VICTOR HUGO ON UNKNOWN

Southland Times, Volume 2, Issue 80, 11 August 1863, Page 5 (Supplement)

VICTOR HUGO ON UNKNOWN

The Jersey Independent puhlisli^^^^H following letter from Victor Hugo,f^|^^^H was ru:id at a public meeting- held ijjlf^^^H inland in favor of Poland : — . M|fl^^| " Hautevillc House, dill A prit, X^^^^l " To the public meeting in Jersey ijjflf^^l " Gentlemen, — I am now sulTerinjgfj^^^H nn affection in the the throat wliichfj^^^J vents me from accepting your "^tlj^^H by which I feel greatly honored. Jl^lj^^l in my profound regret. Sytiipatb^|^^B presence. I shall therefore be in spi^^H in the midst of you. I -associate mys^^B from the bottom of my soul jvilh all y<V*fl^| generous feelings. The murder of a natio^M is impossible. Bright as the star j it hi^H comes edip-pd. bit it re-appears. Hurigiii^M proves it, Venice proves ir. Poland prov<^^B it. Polanr! at thi« hour, is hiilliant^H it is not in full lifo : but it is in full glory^M a!! its li^ht has returner!. Poland^qyer^M whelmed, hieerling and erect, world. People live, and desp»ls die'^H it is ths law of Above. Let us not censaH repeating to that guilty Alexander M^l who at this tnoment, weighs^ upon, fwoW nauons, for the misfortunes of the oneandH the shame of the other. The most (o liefl piried of tiiß two is not Poland which lieH slaughters; it is Russia which iie dis-H honors. J sny with prief, tlie JlussianH avmy, through the fault of Alexander 11., ■ defile« tin* Ku.ssian flag. i\lay all the ap-H probrium fall upon this man! A people I is degraded when made the butchers ofH another people. I wish for Poland re-H surcction to iiberfy ; for Russia resurrco^H tion to honor. I ()o more than wish for! those two resurrections ; I expect them.fl Yes. doubt would be impious and almost ■ ;m acnomplir.e ; yes, Poland will triumph. I its linal death would he more oi* less the ■ death of us all. Poland is a part offl Europe's heart. On the da^y wherein the ■ last pu/sation of life beat in Poland the ■ whole civilized \yorld would feel the cliitl'H of the sepulchre. Allow me then to litter ■ from afar this cry, which AvilJ find an echo I in your hearts : Long live Poland ! Long ■ live the liberty of men and the Indepen- ■ denceof nations! Accept on thisopcasion ■ all my wishes for the happiness "of the 1 island of Jersey, which is most dear t<Hne, I and also of your excellent population, aijd I receive, friend?, my cordial salutations. > '« Victor Hugo." I