E m 6 / A riEnORIAL of the PoIish=American Organizations OF THE UNITED STATES in reference to the proposed Lodge Immigration Bill, now pending in the American House of Representatives. CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. 1898. 9S% Je. 16 ort The persistent and studied efforts of reckless and sensational writers and agitators to belittle and traduce tlie character of American citizens, of Polish descent and nativity, has lead to the formation of a committee, consisting of representatives of all the large Polish -American organizations throughout the United States, for the purpose of removing in a measure the erroneous impiVssion, w^hicli prevails in certain quarters, in regard to th^- Polish people. While this agititation was confined to articles of sensational writers and wild rantings of irresponsible dem- agogues, it was deemed the part of wisdom to treat the movement with dignified silence. The statements of certain individuals, who view the subject with eyes which are jaundiced with prejudice, that the Slav- onic race is to^tally depraved and is without a single redeeming feature, are too absurd to merit a reply. It remained however for the honorable senator from Massachusetts to dignify these gross misrepres- entations with his scholarly and well-known literary attainments by including them in his report to the Senat • recommending the passage of Senate Bill No. — 4— • 112, commonly known as tlie Lodge Immigration Bill. The damage done to the reputation of Polish- American citizens by this report is incalculable. Were the statements therein contained allowed to pass unchallenged, some future historian in his re- searches might discover this remarkable document, and accepting the figures and pretended facts therein cited as true, use it as a basis of his views on the effects of immigration in the United States. We exceedingly regret that the time at the dis- posal of this committee was too limited to collate all the necessary data to refute the allegations of the report so far as they relate to the Polish people. We how- ever respectfully invite the attention of the American public to a few facts hurriedly sketched in this memorial. To fairly adjudge the character of a race it is imperatively neccessary to know iheir past history, their present condition at home, and their conduct in their adopted country. For this reason we have sub- divided this memorial into three chapters, in which we briefly treat of "Poland during the days of Inde- pendence"; "I'oland under the reign of her despoil- ers", and ,,The Poles in America", I. Poland during the Days of Her Independence. Ajor many ceaturies Poland was the predominant power of Eastern Europe. Situated on the border of European civilization, her peculiar mission among the family of nations was to repel the repeated invasions and depredations of hordes of savage Mongols, Tartars, Muscovites and Turks who frequently threatened to overrun Europe and destroy her institutions. She was justly called the cavalier nation of Europe, the bulwark of Christianity and modern civilization. From the reign of Boleslas the Great (992-1025) to the date of the first partition of Poland (1772) her arms alone repelled ninety- one Tartar invasions, any one of which, if successful, would have disastrously affected, if not jeopard- ized, the civilization of Europe. / For the cause of Christianity, the brave chival- rous king Wladislas Warnenczyk at Warna in 1444 sacrificed his life, and the great warrior king Stefan Batory repelled the savage armies of Ivan the Terrible, and drove them back to the wild steppes of Russia. To prevent the eventual subjugation of Europe to the fanatical rule of the Mussulman John III Sobieski met the Turkish forces at Vienna and — 6 — forever established the supremacy of the Cross over the Crescent. Although incessantly engaged in warfare she never waged a war for offensive purposes or for the aggrandizement of her territories. All her wars were conducted solely for the defense of her own territories and those of her civilized neighbors. The spirit of her constitution prohibited the maintenance of large standing armies in time of peace. This proved to be a great source of weakness to the nation, of which her despotic neighbors readily availed themselves at the time of first partition of Poland. Though martial in her character, Poland in no small degree cultivated the finer arts of peace. To the civilized world she gave the first example of religious toleration. "They had" said the great publicist, Sir James Mackintosh, in his "An account of the Partition of Poland", "another singularity of which they might justly have been proud. Soon after the Reformation, they had set the first example of that true religious liberty, which equally admits the members of all sects to the privileges, the oftices and dignities of the commonwealth. For nearly a century they have afforded a secure asylum to those obnoxious sects of Anabaptists and Unitarians, whom all other states excluded from toleration; and the Hebrew nation, proscribed everywhere else, found a second country, with protection for their learned and religious establish- ments in this hospitable and tolerant land". At an early age she took a prominent part in the advancement and dissemination of learning in Europe. To the astronomical world she gave Coper- nicus. The first two center's of learning in central Europe were the University of Prague, in Bohemia, and the University of Cracow in