THE BOYCOTT.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 324, 27 January 1902, Page 2

THE BOYCOTT.

It is remarkable that while the British are threatening a boycott of Gerinan goods in retaliation for insults,the Poies should have organised, a strong boycott against Germany with the support of the .Vatican. The papers - by the mail give the reason of the boycott. The following is a translation of the letter addressed by M. Henryk Sienniewiez, the author of “ Quo Vattie,’’ to the Czas, tiie leading Austro-Polish organ

An unheard of sentence has been delivered. Not, a hand has been raised against, the master executioners. Not a single deed of violence had been perpetrated. Anti yet the Prussian Courts of Justice condemned the parents of ttiose poor children who had been tortured in the Prussian schools because, moved by despair and pity they allowed words of indignation to escape their lips against such schools and such masters. Wherever a degeneiated civilisation lias not yet reached a state of barbarism, even among those Germans wiio would prefer to play in history a part other than that of Prussian myrmidons, that iniquitous sentence must cal] forth at once contempt and rage, and fill all hearts with apprehension for the future and with stupefaction. We ourselves, however, who since a fraction of our nation has formed part of Prussia, are w-eil acquainted with that milieu : we alone have no right to he surprised nor to he content with mere words’ nor to give way to despair. Assuredly astonishment does not become us. One of their own authors, a German'' once expressed the characteristic opinion that it was a mistake to think that an immoral policy did not deprave society and its future generations. Wha£ was bound to happen did happen. Ever since the time of Frederick 11., and even a still more remote period, Prussian policy has been but a series of crimes, of deeds of violence, of knavery, of humility towards the powerful, of tyranny towards the weak, of falsehoods, of violated treaties, of broken promises. That is not only the opinion of foreign historians, but it is also that of independent German historians themselves. How, then can we be surprised that in such circumstances a decomposition of souls should follow, that the sentiment of justice and trutli should have degenerated, that moral sense should have comp letely disappeared, and that in the midst of the general depravity the school should have become an instrument of torture aud the debased Courts of Justice the tools of savage instincts and of violence ? As soon as that social organisation felt itself strong as a State in consequence of a series of unfortunate events, monstrous affairs ensued, such, for instance, among others, as these recent trials, that of Thorn, and that of Wreschen. The only consolation in all this is that it cannot last. History teaches us that edifices which are founded on tyranny, wickedness, and stupidity have never been durable, Russia, who suffered under the Tar-* tan yoke, tvhich was just as unworthy —succeeded in getting rid of it. The cruel tyranny of the Spaniards inFlanders could not be maintained. Christian and cultured nations cannot submit to barbarism for any length of time. Nor can the German people lie for ever subjected to the Prussian element. The future must bring expiation and a gigantic evolution. Whit is

in ihe meantime the duty for us who are immediately under the ferodous and criminal yoke ? Before all le; us persevere, and let us help those to persevere who are the direct viclims of this criminal injustice. After the children had been ill-treated their >arents, who earned their daily briad, were sent to prison. One of the accused, the mother of five children, vas condemned to two and a-balf years mprisonment. Did they all wish to 6ndemn those heroic children to die of hunger ? In truth, that crime is joss sible in the society of Hakatists. Tie hearts of all our mothers must thfrefore take pity. While providing brad for the children let us convey this cinsolation to their parents in prism, that their little ones will not be >bliged to go begging. Divine lav, Christian law, make it a duty for js to be merciful towards all childro.

What must be said then when we ?e in presence of such children ?” The Hakatists, to whom M. Sienkswiez refers, are a party in Germaiv who are accused of seeking the annifiation of the Poles. At the head of it are Herren Hannemann, Kinneman, and Tidemann. It is from the firt letters of their names that the woj Hakatigti is tfsiiYed<