The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-03-08
St., Joseph's Rectory,
 46 Congress Ave,
 Waterbury. Conn.


 Waterbury, Conn. To The Editor, ~
 Waterbury Evening Democrat. Esteemed Sir:
 Again I face the unpleasant and monotonous task of informing the Waterbury public of General Kos ciuszko's nationality. I do so with the greatest reluctance as it seems to some to be of such minute con- cern. I am sure, however, that the readers of your paper will ap- preciate my position and attitude as a Lithuanian-American.
 Last year, the occasion of my article on Kosciuszko's nationality arose from the George Washing ton Bicentennial parade held in Waterbury, and in which the Poles paraded General .Kosciuszko as a Pole. This year, the occasion is somewhat similar. Ignatius K. Weriwinski of So. Bend, Indiana, drafted a resolution to Mayor Hayes of Waterbury, with the peti- tion to recognize. the Revolutionary War hero by means of the issuance of special Sesquicentennial stamps in his honor.
 I will make my position clear and as inoffensive as possible. First, permit me to prove General Kos ciuszko's unquestionable Lithua- nian nationality.
 T shall borrow from General Kosciuszko's own letters. The fol- lowing is a letter of his to Czar Alexander I in 1915: "Your Ma jesty: Count Czartoryski has re- counted to me all the benefits which you are preparing for the Polish nation. Words fail to ex- press my profound respect and gratitude. There is but one thing that unquiets my soul and disturbs my happiness. am Lithuanian born, and not many years of life remain to me, yet the curtain of the future hides from me the destiny of my native land and mother country, I do not remem- Der any such excellent promises of Your Majesty in this respect made verbally, either to me or my countrymen."
 This letter should be sufficient but to emphasize his proper nat ionality on such rare occasions seems indeed fitting. Permit me, with your kind indulgence, to again quote the letter the Demo- crat printed last summer. This is a letter from him to General Me- sialowski, from Wloclawk (Poland) on March 2, 1890:
 "I beseech you by all that is dearest to you in life (your wife and children) to remove me from so unpleasant and expensive a place, one which has nothing to recommend it. God knows I have none with whom to speak, yet per- haps that is good, for I have never conversed with oven. But the country! I will not describe it ex- cept to say that it is nice and should be predestined for honest and prudent managers, Lithuani- ans, but not for these abominable and careless people. Will you re- turn me to Lithuania? Perhaps you will renounce me, realizing that am unable to serve you. What am I if not a Lithuanian, one of your chosen countrymen? To whom should show my gratitude, if not to you? Whom should I defend if not you and myself? If my petition does not meet with your favour. and if you do not bring the ques- ton of my return before the Sejm (Parliament) God knows what evil may befall me, for it angers me to be from Lithuania and serv- ing in Poland (Koronie) and be- sides, have you not three generals? !? When some force has rendered you powerless, then you will awake and take care of yourself"
 To add little more flavor to the question, let me this time take not letter but an official docu- ment. The following is part of a codicil to General Kosciuszko's first will:
 Know all men by these presents that I, Thaddeus Kosciuszko, for merly an officer of the U. s. A., and a native of Lithuania in Pc. land, at present residing in Paris
 etc. -