Poland. As early as the fifteenth century we find in the Polish litera- ture such names as that of Jan Dlugosz (Longinus), the famous historian, and while, little later the names of Jan Kochanowski (1503-1584), the prince of Polish poets and Casimir Sarbiewski (Sarbievius) the Polish Petrarch, stand pre-eminent among their contemporaries. In the sister Slavonic nation, Bohemia, John Komensky, (Comenius) won fame as one of the earliest reformers of educational methods. The government of Poland was republican in form. Its fundamental idea and object was to secure to the Polish people the greatest possible individual liberty. Absolute slavery was never recognized. In 1347, in the historic statutes of Wislica, measures were adopted for the betterment of the condition of the peasantry. In 1413, by humane means alone, without the slightest bloodshed, the Polish people Converted to Christianity the powerful pagan nation of Lithuania numbering over two millions inhabit- aats. A union was effected between these two great ations which subsequently in 1569 became indis- soluble and was based upon the theory, to use the quaint language of the historic pact, of "free with free and equals with equals." The Polish kings were elected by the repre- sentative deliberative assemblies of the nation, the diet und senate. Their powers were limited. The power of enacting laws, levying taxation and de- claring war was vested solely in the diet. The main defect of the constitution was the provision which invited foreign intrigue, corruption and intervention into the land by permitting foreign princes to com- pete for the crown of Poland. Another sad blunder was the rule which re([uired an absolute unanimity in passage of all laws. A single expression of dissent by any member of the diet was sufficient to prevent the enactment of any proposed measure. This anamolous power was caled the liberiim veto. In the hands of an obstinate or corrupted delegate it proved a dangerous weapon. However the evils which resulted from these defects of government were of slow and gradual growth. In the middle of the last century they reduced the country to a most deplorable condition. Foreign troops traversed and ravaged the fair fields of Poland with impunity. Through the machination, intrigues and bribes of neighboring despotic powers, a limited number of venal and treacherous deputies succeeded in preventing all legislative action. Such was the unhappy condition of Polan — 9.— ill 1772, when in pursuance of a pre-concerted arrangement, without the slightest pretext of right, without the formality of declaring war, in open vio- lation of the laws of God and man, Russia, Prussia and Austria marched their troops into Poland, parceled off among themselves large portions of her dominions and then compelled the protesting diet to ratify their unparalleled robbery. This was the first par- tition of Poland. It was the most flagrant violation of the laws of nations recorded in the annals of man. To aggravate the enormity of their crime, to perpetuate the unfortunate existing stati' of affairs, these . unscrupulous despoilers exacted from the unwilling diet a pledge that no attempt would be made to alter the old impotent constitution. At the time of the first partition, the surface of Poland exceeded that of France and the number nf her inhabitants was estimated at eigliteen millions; a population probably exceeding that of the British Islands or of the Spanish Peninsula at that date. Of these about twelve millions were Roman Catholics, three millions were Orthodox Schismatics, one million Protestants and the remainder Jews or Mussulmen. Realizing the great dangers which surrounded them and fearino- further ao:o;randizement, bv their treacherous neighbors upon their territories and liberties, the brave people aroused themselves from their letharg}^ buried all their feuds and dissensions and proceeded peacefully and harmoniously to —10— strenghten their goveriiiment . On May 3rd, 1791, after four j^ears of careful deliberation the Polish diet promulgated a new constitution, which for the liberality and wisdom of its provisions compares favorably with the Magna Charta of England or our own Federal Constitution. In its main features it resembles the Constitution of the United States. It guaranteed civil and religious liberty to all alike. It declared everyone to be equal before the law. It greatly ameliorated the condition of the peasantry. The crown was made hereditary, while the pernicious liberiiin veto was abolished. The government was divided into three co-ordinate branches: the execu- tive, legislative and judicial. It was enthusiastically received by the nation and was adopted with singular unaminity. "The course of this glorious revolution" says Sir James Mackintosh, "was not dishonoured by popular tumult, by sanguinary excesses, or by political execution. History will one day do justice to that illustrious body and hold out to posterityj their work as a perfect model of a most arduousj reformation". In England it was hailed with delight. F02 declared it to be one of the noblest boons conferred' upon man, while Edmund Burke exclaimed: "Man- kind must rejoice at the great change which has taken place in Poland. It has destroyed anarchy and slavery". This enthusia.