History of the Late Polish Revolution and the Events of the CampaignHordynski, Joseph
History
History of the Late Polish Revolution and the Events of the Campaign
Hordynski, Joseph
Poland -- History -- Revolution, 1830-1832
The generosity of the nation has been proved by many isolated facts,
and Europe admires our moderation as much as our valor. Brethren,
fellow-citizens, equal admiration still awaits us. Without delay,
then, come forward with the whole of your force simultaneously, and
act as one man in peace and in war; it is the people who are the
source of all power. To the people, then, direct your views and your
affections. Children, worthy of your fathers, you will act like them;
you will break the odious bonds, and you will cement a holy alliance
by reciprocal benefits and by gratitude. In other countries it is by
force, and force alone, that the people recover their liberties--here
those liberties are received as the gift of their brethren. A generous,
just, and necessary deed will become the act only of your own choice,
and you will proclaim to the people their independence, and the return
of the Polish eagles to their native soil. Our fields will lose nothing
in cultivation and value when they are tilled by the industry of brave
men. You will be ennobled in the eyes of civilized Europe, and your
country will gain millions of fellow-citizens, who, like our brave
peasants, will fly to the defence of their liberty, and drive back a
power whose character is that only of slavery. Do not forget, brethren
and fellow citizens, that the Greek religion is professed by a great
part of the people. Toleration is one of the qualities of civilization.
The clergy, the churches, and religion, shall be placed under the
protection of the government, and will lend you their assistance in
carrying this measure of justice into effect.
[The address goes on to enlarge upon the respect paid by Polish
noblemen to religious rites and feelings, and calls on the people on
this occasion to follow their example; also to send deputies from
the different provinces to the National Congress. It then goes on
to describe the vast power of Russia, and the difficulties to be
encountered, much in the same manner as the proclamation of Skrzynecki,
and concludes thus:--]
God hath already wrought prodigies for us. God, and not the Emperor of
Russia, will be our judge! He will decide.
He will decide who hath committed perjury, who has been the victim
of oppression, and who ought to obtain the victory. We have already
fought with success, in the name of the God of our fathers; and we will
fight till at length we have accomplished the ends of justice. All
the nations of Europe possessed of the feelings of humanity tremble
for our fate, and exult with joy at our successes.--They only wait
your general rising to hail you as members of the free and independent
nations of Europe.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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