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CHAPTER XVII.

THE TWIN NATIONS.

While the allied nations are agreed that freedom and independence be given to all peoples, and while democracy is getting a stronger foothold, Ireland and Poland are approaching the court of justice and fair play.

Ireland's cause is the cause of Poland, and Poland's cause is the cause of Ireland. Their joint cause is the cause of freedom and independence and-democracy. If we claim that Ireland has a right to self-existence and self-development, that this right is in keeping with her national dignity, we assert the same of Poland. We cannot enumerate Poland's trials and triumphs, her ambitions and ideals and hopes, without enumerating those of Ireland. The struggle of Ireland, her sufferings and aspirations are one with those of Poland. Hand in hand, grown weary under the weight of centuries-old sufferings and trials, but alive to their inalienable rights, Ireland and Poland believe in the power of their most sacred

and strongest of all right—the right of living and self-development.

Their joint voice may not remain unheeded now, when democracy, like a huge wave, is rolling over the world. The voice of Ireland and Poland is the voice of two nations, which possess the strongest feeling of their historical right, and present all the essentials of youthful and energetic races, alike able and willing to labor for the betterment of humanity and the advancement of civilization.

"Twin Nations," is a fitting name to give Ireland and Poland. Though not related racially, and territorially far apart, they are more alike for their religious and political life, for their genuine patriotism and their ardent hope of better future, than any other two nations. Their sufferings were the same; their ideals are akin; both yearn to be free and independent. Their national missions were the noblest; their national trials stand in a class all of their own. Both have unjustly been accused of not being able to selfgovern. Both have erroneously been called turbulent people, for the same obvious reason, that

both would at times justly rebel against the foreign rule which would make them slaves. They have remained within the fortress of their national soul, untainted and unconquerable.

Their

From the beginning the two nations entered upon a career peculiar to them alone. histories were not to be the histories of other nations. Their national development was to stand in total independence of that of other nations. Their common national sufferings were to win them the title of martyr nations. Their common histories have time and again been brought out in song and poetry. Historians have not failed to point out their likeness, while statesmen today are viewing their national development with great interest.

It is interesting to note how the peculiar nature of their territories should so tend to shape the political development of the two people as to make them appear one. The Isle of Erin, cut off from the continent and surrounded by sea as if to guard it against foreign invasions, bears out no resemblance to Central-Europed Poland, constantly exposed to the deluging inroads of the

Tartar and the Turk. But yet the relation of their territories to their national missions constitute the fundamental reason for their political

oneness.

God entrusted all nations with a peculiar mission. The Jews were to preserve the primitive tradition; the Greeks, to realize the beautiful; the Romans, to develop the State. But Poland and Ireland were entrusted with the noblest of national missions; for Ireland was to teach the true faith, and Poland, to defend it. It is not hard to bring to light in how far their geographical locations determined their political careers which were formally those of the fulfillment of their respective work. Ireland, the teacher, could not better prepare to discharge her mission than by spending long ages in preparation in the seclusion of her territorial monastery. The Isle of Erin was a happy place for the Irish. They were fortunately free from all that hurtful influence of thought and religion which easily found its way elsewhere, and attained to a relatively high civilization long before Greece and Rome rose to intellectual prominence. Their religion

was free from such pagan abominations as characterized it elsewhere. Hence, the readiness and unflinching fervor with which the Irish embraced the true faith at the advent of their celebrated patron, St. Patrick. They were ripe for the reception of the true faith, more so, than any other people; for long before the gospel had been preached to them, they had developed a foundation, a substratum, for Christianity.

But the influence Ireland's geographical position exerted upon her great mission is much clearer brought out long after she had become Christian. The Irish, once they received their faith, have never departed from it. They lived for themselves; they yielded to no foreign influence, religious or social. The Irish considered that to be the best for them, what they developed among themselves. Hence, they had shown themselves adverse to all influence of thought and religion which in other countries wrought much perversion. Hence, Protestantism, which was easily planted in the Scandinavian, and in fact, all

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