-m, however, was not shared by —li- the despotic ruler of Russia, She declared it to be the work of hot headed Jacobins who had no regard for the ancient order of things. Before the constitution could be fully put into operation she poured lier vast armies into Poland. The perfidious king of Prussia, violating solemn treaties which he made previously with the diet to protect the constitution, followed her ignoble example. Together these despots proceeded to destroy this masterpiece of statemanship. s/At this critical stage there appeared upon the scene a hero, whose spotless character, sterling virtues, splendid statemanship and great military genius, makes him a worthy pupil of George Washington. The heroic struggle of the t'olish people under the leadership of Thaddeus Kosciusko forms one of the most thrilling and sanguinary events in the history of the world. All that lofty patriotism, undaunted courage and superb general- ship could accomplish was done. Not until they were overpowered by overwhelmingly greater num- bers and their intrepid leader fell, covered with wounds, did l^lie proud Polish spirit yield and was tl;e name of Poland erased from the maps of Europe./^ "Thus" says Sir James Mackintosh, "fell the Polish people, after a wise and virtuous attempt to establish liberty and a heroic struggle to defend it, by the flagitious wickedness of Russia, by the foul treachery of Prussia, by the unprincipled accession of Austria, and bv the short-sighted as well —12—. as mean-spirited acquiescence of all the other natimis of Europe." / We will conclacle this chapter with an extract from a letter written by the Hon. John P. Altgelcl to the secretary of the Kosciusko Monument Asso- ciation in 1892: "From the day when Miecislas 1, the first king of Poland, bent his knee in acknowledgement of one Christian God, to the day when the great nation was shattered and divided by greedy rivals, the history of its every page is eloquent with the patriotism, the bravery, the genius, the generosity, and the tolerance of its people, and the memory of its last, almost superhuman struggle, under the heroic Kosciusko will live, as long as men love liberty and brave deeds. "Your people have now no country. Many are paying tribute to the ruler of a kindred and un- grateful race. Many give unwilling allegiance to alien dynasties. Some have sought the ready hospitality of our great Republic, which Kosciusko helped make free, but all look forward to the day their people, the people who gave to 7uankind a Copernicus, a Sobieski, a Chopin, and a Kosciusko, shall again be united as one — a free people — free to choose their own government, free to make their own laws, free to teach their children the tongue of their fathers". "Your people have my deepest sympathy in the .—13-- great wrong that has been done to them, but look- ing back into history I cannot help but feel that your affliction is but a transitory stage to a glorious resurrection". II. Poland under the Rule of her Despoilers. jmmediately after the dismemberment of Pol- and, the three partitioning powers adopted towards their unfortunate subjects, a policy of relentless persecution and oppression. Every method, which heartless tyranny and blind fanaticism could devise, was resorted to in order to crush the national spirit, eradicate the native customs and extirpate the Pol- ish language. Numerous libraries, art galleries, schools and seats of learning, rich with the accum- ulation of centuries, were despoiled of their trea- sures and closed for the purpose- of keeping the Polish people in the lowest state of ignorance and preventing them from participating in the progress and advancement of the world. Strenuous efforts were made, and are still being made, to Russianize and Germanize the unhappy compatriots of Sobieski, Kosciusko, Pulaski and Chopin. Yet notwithstand- ing all the harsh and inhuman means which have been employed by these oppressors of Poland, the national spirit of her people seems invincible. Al- _14— though hundreds of thousands of noble minded and public spirited men and women have been confined in subterranean prisons, transported to Siberia and doomed to pass their remaining days in banishment, amid harship and poverty, for no other crime than that of loving the faith and land of their fathers, and although the wearing of the native picturesque costumes has been interdicted and the speaking of the Polish language has been prohibited and in many instances has been made a penal offense, the love of the Polish people for their Country, its tra- ditions, literature and faith increases as time ad- vances. The literature of Poland reached its zenith in the present century. Recognizing the fact that the Roman Catholic religion was the main medium for the preservation of the nation's language, traditions, patriotism and aspirations and formed the principal barrier against the amalgamation of the Polish people with the semi-civilized Muscovites and the better educated but no less conscienceless Teutons, extraordinary at- tempts were madp by the Russian tyrants to destroy the Roman Catholic religion in Poland. In the treaty of September 18, 1773 the notori- ous and licentious Russian Empress Catherine II guar- anteed full toleration to her new subjects of Catholic - faith. This pledge was received by the people with well merited incredulity. They recalled the terrible scenes of 1708 when the infamous Empress dispatched her Zaporogue Cossacks into Poland. —15— . "We have', the imperial decree stated, "ordered Maximilian Zelezniak, colonel of the Zaporogues, to lead his men into Poland, together with the Cossacks of the Don, and with the grace of God destroy all