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Show POLES HAVE HOPE. "Warsaw's last champion" could survey another waste of ruin laid upon the fields of Poland were he alive today. This time, however, there is some hope for the country and its people after the war is ended. In the days of Kosciusko there was "no hand on high to shield the bra ye" and Poland was divided between Russia, Prussia and Austria. Iu the long years intervening and up to tho outbreak of tho present war the Poles have never been shown the slightest consideration by any of their conquerors. Now a new era has dawued for the Poles. Just as soon as hostilities began the Czar of Russia promised to restore the ancient kingdom in case of victory, and give the people a chance to rule themselves under the suzerainty of the Muscovite empire. The German government, gov-ernment, not to be outdone by the Russians, Rus-sians, will in. future allow the people of Poland some of tho rights aud privileges privi-leges they used to enjoy. For instance, they will not be forced to U3e the German language, their own tongue being be-ing no longer proscribed. The government govern-ment printed the mobilization proclamation procla-mation in Polish as well as Ctermau, this being the first official use of the former language in decades. One of the most cruel and unjust laws ever enacted, an act by means of which lauds were wrested from the Poles and turned over to German settlers, set-tlers, is said to be slumbering, only a few of such transactions having taken place since the war began. Public pro cessions of Polish athletic societies have been authorized; Polish firms are receiving army contracts, and representatives repre-sentatives of Polish banks sit on the board of tho war credit, bank. In addition, ad-dition, the Polish Farmers' Co operat ive association, one of whose main objects had been to light the Prussia.nizat.ion of Poland, not only finds a market for its grain with tho government, hut the world is Informed by an imperial message mes-sage from Poseu that the farmers also have representation on the military commision entrusted with the purchase of army supplies, something unheard of since the first crime against tho integrity in-tegrity of Poland was committed. Germany is also willing, it is said, that the ancient kingdom of Poland be revived, only it does not propose to let go of its share of the territory. Just what the Austrians think of this proposal pro-posal has not been disclosed, but it is not to be supposed they will give up their share of Poland in case, they come out of the war victorious, 'even upon the demand of their autocratic ally. As matters now stand the Poles will reap a substantial recognition as a result of the war. That is if Russia and Germany keep their word when the conflict is over. Promises in some cases, however, are only made to be broken, and worldly wise people would not be surprised if the claims of Sar-matia Sar-matia were overlooked in the .day of settlement. In the meantime the territory terri-tory of Poland is being Tavaged from end to end and its people, next to the Belgians, are the chief sufferers by reason of the war. |