New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-05-06

provinces their option for French citizenship, and then
leave them In quiet possession, owing no allegiance 10
and having Of the burdens OF the Empire IN wmch
they live and which they hate readily responsive OF
course, TO the busy efforts OF French demagogues ana
the Drgues Of any other present or future enemies OF
Germany, surely none hut the widest OF frehchnen
could expect It, Some French journals propose retaa
ton by driving ont of France all German subjects out
that would not be retaliation. In Germany there Is no
Galophoba that would exclude or annoy or do other-
wise than welcome those OF that large CLASS
of Frenchmen whose skill, thrift, and spiennu
qualities of character will yet redeem France
IL they are not overweghed by the worst eie-
mens Of that people But massing OF hostile Aliens
in one or frontier provinces which they threaten 10
make de fdcto as they affirm them to be de je French
agan-that is very different thing, to permit when
were great folly for Bismarck, at least 10 COM
nit. German territory with hostile population OF
French citizens-that would be absurd and dimcuit
enough to manage time OF peace, and In war worse
thing than folly-a perhaps fatal uncoverng OF the
country on its most vulnerable frontier The best that
could be done has been done all may choose under
which flag they will live. All who will be Germans VIII
stay all who will be Frenchmen must go to France
The end is easy to foresee Many glad to be Ger
mans in name and affiliations as they are In ancestry
and in speech Many will be neither glad nor sorry put
are of that type common In frontier reglohs-"i'hou'
very strongly marked national characteristics or senu
ment material interests will decide these tedeclare for
German nationality Many will become Germans Also
for the sake Of their home and local associations quietly
bearing their grief sundering national ties and re
lions and glad only that they may live and die amid old
scenes and that their children will grow up with no
such hitter choice to make. Many. however, will, for
love of France give up their homes, and follow the tn
color and begin life in their old country 10 DC
sure bu amid new scenes and strangers. For such Is
the sad paradox-they will emigrate 10 their native land
they leave their home to find their flag. Happily MS
tory furnishes few examples Of 1t on so extensNea
scale Only war itself bitter than such results OF
war; II is hopeful indication to the present feeling
and future conduct of the people OF these provinces that
aritations there are inspired not by natives
but by demagogues from France proper Inc
much talked of Lyme dAtSdoe anu lew as, sii II r
ORGANIZATIONS OF course have genuine Asaan ana lNr
rape members, but their promoters ana managers are
Frenchmen of whom their compatrlots may wen De
ashamed, and for whom even me tTance oI 'S c
d sdce was recently arrested and Will agltate no more
save IN the "pentup Utica OF fortress walls Irep0rt
is true the French Government should Ieloice az ms
confinement Meantime the German adinhlslrat,Ion "
fine provinces is wise, firm. kind, honest anu atnOugh
there is that left in French character ana institutions
Tor which the world afford TO have France QCl
fonaized in the least only restored to Its better SELL II
pity that the whole country could not he so governed
for some years to come Schools of every grade ana
kind are endowed and crowded; polytechnic institutes
and courses of lectures are opened; tne university I"
bids fair TO repeat the history of that OF Ber
lin in its rapd prominent position among even
German universities and has opened It's sessions WIN
large and brilliant faculty. with an uneXpeeteu l1 3
of students aud splendid lbrary-thanks to the Id
erality OF German universities and publishers. Inc
latent or at least undeveopcd. higher qualities OF u
population that Edgar Qunet recognizes as sun
and Germany may well rejoice the recovery of
these, her old time provinces. j. H.