the Poles who do not want to profess the "orthodox" faith. We order that this invasion into Poland d-^- stroy forever the Polish name and race". The slaughter of two hundred thousand defenseless vic- tims, of both sexes and of all ages, proved how faith- fully this cruel order was obeyed. Sach was the inauspicious begining of the rule whose sole purpose was to destroy and obliterate all those noble sentiments which God and nature im- planted in the bosom of every rational being — the love of Country and right to worship his creator in accordance with the dictates of his conscience. The intolerant policy of religions and political persecution was also evidenced immediately after the first partition when, of the 1900 Churches of the Unites, 1200 were given to Russians and converted into Schismatic Churches. The protesting com- municants of these houses of worship were arrested, persecuted and exiled to Siberia because they refus- ed to accept the Empress Catherine as the head of their Church. The same policy has been pursued without cessation throughout the present century. It formed the subject of extensive debates in the English parliament of 1830, 32, 34 & 36. It was also discussed in the French parliament. But no definite action was taken. —16— . In 1803 when the Polish iiisniTection broke out in Russia, Muraview, styled by his own countrymen the "Hangman" was appointed Governor of Lithuania. Between June 8-th and December 28-th, 1803, this executioner ordered eleven priests to be hung or shot, and thousands were deported to Siberia. In 1864 he confiscated 24 churches, in 1865, 26 and in 1867 — 140 churches. How terrible these scenes were the letter of an disinterested eye witness, an English- man, G. Mitchell to Lord Russell, demonstrates. "Who could imagine" he said, "that the Christ- ian governor of a Christian city would order his Asiatic hordes of hideous savages to trample under their feet a Christian population, an inoffensive people, because it had approached the house of God? When the Russian troops forcibly entered the church- es, the}^ found kneeling women in the first rows and behind them were the kneeling men. The wo- men were beaten and the men were thrown to the floor and trampled under foot. In front of the Church of the Bernardines in the Fauborg of Cracow, Captain Taraskiewicz was seen lashing with his whip the women who were trying to escape from the Cos- sacks by fleeing into the Church and lie ordered his men to do the same. After these outrages the churches were despoiled of every object on which the Russians could lay their hands". '•■) '■•) The events in Warsaw on October 15-th, 1861. Paris. 1862. . —17^ Similar scenes have been repeatedly re-enacted since that date. Only a few years ago a number of peaceable and unarmed citizens of Kroze, in the Gubernatorial District of Kovna, were assailed, knouted and massacred by a horde of wild Cossacks for respectfully asserting their rights to see the im- perial decree by which their favorite church was closed. To coerce the recalcitrant Uniates into adopting the Greek- Catholic faith, thousands and thousands of them have been transported into the interior of Russia. In all civilized communities patriotism is under- stood as love of one's native land and zeal for her general welfare and safety. In Russia it has a differ- ent meaning. There, it means devotion to the "sac- red" person of the Czar, — the absolute autocrat in all secular and religious matters, and who claims the exclusive power to dispose, according to his whim, not only of the life, libert}^ and property of his sub- jects, but also of their souls. Enlightenment and ab- solutism can never thrive together. Despotism can only be maintained and preserved by keeping the great masses of people in the most abject state of int- ellectual, political and physical bondage. The knout and sword, not reason, humanity or justice, are the weapons by which the monstrous sway of Czarism can be sustained. The sentiments, aspirations and hopes of the Polish people are so antagonistic to the tendencies and spirit of Russian institutions as to be —18— , irreconcilable. To tlie narrow and intolerant mind of the average Russian it is inconceivable that the Polish people do not readily become reconciled to their lot and renounce the faith, language and trad- itons of their fathers and blindly accept, as benefact- ors, the tyrants who have persecuted, butchered and robbed their fathers and brethern. No means have been left untried to bring about this result. Estates have been confiscated and givea to Russian favorites in order to impoverish the people and make them dependant upon the liberality and generosity of their persecutors. The purchase of reality by Polish speak- ing subjects, for the same reason, was interdicted. To retard the growth of Polish literature and to sup- press the national sentiment, most rigid decrees were promulgated. Thousands of ardent sons and daught- ers of Poland were fined, imprisoned and transported — sometimes even without the formality of a trial — for singing patriotic songs, or expressing the natural yearnings of their heart. In Wilno in 1803 the following decree was is- sued : "Whoever in whatsoever kind of public place (street, alley, park, restaurant, store etc.) shall in any conversation use the Polish language, he or she shall for the first offense pay 25 rubles, the second 50 rubles, the third 150 rubles. Further contumacy shall be punished by administrative process