The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-08-20
ABSACE AND LORRAINE.
The German Provinces of Francc-TheIr Ex-
tent. Chnracter, md History.


the Grand Duchy of Baden by the river
Rhine; its southern boundary is the canton
of Basle in Switzerland while toward the
north it borders on Rhenish Bavaria. 1t has
belonged to the German Empire since SO,
and formed part of the Duchy of Suabia from
$50 to 1868. The French have divided it into
two departments, the ''Bas-Rhin" with Stras-
burg and the "Haut-Rhin" with Colmar as
capitals.
The Lorraine (Lothringen) is situated be-
tween the Champagne" and Alsace, and ex-
tends toward the north to the Grand Duchy
4 of Luxemburg and to the Prussian Rhenish
provinces, ia the south TO the 'Franche-
Comte." II is divided into four departments,
\those of tie Meurthe, the Vosges, the Moselle
and the Meuse.
= The conquests of France during the last
kNwo centuries, and the cooperation aud assist
ance of Germans themselves, succeeded in
alternating Asace from the German Empire
The Austrian possessions (2S5 communities
with a population, at the present time of
sover 227 000) we're ceded to France by the
Westpbalian treaty of peace at the end of the
thirty-yeais war (164S) the free cities in
that part of the German Empire (l59 commu-
mites, with 226, 600 inhabitants) were forced
into submission to French rule by the So
called reunions; while the republic of Stras-
Ivburg, and the bishop with his extensive do
vmains (160 communities, with 262. 900
| ~
kelves under the protection of the
French kings. Through the acquisition of
Lorraine and the transfer of a few German
principalities in the Alsatian province to
France, AZ communities with A. 900 inhabi-
tsnts we're absorbed during the eighteenth
century, while the rest of the country, COM
ktprising several German principalites and the
lRepubic of Muhlhouse (230 communities,
with 239, 900 inhabitants), followed during the
Time Of the French Revolution. Neverthe-
Ness, and although in possession of the
fountry long before the present and even an
terior to the preceding generation, the French
Government has found all its oppressive
measures to secure the introduction and the
6Dredominance of the French language among
4he German population of these departments
d be ineffective and in all its efforts towards
bAt nguishing the German idiom have proved
futile. Previous to the Revolution the ma
4ionality and origin of the people had never
been questioned; nay, the employees and
Bfficers of the Government were compelled
10 make themselves familiar with the Ian
Buage of the country, which was then spoken
in the courts of justice and taught in
4he schools of these departments.
With the outbreak of the revolu-
on of 1889, however, the plan to
Franconize the people was conceived, and the
Beverest measures were Immediately resorted
10 in order to efface all traces of the language
and of the origin and nationality of the in
habitants. The instruction in German.
hitherto allowed and authorized, was aban-
1oned and forbidden, the men of the revolu.
ion looking upon the diversity of language
rs an inh hsritance and an emanation of feu-
1alism. Since the revolution of 1913 and
1uring the Second Empire up to the pre-
sent day, the French Government has added
TO the weight of the oppressive burden
new restrictive and probibitory mea-
Nc of a,f
bnd their streets, of the rivers, hills, and
valleys, are no longer recognized, but are
bither Franconized in most absurd manner,
pr replaced by entirely new French denomi-
bations which sound strange to the ear of the
people, and to the use of which they have not
become accustomed even to this day. Ira
gellers through these parts, in traversing the
Interior of the country, will soon find out to
heir great annoyance that, when asking for
Information as to the direction they have to
axe in order to reach given place, they
will, in nine cases out of ten, not be under
stood by the peasantry; while, even in the
cities, many people entirely ignore the
French names of the streets, although they
may be seen on the walls of every cor
her house and on the street lanterns; on the
piber hand they all know the old
herman names by heart. In cities
Ike Muhlhouse and Strasbourg, the
presence of numerous French officials and of
whole regiments of French soldiers, drafted
n the exclusive French provinces of the
Empire, has no doubt exercised material
influence upon the language of the people,
nasmuch as all traders and retail dealers see
The advantage to be derived from the know
ledge of the French language-the only one
they can make use of in their intercourse
with these classes. But, observing these peo-
pie at home, around the domestic hearth, or
in their social intercourse with those who
spring from the same root, one is astonished
to hear the French idiom replaced by either
the German pdtOiS, the ANendnic idiom, or,
as is the case among the higher and better
,educated classes of citizens, by the pure
German language. This is indeed signif-
cant, and goes far to prove that all the
Il restrictive and prohibitory measures have
lbeen abortiye. The fact that the people,
almost without exception, make use of the
language of their ancestors, as soon as they
find themselves free from external pressure,
elucidates, better than all official records on
the subject, how deeply rooted is their attach
ment to their native language. And not only
in the use of the language, but in the silent
yet SO eloquent observance of the customs,
manner of life, and the cherished habits OF
their foref athers-to which they cling with 6
kind of religious tenacity-do they show
that they are still Germans at heart, Just a.
much perhaps as they were century ago.
Even the commanding dictates of fashion
which are so attentively listened to in almos
every nook and corner fathe civilized world
are received here with distrust. One of the
measures resorted to by the present Empero
of the French in his endeayors to make tn,
nation which he rules unit, consists of th'
immediate transfer of all the young mel
N a.oftad from this mart of the cOuntry eithe