The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-10-28

Il rich IN many scenes OF similar beauty. IL IS,
indeed, prize worth battling Tor.
So far rs their history IL concerned the principal
point TO be borne In mind IL that these same pro-
vInces Of Alsace, Lorraine and Franchc Comte are
lcss an Integral part of France than of terri
torial appendages, added to her domains by
conquest ami by treachery at various pc
RODS, but chieny during the reign Of the
most brilliant OF French monarchs Louis
Quartoze. They arc peoped ~ men Of Teutonc
blood and in many respects still partially Ger
man. All over Algacc and In part OF Lorraine the
peasanry even now speak the language OF Goethe
and OF Kant with greater or less degree OF purity
though Of course, the tongue used by the higher
classes Of society and In the administration OF JUS
tce IA that OF Vol,alre ana Racine. The habits OF
the people, 100, are remarked by travellers TO be
strongly mpregnated with German stolIdity; the
village rites and social merrymakings display many
traits peculiar to the Fatherland; and even the wines
grown in this pleasant land have the same agreeable
acid that gives the juice OF the Rhine lis character
istic flavor.
But though merely graft upon the French nation
there can be doubt that The people, IN despite OF
the blind instinct or race, are Loyalty and devotedly
attached TO the nag under which they now ranged
They are absolutely dead TO the extrayagant cnthu-
siasm for German unity which seems to prevail
among all the other branches OF the Teutonc stock
One need not seek far for the OF their attach
ment 10 the present French government They are
Galcized, because they have been loaded with bene-
fits by the empire, because the existing regime has
raised these provinces into state OF prosperity and
webelng such as at one time they never dreamed OF
realizing IL notorious that the policy OF Napoleon
has been to develop the country towns as well as TO
beautfy the capital in striking contrast TO the short
sighted system Of the monarchy aud Of all the pre-
cedlng governments, until the proclamation OF the
republic OF lS48 which was Just as clearly and
markedly TO concentrate all the industrial
activity, all the accumulated wealth and all
the intellectual force OF The nation al Paris
and this new and wise policy has nowhere
been SO consistently and earnestly carried out
as in the departments of the Mosele valley and the
plain OF A.sace. The population OF esc provinces
during the past score OF years has IL Is SAID almost
been doubled, while their wealth has grown In 4
much greater degree aud the facilities or producing
wealth been added to tenfold No wonder then
that these simple onntrymen-GermaDic though
they be, wholly IN blood and 10 great extent IN
specch-are loyal with no hafhearted loyalty 10 the
throne or the modern Cesar.
The history OF both Asace and Lorraine Is sngu-
larry interesting. Alsace, as early as the time Of tho
great julius was field OF battle FOR Cets and Ger
mans. Caesar himself tells the story OF how the ALE
mannl and some other allied tribes crossed from the
aim forests OF Germany over the Rhirc into
this fertile and beautiful land aud drove out
the CAMS, who had hitherto peopled it.
1263, the line OF ts nered tary dukes becoming ex.
tnct, IL was parcelled out among several members
Of the German empire. by the peace OF Munster. In
l64S. part 81 Alsaee belonging 10 Austria together
with ten free cities OF the empire. were ceded TO
France, whl!e the remainder was stIl ruled by Ger.
man princes owing lcaty 10 the House OF Hans.
burg. The peace OF RySWick IN 1897, however, gave
up To France IN addition the city OF Srasbourg and
all the territory that hld heen occupied by the
French troops on the left bank OF the Rhine. But
some lew square miles OF territory yet remained
hef OF the empire until the begin.
ming OF the Revolution, when the National
Assembly, In characteristic proclamation,
declared them 10 be conquest Indicated
by nature herself, since no foreign Power
could, under any consideration, be permitted
10 retain territory in France. Compensation
was ohered 10 the German landholdeTs thus dts
possessed, but few of them degned 10 accept H. and
this was one Of the chief OF the that broke
out shortly afterwards between France and Ger
many IL should be mentioned that the mass OF the
people cheeriully accepted this change o govern.
ment. Asace had long been celebrated for the tree
dom OF its religious sentiments, and beoee the con
quests OF Louis Quaorze most OF its Inhabitants mad
embraced the principles OF Luther and Neiancthon
When u came under the authority OF the republic 10
soon distinguished itself by The uneomptomsing
the National Assembly several Of us most hery and
earnest demagogues.
The earliest ruler or Lorraine OF whom we have
any record was Lothair, the grandson vi Charlie
imagine, ana ne was succeeded by q number OF
princes who acknowledged fealty 20 the German
empire. It's position however, marked IL the
battle heid oil Germany and France AMI for centu-
res " was tne scene OF constant connict. ON the
ueath vi Ions Ai, The last German emperor Or the
blood OF Charlcrnagne Lorraine was annexed TO
france and The wei known RegDcr the hero OF
tue saiirt "Relneke Fucas,n was appointed az ts
Duke. I'D subsequent contests half of Lorraine
again torn away by Germany and gwen 10 dukes
,ec.iyiDr tbeir nomination from the Kaiser. Tb,s