and ev- entual transportation. Non- acquaintance with any . — ly— language other than the Polish will not be accepted as an excuse". This decree is in effect until the present date. It was posted jn all public highways and shops. To fullyjrealize the monstrous nature of this de- cree, we must bear in mind that a husband, wife, brother, sister, father or mother on meeting each other in a public place could not even inadvertently express the natural emotions of their heart in the language taught them from the cradle without run- ning imminent risk of being overheard by someone of the numerous spies, Cossacks and Police officials, who swarm the country, and be dragged before some servile tool of the government. The Jews, Germans and Tartars were allowed to use their native tongue. The Poles however were denied this privilege by virtue of this gracious decree of the Most Enlight- ened Ruler of all Russias and King of Poland — a title, which in view of the treatment the Poles have re- ceived at his hands sounds ironical, if not sacrilegeous. In the limited number of schools which the gov- ernment established, only the Russian language is taught. All books are coloured so as to imbue the children with hatred for the creed, language and traditions of their forefathers and instill into their minds a love for the Czar. They are taught that the Czar is the Kind Father of all ; that he is the only lawful law -giver, the fountain head of the real faith and the only true and absolute ruler of all the lands from the Baltic to the Pacific Ocean. Oppression —20— . begets resistance. Is it to be wondered, that the true Polisli parent in his anxiety to prevent the mind of his child from being poisoned by such un-European Asiatic, ancient and false doctrines, should prefer to keep his child at home and let him be content with such meager knowledge as he may obtain in the home circle or at schools which are clandestinely conducted by patriotic clergymen and brave men and women? To the tyranny and attempts of the Russian government to Russianize Poland is due the large number illiterates in that unhappy land. It is unnecessary to state that Russian govern- ment has always been the inveterate enemy of Po- lish literature. Not a single phrase or idea can be published in the Polish language — not even a circular or advert] sement^without first securing the sanction of the censor. Hampered thus, it cannot be expect- ed that journalism will ever reach a very high plane, as the editor is always laboring under the fear of a fine or in danger of having his publication suspended or suppressed. An recent incident — not an uncom- mon one — fully illustrates the workings of this abom- inable system of press censorship. The "Gazeta Polska", a periodical in which Henryk Sienkiewicz originally published his "Children of the Soil" and "Quo Vadis" was suspended for aa indefinite period for printing an article which was previously submit- ted to the censor and obtained his inzpi-i'ni.atur. We do not know who in this case is more worthy of com- ■ —21— miseration; the unfortunate edito?' or the haughty Eurasian officials, with their perverted sense of justice. Having for its own protection appoiiited a censor, upon wliom devolved the duty of scrutinizing every word and line submitted to him and to strike out, or alter, every sentence which might be offensive to the authorities, it would seem logical that the author- ities would assume the responsibility for the public- ation. However "they do these things differently in Piussia". The Censor offends and the editor is punished for it. Such being the discouragements which at- tend the publication cf writings intended for educat- ed persons, it may readily be surmised with what favor works designed for the laboring classes and common people are received. Concessions for the publication of popular works are seldom granted. Novels and historical works are altered to suit the prejudiced views of the censors. The people having such glorious past history have not the opportunity of becoming acquainted with it. Accurate histories are not allowed to be published. Such works as are circulated are mangled, garbled and changed by the censor to such a degree as to be practically worth- less. Private circulating libraries are not counten- anced by the government. ^ The fevv libraries exist- ing, under the auspices of the authorities, are hlled with Russian books which the people cannot under- stand and do not care to read. This policy of repres- 22 — ' sion has given rise among the people to the cnrious custom of secretly smuggling books across the fron- tier — not for the purpose of evading the payment of duty, but in order to secure works which are un- polluted bj^ Russian menials. They prefer to incur the danger of paying a fine and suffering imprisonment than reading books expurgated and emasculated by the censors. In the Polish province of Lithuania, a decree was recently* issued, prohibiting the printing of Lithu- anian books with Koman letters.