THE NIOBE OF NATIONS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 38, 8 November 1918, Page 4

THE NIOBE OF NATIONS

The story of tho death and resurrection of Poland makes one of the most romantic and also one of the most tragic chapters in the history of the nations. Tho new Poland is one of tho fruits of this wonderful war. In the early stages of tho struggle the Tsar of Russia issued a proclamation promising to re-

oreato the former Polish Kingdom, which was cut in 'pieces towards the end of the eighteenth century by Prussia, Austria, and Russia. This promise was heartily endorsed by the Tsar's allies, and during the present year movements have lieen in progress with the object of establishing some form of self-government. A Polish State has now been brought into existence, and a recent telegram states that its independence has been recognised by tlw United States. Full and definite information has not yet been received regarding itsi boundaries; but wo know that Mr. Lloyd George has asserted the necessity of creating "an independent Poland, comprising all those genuinely Polish elements who desire to form a part of it," and President Wilson stated in January last _ that self-govern-ment would be given to those territories "inhabited by indisputably Polish populations." In September of the present year the French Prime Minister (M. Clejienceau) informed Count Zamoyski, President of the Polish National Committee, that he could rest assured that France, faithful to her traditions and programme, and in agreement with her Allies, would spare no effort "to resuscitate free Poland according to her national aspirations, and in the frame of her historic boundaries." The Poles, with the exception of an insignificant minority, refused to give countenance to the A.ustro-Gcrman schemes to settle their future. They knew that their hope of salvation depended upon alliance with the nations who were fighting to deliver the world from Prussian, tyranny. The collapse of Austria gave the Poles the_ opportunity of taking their destiny in their own hands, and of setting up an independent Government to rulq the territories which they inhabit. Tho present geographical configuration of new Poland may have to be readjusted by the Peace Conference; but what has now been done is not at all likely to be undone in any essential feature.

Poland has been so cruelly treated —her sufferings and lamentations hare been so great—that she has been, called "the Niobe of Nations." There was a time when she occupied a place among the great nations of Europe. In a critical moment her lung, John Sobieski, saved CenEurope from devastation by coming to the rescue when tho Turkish hosts threatened Vienna. But Poland's power and glory declined, and her weakness offered a temptation which Feederick the Great of Prussia could not resist. At his instigation she was divided up between Austria, Russia, and Prussia. Tho first partition took place in 1772, the second in 1793, and the third in 1795. Referring to tho socond partition, Mr. Nisbet Bain states that no sophistry in the .world can extenuate its villainy. "The theft of territory is the least offensive feature. It is the forcible suppression of a national movement of reform, the hurling back into the abyss of anarchy and corruption of a people, _ who, by incredible efforts and _ sacrifices, had struggled back to_ liberty and order, which makes this great political crime so wholly infamous. Yet the methods of the Russian Empress were less vile than those of the Prussian King. Catherine openly took the risk of a bandit who , attacks an enemy against whom he has a grudge; Frederiok William II came up, when the fight was over, to help pillage a victim whom he had sworn to defend." But the destruction of Poland called into being forces and movoments' which have contributed largely to the downfall of the very Powers that destroyed her. One of the greatest modern historians, Lord Acton, referring to the final partition, asserts that "this famous riieasure, the most revolu-

tionary act of the old absolutism, awakened the theory of nationality in Europe, 'converting a dormant right into an aspiration and a sentiment into a political claim, Thenceforward there was a nation demanding to be united into a State —a soul, as it we're, wandering in search of a body in which to begin life over again; and for the -first time a cry was heard that the arrangements of States was unjust— that their limits were unnatural, and that a whole people was deprived of its right to constitute an independent community." This principle of nationality is going to play a very important part in the coming peaco settlement. Other oppressed peoples besides the Poles have already been liberated, and still others are waiting eagerly for the redemption which , is now in sight. The sword of the Allies is bringing death to tyrannies and freedom to the millions of downtrodden peoples of many nationalities. It is estimated that the new Poland will have a population of 35,000,000 people-a great host released from a cruol bondage.