THE POLES AND THE SERVIANS.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IV, Issue 196, 29 December 1876, Page 7

THE POLES AND THE SERVIANS.

On the 11th ult., the Polish Historical Society in London adopted the following address to the insurgents of the Turkish provinces : — " Sclavonian Brothers : We have watched -with deep interest the progress of your contest with Turkey, and we congratulate you on your brave defence of Saitschar and Alexinatz, which has added a new and bright page to the records of Sclavic glories. But, while we admire your valor; we think it our duty to warn you against the Government by whose advice and whose promises of assistance you were led to take up arms. We have a right to speak, because we know by sad experience at what price the arch-enemy of political liberty and national independence sells his aid to such as imagine they can obtain these invaluable possessions through his agency. You have been induced by the Russian Government, or by Russians acting with its permission, which under an absolute despotism implies the sanction of that Government, to enter into war with a power the superior resources of which could not be unknown to Russia. You have been freely supplied with Russian money, and with officers, and what is the consequence ? Your country is devastated, your children are slain, and your army is converted into a Russian army, for it is commanded and officered by Russians j and for this end you have sacrificed a condition if not of nominal yet of real independence, secured by the guarantee of the great European Powers. You will do well and wisely if you now direct all your efforts to recover what you have lost Poland fell under the power of Russia by the same subtle policy of which you are only now beginning to appreciate the danger. Under pretence of protecting the interest of dissenters from the established religion in Poland, she interfered in our internal affairs ; she formed a Russian party, and eventually, by an overwhelming military force, took possession of the country. We were then at the head of tl c Sclavonic race, in freedom, in civilization, and in military glory. We lived in peace with our neighbors, entering on no aggressh c war. We had defended Europe against the then formidable power of the Mahommedans. We fell, through no crime, but through the folly of listening to the perfidious counsels of Russia. We expiate in exile the error of our ancestors ; be warned by our example before it is too late. On behalf of the Polish Historical Society in London. — C. Szulczewski, President ; A. Gibljud, Secretary."