- All Lithuanian books, including prayer-books, must be printed with the barbaric Russian type. This strange decree in reference to a people who for centuries have been ac- customed to the use of Latin types is certainly not conducive to the advancement of learning among that nation. And these two nations, Poland and Lithuania, yearn witli all their hearts and souls for more en- lightenment. They have used all the means in their power to frustrate the plans of Russia, and secure for their people education and raise them from the slough of obscurity, despondency and ignorance in which their oppressor is striving to keep them. Many of their children have endured the rack and sutfered martyrdom for this cause. Some have left their country and crossed the broad Atlantic, not merely to earn a livelihood but to enjoy those blessings, int- ellectual and political, which this nation, the source of inspiration and hope of people of all oppressed nations, affords. In Prussian Poland the condition of the Polish subjects cannot be regarded as having been greatly improved. Although compulsory education laws were enacted, the Polish language was and still is excluded from the schools. The rising generation is deprived of the opportunity of becoming acquaint- ed with the literature which is of paramount interest to them and which reveals such untold treasures as that of their native land. The harsh measures for Germanization of the Polish provinces adopted by the early Prussian statesmen having proven futile, a little over a decade ago Prince Bismarck resorted to a heroic remedy, by striking a powerful blow at their economic condition. Over thirty-five thousand Poles were suddenly expelled from their native land. Laws were enacted for the purchase of large estates, which were to be transferred ex- clusively in parcels to German colonists. As late as 188G, 100,000,000 marks was appropriated by the German (Reichstag for this purpose. During the month of February, 1898, the German government asked for an additional appropriation of 100,000,000 marks for the same purpose. Under the patronage of the government, soc- ieties were formed for the purpose of boycotting Polish merchants, traders and manufacturers. In the present year (1898) a powerful movement has been inaugurated to compell all Polish papers to be —24— • printed both in the Polish and German languages. Thus by forcing them to unnecessarily increases their expenses for printing and paper, it is expected to place the Polish press at a great disadvantage in competing with the German papers and so in a mea- sure destroy their utility. A mild instance of the petty and grinding offici- alism to whicli the Polish subjects of Germany are ooiioinually foi'ced to submit has been afforded to us in a recent cablegram by tlie well-known American author, Poultney Bigelow, the classmate and per- sonal friend of the presfMit Emperor of Germany, publislied in the Cliica-go Sunda.y Tribune of Feb- ruary 6th, 1898. We republish the following ex- tract: [special cable by rOULTNEY BIGELOW.] London. Feb. 5. — [Copyright. 189S. by tlie Press Publishing- Company, New Y'ork World.] — The Mazurs. inhabiting' the east- ermost section of Gernian\' Senate. Illiteracy, though greatly to be deplored, is not per se a crime. We must further respectfully insist that the figures cited by the Hod. Caleb Lodge in his report on the Immigration question ai'e not, so far as they relate, to the Polish people, reliable. The sources from which they have been obtained are not the most trustworthy. Under the heading of Poles, are included other elements with which the Polish people have nothing in common. Experience in this country soon leaches the illiterate the advantages of education, and self- interest will dictate to him the necessity of learning to read and write. A visit to the homes of the Polish people in this country will convince the impartial observer that they are cleanly, orderly and law-abiding people. They have established at great expense numerous schools in which the English language is taught. They have founded libraries and heartily support their own press as well as papers published in the English lano;nao-e. Owing to their thrifty and industrious habits they soon become property owners and cheerfully contribute their share of taxes ft^r the support of the government. Socialistic and anarchistic doctrines never receive any encouragement from them. For this country and its institution they entertain the profoundest respect. The limited time at our disposal did not enable us to gather complete statistics in order to refute the figures quoted by the Honorable Senator from Massachusetts. We have, however, been able to secure a large number of commendatory testimonials from officials who by reason of their position come most closely in contact with the people and are best qualified to judge their character. The officials we refer to are the mayors and police officials of large cities. Of the large number received, we will subjoin only the following extracts from letters sent to Mr. F. H. Jablonski, President of the Polish National --28—, Alliance of tlie United States of Nortli America and cliairman of the Joint Committee for drafting thit memorial: Detkoit. Jan. 24, 1898. — The Polish citizens of Detroit aiv probaljiv more iiuineronsto the popuhition of the city than in an\ other cit\' in the tnitcd States. One section in our city is iii- hal)ite(l exelusivelv l)\' Polisli families. it must he conceded that takino- into consideration their condition as ver\' recent immigrants to this country, poor, un- skilled and io'Uorant of the ways of our people tluM' are advanc- ing ver^■ rapidlw We have alr.