Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-07-25
THE POLICY OFFICIAL GOVERN.
EEENE.

merely iCT the tu1 OF the lhiDg.
-.------..-s-...S-.s.--
THE POLICY or LOCAL GOVERN.
MENT.
Bismarck is erdeavoIing TO reconcile
the people of Alsace 70 German rule by
showing that every man, woman, and
cdild In Alsace had 10 pay, last year,
thirty eight francs 10 the French groyern-
ment, sad that IN the present year twice
that sum would not have c0verId the
rate of taxation if AlEaoe had remained
with France, Now, even if Alsace had
t. pay the came taxes SIS the rest Of the
G .rman States, fifteen francs would be
the sum imposed On each inhabitant OF
the province. Bismarck hopes 70 hold the
people by low taxes. Gen. Grauty and
his henchmen -'lhe ihieving carpet bag
gers" az Blr. Greeley calls then-eXplct
10 accomplish The same result by high
5gxaticn. i is evident that cur Radical
Iulcra may learn valuable lesson from
Bismarck IN the subjeo. OF local govern
mgnt. A speech he delivered in the Ger
man Parliament (Rsichstag) 3 few weeks
ago on the proper policy 10 be pursued
toward the subjugaied provinces of Al
SAGE and Lorraine, might be studied prof
tally by Graut ard his advisers and keep
ers. not only for its logic and eloquerce,
buj fer It's bIead.h ard iberaliUy. Re
fleming 10 .tLe form and msnRer Of local
government, which he considered it ad-
yizah.e 10 give to the newly acquired dis
u.c.s, he said:
II should never have Imagined that /
or the Federal Council had the right to
-a.---44..-.-a-.l=l.-4a s-Alsaca without COL
su.fiDg the AlslIAns, WHO have the dIs,
r5rbt to be heard, and should advise yOu
l.tIo CutCr.4iu the idea CT yndeavoring
ta plGv Tie part OF guardians 20 the Aka
rla1= IL local matters, or 10 attempt 20
substitute The ReiChs;ag for az Alsatiap
IanGtar. In that case the people of Al
s &C wcul-. IL my opinion, be 53diy used.
AL 0tn-r German races manage Their own
business. SO far as ir Goes not fal. under
tls competence Ct the empire. WY,
then, should the A,s3'ians have jh5i.
uzivale .ff.iFs settled by an Assembly
90 winch hey would only send sixteen
out Of four bULJEod representatives?
Why should they allow The people Of
EumIaLi4, Wuctcmbcrg, SaX0ny, Han
over, ETC, TO v0ieOn thelrlC interests: v
Thus Bismarck, having progressed IN
knowledge through experience, has the
r.izdom to know tina, lie acquisition Of
Aisacc was hardly worth It's cost if il
should Conc IN as g permanently discon-
tented and unhappy State, merged INTO
Sgkber nationality. Bismarck proposes
53-1izc safe savereigu.y il al mu-
liCi1al matters, 10 leave Al5ace 90 govern
i.1elf, subject only 20 wha! VIC would c-lI
f.legal authority, rising supreme over all
local divisions, inluciDg and compelling
Germans to know each other az every
where tbe common children of the
Fathuland, So we here III America de
mand that American citizenship shall I've
o7or all. lie says:
81 feel the necessity Of ssceTtainiDg
the disposition o The Asatians when this
set goes into cpcraJ--; and, IS jar as
feel myself called upon 20 advise his
5laiesy, the EupeECr, the first deere
viii b. 90 carry cut TIE municipal cleo
ions, auU lla sac04d 80 Glegt general
councils Thu We woulI have Assem-
bliss Itch vuUs give Us more iIfogma-
ton IClarCt.Gg the zee 7ssitles Of the Stu
ali9n thai or Cfiicials could. ! nave not
The l.a hes. alton about submitting to
Cl-CECl 1e choice Of mUniGiTal aUthCri-
iis7. Il IS nat Il be gC2idsd tint an off,
CGl scao canes u stranger Ia lie country
oec1si2a GiSSat iJactioB grhjcb Is by ma
mans consistent NTH tie attentions Of tic
.y.gaUmc7t There 10ould be mutual de-
UrEri tons and alsDlc51Hs. much J6SS
gar he D.EuiciDoy aut5HitjCs, alien
gCstst ~ tie pGTiatCs, t.gH orr am off
c.Gs !. ! should be deceived IN this hope
ID is 81 advantage 81 an energetic govern
iue4. that it can promptly rcraiT tritting
arI0rs. How TaT we arc able to g. III
leaving the country 10 govern itself, ! all
not here decide. Under eyay ciTCUu-
sH-|4lL Ia r.' ~ 90 as - 4. 'lAs.e--l-
With the security Of the CoaaiTy.
It would seem from the above that Biz
na1cll must hsYa been a c!ore observer
Of he pIacticA working Of IecllsIuc-
aoa in the United States. II "a made
clear IS light tia. The chief Of German
statesmen, md probably the chief o;
modern sstcamen, thinks that Aisace and
Lorraine are hardly worth having unless
they can become happy AID c0nteItod
members Of TIE German family. lie
adds:
the Officials must enjoy all the priv
leges OF German Jifioials, and we must
give them tie same guarantees tx the
Fcuaa.eucy Of their positions IS with Us.
3 would, ,he.Ciore, most earnestly urge
zGu TO 2iye up these fears Of olden time,
II which ] can :rUly say, q know nc.
what they mean. "
How different all This from lie proce-
durs OF lhe dominant faction in thi,
country. Il is tie very reverse. Ii the
policy Of We United States government
had been to hfitate, TO keep snimosities
alive, 10 ALLEVIATE the Southern people
permanently, il cnulj bSYe adopted NJ
better means 10 that end than have heen
gnployel. As 10 The rights of municipal
ggyarameuL not only have the Southern
States been fubJrdinatcd to military
au.h,riy. but the Northern StSies are
wenaced by the shadow Of Capitalization
projected by The Ku KiUx law. The only
IN 3.hod OF securing happy and perma-
neut accord between the government and
.no States is "a fun recognition OF thu
autonomy of the la.tr-thl riebtto self,
government.