The New York herald., 1871-03-28

/ lTraESiAtBH IOr tue NEW 1OHk HERALD.i
| Now that the preliminaries OF peace are known.
and that their Ratification by the Assembly at Bor-
deaux has been obtained, the protests Of French
provinces winch have been annexed TO- Germany
have, AS it were, only retrospective interest.
Scarcely written, they have passed into the province
| or historical documents. The following protest
| enanates from the municipality OF Metz. it was
| unanimously adoptcda--
The city of New is menaced to he torn away
from France ana ctainlesA by Germany her oNli.
Germany says that Metz ri2hlluliy belongs hes,
and TO Justify her pletensiAs she nyoker httorlcaA
CONSIDERATIONS She assera5 that Metz once lorme a
part of the German empirc.N Yes. doubt, In tns
middle ages, Metz was u member Of the German en-
man emplre or that Is The NAME by which ~ waS
called. Metz has been member or ulIs en-
pire m ti,e same way as other parts Of Frsnce.
n Italy, NJ Germany. The elected chief AZ tins
great political body, upon whom Was conferred this
sile OF King ot the Romans ana Emperor, wassoae-
shines freilchnian sometimes u German and ONE
tsnies SpaDiafd. or even an Englishman- Our own
kmg, Francis L. was once a candidate tor thh' M
preme dignity.
But the Holy empire does no longer exist, ,srd
thefe Is no question OF revly,ng H. Modern Oess
many Is slaDoring under deluson II she thinks -
!, suices FOR her To. submit to an Emperor to ~
suscttate the so-cacd Germanic empire; for thatt
ancient empire was IA congregation OF independeIa
states. the city OF Metz being one oi the number
Let ns explain. AZ 1t Is now the subject ol
formed part and subsequently severed her
CONNECTIONS with the Heiy Roman empire.
Like the greater number OF the principal
cities OF France, Italy aud Germany, Metz nvesaed
hex bishops with royal prerogalves, OF winch tho
most important was the right OF jurisdiction the
coming Of money ana levying the legitimate taxes
The cy had succeeded, aitcr the fourth tury u
the exercise OF these royal prerugaiIyes herseT
which, however. did not IN principle to belong
to her bishops Az To the chiefs OF the empire. thel
kings OF the Romans, or emperor., they exercised
there no real rights; and when they came TO thu,
city they were, before entering made to thaA
they wooid respect her privileges and liberties.
Meta Tree city, which Is French Dy heE
race and origin; Belonging for time %
quently detached herself from 1t to unite with
the Kingdom of France towards winch her
was tins union Droughr about? BY treaties that
were regularly and mutually agreed upon The
century their regal rights to the King 0f France;
and the magistrates OF the city, who for long mS
sion Tnc body Of the empire has ratified this CON
venuon by the Westphaan treaty. Sucn IS the his
belonging to- France @ Seiore being BART of Ghs
Germanic empire she was OF that oil Charemagne.
at an earlier time OF the Kingdom OF Clovis aud still
earlier OF the Roman empire and before all that Oi
independents Gaa. II, In defence or these htstori-
cal considerations. the Germans wish To revive tina
past, why choose among she series OF divers cOndi
tiCns through which the city OF Metz has success
sIveiy passed. the last but one rather than any
Otherg
hut truce 70 these arguments. The past f.
dead and no one has the right to revive IL. Purely
historical considerations are IL false standpoint TOR
treating the present political questions. III our ad.
yersarles could De brought TO appreciate the solid
ground Of those great interests which constitute the
moral and material life OF people 1t would be Im.
possible TO approve or even to understand the viO.
lent annexation OF city, whose language, origin,
commerce. sentiments-in one word, everything
attaches 10 France, while ut the same time every.
thing morally separates from Germany.
One OF the greatest barriers that stands between
the Two nations Is tie diversity OF Languages Tax
ln9 only tne positively pracca side OF the question:
how eau a foreign administration be Implanted
among population when does not understand its
dlom2 For at no time has the German language
been spoken IN Metz. In going back 10 the epoch OF
the middle ages, when the free city OF Metz was by
slender te attached to the German empire, her
language, literature records OF public and private
acts. the names Of her wlters and inhabitants
exclusively French. When the league was con-
Henry H., Metz. with TOul. verdun and Cambrai,
was cited as on, one Of the four imperial cities which
necessary to say that the same conditions have ex.
listed Tor the last three centuries.
AT the last census OF 1866 1t was proved that Ol
47242 inhabitants 1881 belonged TO the French
nationality. There were In Metz only ], 74l Germans.
may further ada that among the reading portion Of
the community In spite OF the vicinity oIGermany.
the study Of the German language mas never met
with sympathy, and that very small number Oi per-
sons speak or even understand that language.
The incorporation OF this province into Germany.
which, by her language and institutions. lS CON-
petey alien to US, would result In the overthrow
OF all our interests. The population OF the oity IL
composed OF magistrates, pubic and ministerial
officers, pensioners OF the state propretOrs ner
chants ana workmen: Annexation would be .
fearful blow to the fortune, affections aud even the
very existence OF these people.
For the magistrates and other functionaries the
reunion with Germany would be doom OF exile.
For the pubic and ministerial officers entailLng the
loss OF their OIiices, could but result In complete
ruin The civil and military pensioners Ot the state,
OF whom there Is a great number In Metz. and VINO
have no other resources Than their pension, would
be forced. In order 10 enjoy II, TO tear themselves
away from the retreat which they have chosen and
To llnger out the last years OF their existence In
places where they are strangers. The merchants
and manufacturers would be seriously injured
III their relations which exclusively with France.
And what would the feelings 0f the fathers whose
sons could be forced 10 bear arms against the land
OF their origin and ailechonst This would cause the
most SadueDlDg ana disastrous perturbaiionS to
u A. N a
cruel blow TO all interests, would at the time
be the most unjust and inIpolitlc measure
Justice does not permit governments To dispose OF
people and to violate their NATIONALITY not only
without their CONSENT but against their formal wish
and solemn protest.
Good policy, which should never be separated from
justice, does not allow OF this Violence against
which the aDh0rrence OF the populations creates or
centuries III lnvlnciDle obstacle.
We auirin that all the Inhabitants OK Metz, without
distinction or falth and political opinion are united
IN one common sentiment-to preserve toe French J
nationality, which nothing can alter or impair No
one, we are sure, can contest the evidence OF THIS
fact, and n doubt shoud be raised, the votes OF
the population freely expressed would unanimously
respond. The annexation oI Metz TO Germany must,
produce an eGiect contrary to the hopes that may be.
entertained by our adversarieS 1t must be an
element Of weakness for Germany For the greater
part OF The Inhabitants II VIII be the signal for mmc
d1ate ein1gratlon Those whom The necessity Of
their position or other considerations bind TO tne soil
Will preserve IN their hearts an inyincple attach
ment TO their lost nationality and Germany Will tn
cur the troubles Which follow violence and its
legitimate cEastseaent.
Here follow the signatures Of ali the members Of
the nunleipality.l
a CANINE MItsMAN.--A milk dealer in Maine ~
the fortunate pcsFssor oil an exceedingly intelligent