The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-09-29
Greniug telegraph
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 80, 1870.
ALSACE AND LORRAINE.


IHE chance that Germany will retain posses
sion of the old German provinces of Alsace
and Lorraine becomes almost a certainty
since the capture of Toul, the surrender of
Strasburg, and the prolonged distractions of
France. Already it is said that arrangements
are being made to treat them as German
federal provinces, and to provide for their
representation in the German Parliament,
and the work of annexation is progressing
as rapidly and methodically as
if Americans had charge of it,
and Indian reservations or a slice of Mexico,
instead of French soil, constituted the terri
tory under treatment. While the French
Government avows its determination not to
surrender one foot of land or one stone of
fortresses, it is powerless to resist the invad-
ing armies, and it's best hope is to protract
the defense of the best fortified capital in the
world. Its hold upon public confidence is
neither strong enough to conclude binding
peace nor to provide means to wage effec
tive war, and the Germans are appa-
tentEy adopting the policy of taking what
they think most useful to their future inter-
ests and protection, with the intention of
holding it whether a verbal treaty is or is not
negotiated. If they are not to be reimbursed
for their war expenditures by appropriations
from the French treasury, they will repay
themselves by territorial acquisitions, and if
no authorities spring up who are willing and
competent to make an amicable settlement they
will settle the dispute according to their own
liking, somewhat after the fashion we adopted
in the war against the Rebellion.
The danger attending this programme
arises from the possibility. of a reaction, or
such an accumulation of military strength
aswill enable France to return blow for blow
and insult for insult with superadded inte-
rest. This the Germans seem to anticipate
as O matter of course, whether they make
verbal treaty or not; and it is against this
reaction that they wish to secure now, in
the hour of their triumph, the best possible
safeguards. Whether it will come this year,
next year, or ten years hence, and whether
it will be comparatively weak, very power
full, or irresistible, are unsolved problems OF
the future; but that it will come sooner or
Later Germany fully expects, and her rulers
are apparently determined to hold Alsace
and Lorraine as barriers against the con-
templated outbursts of French fury.
Hopeless and desperate as the prospects of
France now appear, she has still left great
wealth and millions of men, and if she could
be reinspired by resolution as terrible as
that which was born of the disorders and
despair of her first revolution, she would
speedily become formidable foe. For this and
all other eventualities, the practical annexa-
tion of Alsace and Lorraine is the present
German prescription. Paris, too, is threat
ened as part of the same policy of either ex-
totting peace or obtaining tangible secu-
rity against fu ure attacks.
But we scarcely believe that the Germans
desire or intend to seriously injure that mag
nifcent city. Their leaders seem reluctant
to lombard or to assault it, and their hopes
Of gaining possession of it seem to be based
on the expectation that it will surrender, on
account of internal connections or lack of
food and supplies. Meanwhile the investment
keeps vast French force locked up as closely
as Bazaiae is confined in Metz, while the in
yaders are free to march where they please.