-adv in oui- community Poles whose nati\(' al)ilit\' hrought them to a hioh plane in business lines aikl it must he said that their record for peacefulness and good citizenship is aboNC repi'oac-h. It is oratifying for me to sav'that there is no Pole in this cit^■. however old. sickly or dependent, who does not prefei' to earn his bread by honest labor. Conditions of the times in Detroit, as 1 suppose else- \vhere. Inn c l)rought thousands of families to a state of pri- vation. Wii,i,ia:\i (\ Maykury. Mayor. Mamsikk. M kh.. Jax. '24. bSUN. — We have a Polish popu- lation in this county of over 5000 souls. The^■ are within the city limits o\er (500 Polish school children between the ages of 5 to 1(1 years. The total numl)er of ai-rests in this (Manistee) county was 288 fof 1897. Tlie total population of the county is about 30.000. We think that there are l)ut few counties of like population that can show such record for peace and good order. I do not think that the num.ber of Polish people arrested is equal to their proportion, and as a rule those of that nationalit\' arrest- ed are charged with misdemeanors and minor offenses. It has been stated by some whe are prejudiced, politically or otherwise, that Polish people furnish more than their (juota of arrests, but records do not show this, but i)rove the contrary'. —29— Personally I have found our Polish citizens to be peaceable and law-abidino- people, frugal and idustrious and progressive. A great many of them own their homes and some have acquired considerable other property. Quite a number have purchased farm lands in this vicinity and are developing the country and prospering personally. There are of course some exceptions to the general rule, but the exceptions are no more numerous com- paratively with them than with Americans or any other nation- ality. I have always maintained that Polish people by reason of their past history and their being at present practically without a nation are especially and peculiarly adapted to our institutions and so to become loyal, patriotic and intelligent American citi- zens without any other national attachments to divide their patriotic zeal. Tiios. Smuarthwaite, Mayor. Milwaukee, Jan. 25, 1898. — The Polish-Americans in this city are very industrious and have a fair reputation. F. Barixger. Secretary . Toledo. O.. Jan. 25, 1898. — We have very little ])ot]ier with Polish-American residents of this city. they, quarrel among themselves, mostly church troubles but are very peaceful with other citizens. Total number of arrests for 1897 are 4673, out of which 100 to 150 would be fair average for the Polish people. C. H. DuRiAX, Sec'y of Police. New York. Jan. 2i). 1898. — In reply to your request to be informed as to the reputation of the Polish people of this city for peacefulness, industry and intergrity. it is my personal opinion that they possess all these traits and are a very desirable class of immigrants. John J. Nagle, M. D. Chief of the Bureau of Municipal Statistics ---30— From the metropolis of tlie State in which the Honorable Senator from Massachusetts discovered, according to his Senate report, such a astonishingly- large and alarming proportion of criminals among the Polish people we received the following letters: Boston, Jan. 25, 1898. — I am directed by His Honor, Mayor Quincy, to acknowledoe the receipt of yours of the 25th with reference to the character of the Polish-American re- sidents in our community. I am pleased to say that thouo^h we have a fairh' laro-e number of Poles in our community their de- meanor is so exemplary that it rarely happens that any one is before our police court even on a trivial charo-e. We have a Polish Ivoman Catholic church in the district of our city called South Boston, and we find the communicants exemplary in every way. I think I may say that it is the opinion of the citizens of Boston that the Poles, far from being a detriment, are a posi- tive addition to our community in the direction of morality and good citizenship. Thos. A. Mullen. Secretary. Boston, Jan. 28, 1898. — We have mailed you a copy of the annual report of the Board of Police for the citA' of Boston for the year of 1897. On page 30, you will find from the statistics that the number of arrests of Polish-American residents is small as compared with the other. The captain of one of our police districts in which the largest number of arrests is made each year states that the num- ber of arrests of the Polish-Americans is smaller in proportion to the number of residents than that of some of the other nation- alities. He also states that their reputation for peacefulness and industry is very fair, and that many of them are very good farm liands. A. P. Martin, Chairnmn of Board of Police. ..—SI— Omaha. Fki?. 4. 1898. — - Replying to jour communication of recent date askino- for a statement of the reputation for peace- fulness, industry and intergrit}' which the Polish American resi- dents bear in our community, I would say that we regard our Polish -American population very highly for the various qualities you have mentioned. They are peaceful, law-abiding citizens and there is no class of workmen in this city who bear a better reputation for industry than do they. They are honest and trust- worthy and have the confidence of the community. Frank E. Moores, Mayor. His Excellency H. S. Pingree, Governor of Mi- cliioan forwarded the followino;: LANSiN(i, Feb. 8. 