Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1872-12-04

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on ythe South, under Prince Of the
House of Savoy; Germany on her
frontier and Italy Savoy kingdom
under German protection, France will
bo isolated from political as well as
commercial influence in Europe. Mi
We recognize the supreme wisdom
Of the statesmanship which has at
tained these results. And yet it is
not without pain that we read this
story of the annexation of Alsace and
Lorraine, II is not too much to say
that the civilized world looks on in
grief and amazement at the scenes
now taking place in that unhappy
land. The rigid, unrelenting course
of Prussia was TO be expected. Prus-
sia is even more severe 10 her own
people than TO the Alsatians. But no
one cxpected-and certainly from
people as feeble and trifiing as the
French are said TO bc-such an extra
ordinary manifestation of patriotism.
Fields abandoned places of business
closed workshops idle; families turn
ing their household goods into money
and swarming over the frontier ia
theirs of families leaving homes that
they and their ancestors have occupied
for centuries resisting temptations,
Establishments, kindness, offers of aid
and security-heeing from the sway
of mighty and triumphant Germany
TO cast their lot with dishonored and
beaten France. This is not the first
exodus history records Men have
left their homes for the sake of liberty
of conscience, and crossed the angry,
pitiless, mid-Winter seas for freedom
to worship God in their own way.
Men have been driven from their homes
by persecution, or to avoid threatened
persecution. Men have gone forth in
q spirit of adventure, or, as they come
to America, to find easier means of
livelihood. But here are men flying
from country which is strong to
country which is weak from comfort
and kindness and protection under
ono ,,,ln, 10 axtlo a ,,t 80.
der another giving up homo and busi-
ness and prosperity for the insecurity
of emigration. Within the last three
months two hundred thousand persons
have left Alsacc, and il is not too much
TO say that but few of them succeeded
in leaving without making sacrifices
that may embittef and harden their
--.---- ''.-y s".0.S" ss,v. 4soi No
500 that Tho Germans have givon them
any motive for leaving, beyond the
fact they are conqucrors of the terri
tory. 1t is not that they have found
the Germans tyrants, but that their
heart and home are with France
1t is impossible not TO be moved by
the spectacle of this patriotic devotion
to France And there must he some
thing in French rule, that it can take
a province that two hundred years
ago was German and in many parts
of which even now German is only
spoken, and make IL as French as
Normandy or Champagne. No one
who loves his country can hesitate, to
honor this love of country, and we are
not surprised to learn that ii has ere
ated profound emotion throughout
Germany. Prince Bismarck has press
cd on TO the achievement Of high ends
the econsummate master OF the policy
Of "blood and iron" We readily con
cedc that the political and CONNER
cial result attained by this annexation
are worthy of bis gcnius and toll,
worthy OF the extraordinay ehorts
and sacrifices of Germany But we
cannot overlook the shock which has
been given TO the tradition, teachings
and ideas of tho age--the age of uni
versal suffrage, emancipation and ma
tionalities- sand it may be that Prince
Bismarck has PAID too great n price
for what he has gained May not
these provinces be weakness rather
than a strength, an unhealthy, ulcer
our member, draining life from the
body OF the Empire and giving no re
turn Aud is ii not possible that
Prince Bismarck, or moro likely his
successor, may find that what he
foudly regards as the growing stone
of his mighty Empire may, in the
hour of German ev,remi,y, prvvv
burden too grevous TO be borne IN
, Y Herald. 10. e.ua ~