-
putably Polish population. ana nave
free and secure access to the sea- anu
to have her independence and integ,
. rity guaranteed by international
covenant" ,., 90
In the Peace Treaty was Article 95,
by which Poland agreed 20 protecs
the interests Of 4the lnhapltants oI
Poland who differed from the maJot1.y
of Poland in race. language or rell'
gion." Thus the minority was pro
tected from persecution py tne
government, similar to that OF tne
century or more of persecution winch
the poles had suffered by their con-
auerors, the Prussians, the RUSSIANS
and -Austrians.
After the fall of the Car, the Boil
shevik government of Russia indorsed
President Wilson's declaration as TO
the Poles, saying: "In the name OF the
higher principles of equity, 1t (Russlal
has removed the chains which weighed
upon the Polish people" Thus ended
Poland,s servitude which had endured
since 1872, when Catherine II began
the partitioning, which Prussia and
Austria continued until they had fully
absorbed her life and territory.
X X k.*
1t is customary to refer to the parti-
ton of Poland as wanton crime OF
tyrannical power, with no blame upon
the victim of rapacious grabbers OF
her territory. 1t is also assumed that
the revived Poland is the same as
historic Poland Of the partition. Both
pictures are inaccurate.
The present Poland does not mt