1898. — The Polish people of Detroit have always been very peaceable citizens and are one of the most in- dustrious classes of foreigners that come to our cities. They are always glad to work and are not usually particular as to the kind of work, as long as they can earn an honest dollar. When one takes into consideration the training which they have had in their own country I think they are a very good people and en- titled to a oreat deal of credit. I mioht say also that I have a great expectations from the Poles, that is from the next genera- tion, as almost an}' other class of people we have here. They have a very strong physi(pie. fitting them for all kinds labor and they are very quick and willing to learn. H. S. PixGREE, Governor. Buffalo, jA>f. 24, 1898. — In reply to your communication of January 21, in which you request a brief statement as to the reputation for peacefulness, industry and intergrity that the Polish-American residence bear in this community. 1 take pleasure in saying that the general reputation of the class of citizens refered to and in the respect indicated in your note, is subject of constant and favf)rable comment. The Polish-American population of Buffalo s very laroc and has for years been nota- ble for industrN'. thrieft and iiood citizenship. CoXHAD DiEHL. Mayor. Chicago. Fkb. 3rd. 1898. — In response to your request for an expression of opinion from me as to the character and stand- ing of the Polish population of Chicago, it gives me great pleasure to bear testimony to the fact, that the Polish residents of this city are. on the whole, among the most industrious and reputable of our citizens. They are law-abiding and industrious, and deserve great credit for the manly manner in which on their arrival in this country, they struggle against and overcome, the difficulties that confront them. Caktkh H. Hakkison. Ma\()r. P. S. 1 am informed that the Pt)lish population of Cook County is oyer 175. OUU. At some future day this committee expects to famish to the Congress and the American Public reliable statistics of tlie real status of the Polish people in America. Suffice it for the present to say that viewing the subject from either a moral, economical or political standpoint, we fail to perceive the necessity for the enactment of the proposed immio-ration bill. The wonderful resources of this country have not been fully developed, and it cer- tainly cannot be contended that the late industrial stagnation and financial depression was do to an overcrowded labor market. Finnally we respectfully submit that while tlie Polish people are oppressed in their native land and are denied the privilage of learning to read and ^33— write ill their native tongue the same consideration should be shown to them as is shown by this bill to the unfortunate Cubans struggling for liberty and the semi-civilized Hawaians. Appealing to the exalted sense of justice and huraanity of tlie members of Congress and the Ame- rican Public in general, we, representatives of all the large Polish-American organizations of the United States respectfully ask that the Lodge Immi- gration bill be not adopted. Respectfully Submitted, THE JOINT EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE: F. H. jal)lonski, President, Rev. E. Sedlaczek, Vice President, Leon Szopinski, Secretary, 565 Noble st, Chicago, Ills. Michael Majewski, Treasurer, Liician Horbaczewski, Joseph Polczynski, M. J. Sadowski, Max A. Drezmal, Stephen R. Barszczewski, \ \ \ 1- Directon —34— POLISH NATL ALLIANCH of the U. S. ofX. A. Office: 102-104 W. Division st., Chicago. Theo. M. Helinski, Censor, j. Czernik, Vice Censor F. H. Jablonski, President, Jos. Polczynski, \'ice President, M. J. Sadowski, Gen'l Secretary, M. Majewski, Treasurer, Jos. Blaszka, ] M. Rzeszotarski, 1. Mroz, F. X.Kucharzewski, J S. R. Barszczewski, Editor. POLISH ROMAN CATHOLIC UXIOX oi America. Office: 519 Noble st, Chicago. P. Kiolbassa, Honorary President, John Jachimowicz, President, Theo. Ostrowski, Vice President, John Manna, Gen'l Secretary, Albert Jendrzejek, Treasurer, Rev. P. GutoWSki, ) Spiritual Rev. V. Barzynski, \ Directors, M.P. Kossakowski, M. I). High Medical Lx. Rev. Eug. Sedlaczek, ] F. Czerwinski, j Thaddeus Klein, |- Directors. ^^ Albert AVachowski, | ' Leon Szopinski, | —35— SECOND POLISH MILITARY CORPS of America, Military Board. Si^^ismund Schmidt Captain, Michael Hazinski, Lieutenant, Michael Malinowski, Adjutant, Civil Board: Anton Gorecki, President, M. Malinowski, Gen'l Secy. J. F. Jackowski, Treasurer. Fr. Lewandowski, \ Joseph Walkowiak, - Directors. Fr. Jozwiak, ) THE POLISH ASSOCIATION of America. Stephen Czaplewski, President. E. Czarnecki, Vice-President. Ignatius Gorski, Gen'l Secretary. Michael Salati, Treasurer. John Weiher, \ Anton Hudzinski, !- Directors. Ernest Krenz, ) Very Rev. H. Gulski. Spiritual Director. POLISH TURNERS' ALLIANCE of America. K. Zychlinski, President, A. Bielinski, First Vice President, \ W. Statkiewicz, Second Vice President, A. Blaszczynski, Treasurer. '-36—. POLISH ALLIANCE of State of Ohio. General Office: 301 Fleet st. Cleveland, O, i T. Olsztynski, President. L. Koperski, Vice-President. J. Deranek, Treasurer. T. Riitkowski, Gen'l Secretary. J. Szczutkowski, j J.Ziolkowski, - Directors. L Blazejczyk, ) UMTLl) POLISH SINGERS of America. C. Dtizewski, President, Ion. Mroz, Vice Presideiit,, Albin Rosinski, Recordino- Secretary, Michael Nowakowski, Financial Sec'y, A. Urbanski, Treasurer, W. Perlowskj, Librarian, John N, Nowicki, Musical Director. POLISH YOUNG MEN'S ALLIANCE of America^ Fr. P. Danisch, President. Stephen K. Sass, Vice-President. John M. Sienkiewicz, Commissariiis. Fr. T. Wolowski, Secretary. John S. Zawilinski, Treasurer. and \ LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 011 563 187 1 HoUinger Corp. pH 8.5