The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-11-01


stronger than ever; while If Strasburg 10 ever 70
be taken 1t must be by species OF balloon ar
way. The railways are in superb condition, with
an unusual quantity OF rolling stock The Prussian
Is exhausting art In making himself strong ana
building forts with French money.
PRUssIAN VIEW OF ANNEXATION
The Prassians have very little TO say about Asace
not given to waste words In idle conversation.
1--WE took Alsace," said an officer, "because we
wanted It; We took Lorraine. because we meant
nad II been necessary. have not studied the in
ternational law on the subject, nor do we have
world says Fought the French we whipped
them, and we did what the French would have
don;t ts TOOK every advantage Why Germany
build up nation, to make q Germany that will not
be ruled by statesmen In Paris and London. SO
German prince against another, like chessmen,
and keep the duchies and Kingdoms in constant
~ r Was for whoever
bilious Gar; and In time we would have become
IKE the scandinavian countries or Turkey and run
side and Russia on the other, ever making mis-
chiet iomenting trouble, came In to rob when
Is them n., N1w By tass
Alsace and Lorraine. II any one wants o reason
give them that. There is no other. Why talk meta
were strong enough to take Alsaoe. we are strong
enough 70 keep 1t, and before these poor French
they 5e we are out
1t would not take many more speeches of Gambetta,
many more insults to our Ambassador, to
Rheims. or course, Prussia wants peace.
we have all we wanted, more than we
am one OF several hundred thousand Prussians
whose business is war, and II war must come, as
they al say It win, we cannot be too earnest and
too well prepared. AS to the people here we mean
to treat them like brothers. They will make better
Germans because OF their having been so good
yexation But If they V viii f leave their farms and
homes there are Germans enough up In poor ster-
fertile Of M ss
to America they will come down to the Rhine
we have Germans enough to ill up. this
Frenchmen are well sifted out and all In
Paris begging ct the rs cafes the Germans VIII
have remained but It NAV be best as It ~ We caa
hold the country better with Pomeranans living
on these fields than 1t would have been possible
find Alsace the Richest happiest and most con-
tented province Of the Fatherland. Prussia means
to have It SO, and Prussia generally succeeds in
HIGH POLITICAL 00NsIDERATIoNs-THE DIRECT
ROUTE TO INDIA.
1t would be unjust to suppose that this Is mere
brutal wrestling Of territory from France by Prince
Bismarck: Nor would you understand this move
a mnt at al without sng o those high
the Prussian statesman and babe him bid defiance
to the public sentiment Of Europe and the
find that the route to the Indies Is now the con-
tending question In commercial sense. That
mel at Mont Gents and the Isthmus Of Suez Canal
France had her hand upon that route, was
master of great international highway, while Ger
possession OF Alsace, Bismarck has his lines direct
from Landen to Bale. He has the Rhine and its
known as the Franco Belgian Railway war. Napo.
leon desired to exercise certain rights over the
railways In Belgium and Luxembourg. The clamor
arose that this was his first step In an intrigue for
the occupation Of Belgium. The idea that Napoleon
was compelled to abandon under Prussian and
English pressure Bismarck is about to realize
When the tunnel through the Alps, at st. Gothard,
is completed he will have through route from the
North sea to the Adratic, in nopace going through
the policy Of Bismarck foresaw and announced this
as his purpose. Those who will go back to the
diplomatic correspondence will see that Bismarck
was then in conflict with France-alm0st to the
point OF war; they Will understand his persistence
and especially understand the scOrn with which he
viewed the Benedict scheme to divide the Low
Countries between France and Prussia, and his
from Holland. The necessary steps in that policy,
after the victory at Sedan, were to take Asace and
enough Of Lorraine to protect It,. With the ST.
GOthard tunnel complete Germany has the whole
trade OF the Rhine, and she has through highway
from the North Sea to the Adriatic, highway to
India.
A BLOW AT FRENCH COMMERCIAL SUPREMACY.
This first high political consideration could only
be obtained with Alsace. You Will understand It's
Germany obtained one Of the finest railway sys
TENS in Europe. Not less than seven passenger
trains run daily between Bale and strasbnrg, three
ern Germany and Austria with Ostend and Ant
werp without touching French territory. Some
trated the Importance of this In letter to the
HERALD He mentioned, on the authority OF no
less man than NJ. Theirs himself that cotton and
petroleum, the two great American staples,
shipped from the Belgian seabOard to any point in
Switzerland or Bavaria, were carried at rates
varying from 81 to s12 per ton, while the rates
between the French seaboard and the same points
were from SIS to $40 per ton. AS France in her
financial extremties must raise money from every
source, and is compelled to create u tonnage tax
or transit dues, Germany Is IN the position OF
successful competitor, and already has struck her
addition to this there were two branches
Of INDUSTRY almost Asats
large revenues-the making OF beer and the manu-.
facture OF cotton goods. The cotton industry of
ern district Of the province there were 100000 of
spindles in the cotton mills, while the whole Ger
man Empire barely showed 900 CO., SO that sixty
the German Empire. Paris obtained her beer from
Alsace: You may imagine how large that industry
must be, and how much France must lose in
wealth. In tax yielding industries and in CONNER
cial power by the transfer to Germany. Here is
Lorraine from France, and It is cruelty that is
not apparent. France loses something more than
pride; Germany gains great deal more than terri
tory. SO you see why 1t is that France should
culver with anguish at the loss Of an important life
giving member, and why Germany should regard
the two provinces as having value faf above mill
tary or territorial considerations
WILL THE ANNEXATION BE WEAKNESS OR A
STRENGTH
Germany therefore, obtains this railway system.
France was allowed to deduct the value of the
railways and rolling stock from the indemnity and
to repay the owners. Anyhow Germany took the
road and 1t now belongs to the German Empire.
Having to pay no dividend the king can run II at
any rate he pleases, and always carry freight
cheaper than France. This is severe blow to the
commerce Of France. Then come the COM
mercial and financial relations between the
masters Of the cotton and beer and other
industries and Paris. In other times
Paris banker withdrawS his capital. Where is the
Alsatian trader and manufacturer to look for
credit He is severed from Paris, which Is rich,
and must look to Frankfort, which will not lend
money on these securities, Its dealings being OF
different character, or to Berlin, which Is poor and
cannot. His French capital and his financial con-
nections with Paris are withdrawn, and he finds
himself among foreigners compelled to deal
his wants or prepared to aid him nay more to ask