The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1870-10-16


Germans ii AmArioa-
Il The Teutonic siemsat III this Oountr,
does nsttAppsar to be really republican ii
its tendencies, though, In many instances
profoundly radical. The Germans Of o6
country, like other foreigners, have gener
ally forsworn their kings and princes, ans
vowed true allegiance to<the Republic o
the United States and its institutions. Ye
in the European war now raging we FIND
them taking an interest az Intense and out.
spoken as though their osths, above men
toned, were mere jests. We do not pre-
tend to blame them for sympathising will
their friends and brethren left behind, O,
even for taking especial interest in the
fortunes of a country which was once their
own, but when/it comes to holding public
meetings and sending instructions to Bis
marck and King William to insist on the
annexation of Alsace and Lorraine, we
think their Americanism looks very du-
bious,
live, as an American, had formally ma
t1ralized in Brazil and. given the Emperor
10 understand that we were his most loyal
subject, we should feel delicacy in send
ing to our former countrymen of the United
States such urgent appeals upon questions
of their own policy as could come properly
only from absent citizens. What right has
foreigner to take and express such a sim
gular interest in the affairs of another ma
ton and are not German Americans as
much foreigners in Germany as any other
Americans Does King William regard
the vehement enthusiasm of American Ger
mans as the sentimental interest of foreign
admirers, or does it not rather impress him
as the effusion of a loyalty that was merely
disguised for appearance sakef
As dubious as is the Americanism of
such ardent sympathisers, what can we
say of their republication in the nature of
the advice which they sendi They pass
resolutions, and forward them to the Prus-
sian despot, urging him by everything
sacred not to cease warning against France
until Alsace and Lorraine shall have been |
severed from that country and |
annexed to Germany. Here is ardent re-
publicanism for you. The people of these
two provinces are to be shifted about from
one allegiance to another without any re-
gard to their own preferences or politics.
France is now a republic, and these people
are to be changed, not only from Frenchmen
to Germans, but also from republicans into
monarchists. This manner of disposing of
people without consulting them may suit
very we'll with the Royal notions of two
centuries ago, but has very little affinity
with the advanced doctrines of Democracy
Or Republicanism.
Republics in their purity know nothing
IF conquest. Their doctrine is that govern
nent is based on the consent of the gov
srned, not on the might of conquering
srms. A republic expects to make States,
lot provinces, of all its territory, and to
% strengthened by the enforced patriotism I
IT their population. If the new territory
8 to bring only an unwilling and hostile !
clement into it's bosom, then it will be
ource of weakness in a government based I
N the popular will, and is not wanted. t
This is the true theory of the republic, al t
hough many contend that the United t
tates departed from it in the policy of en-
Drcing the participation of the Southern /
tates in Union which they abhorred. r
his may or may not be, but it is rot It
arallel case with the one of which we t
rite. In the case of the Southern States, 8
hey were already in the Union; if they il
ad not been, a war to conquer and annex fl
,em might have been considered in a very o
iferent light. 1t might have been recog- n
lied by all as thoroughly unrepublican. s.
he case of Alsace and Lorraine corresponds
18th this Bupposition, and not with the #
sality as it was. v
How CAD our German friends reconcile :,
'e proposed disposition Of these countries
18th their own asserted Republicanism G
here is the consent of those who are to c
} governed, or in what respect do they :. q
fer from the focks of sheep which will A
} transferred along with them without in
ling in any wise consultedf ca
We have constantly oontended that Radi- q,
lism is the most proscriptive form of 81
'spotism, and this proposed policy may th
mpoSt very well with it, but ought not ~ =.
call itself Republicanism! bis
THE CHURCH IN Characterization of &C
Missionary.-A young French missionary, pr
. Lebrun (arrived in China six or seven ia
AIRS ago), visiting some Christian sta tn
ms with small party of servants and ha