The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-10-25
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The Germans, who love their country with
all their heart and soul and strength, must
look with reverent eyes upon the sturdy Al
satians and Lorrainers who, rather than be-
come willing subjects Of Kaiser Wilhelm, de-
sers their familiar homes, and fee even 10
the strange shores Of the new world.
In the manner In which France began ana
carried on the war with Prussia, there was
much,t to condemn and much to pity. Tne
brave soldIery who fought under the TIL
color we're without equipment and were
poorly led. The epauletted minions OF the
Tuilerles were better fitted TO play the carpet
knight than to meet the shock Of battle
But why go over the sickening story OF
blunder upon blunder, Of disaster and de-
feati It Is best to turn to the redeem
ing trait during the war-the valor OF the
raw leYies who were hurried into. the field,
to do and die before the iron cohorts OF Ger
many. It Ia best to look upon the grand
redeemipg feature since the war-the mag
ui1cent patriotism OF the simple peasantry
OF the coded provinces OF Alsace and 'Lor-
raine. The conquerors gave these until the
first OF October to choose whether they would
retain their ancient homes and become Ger
man citizens, or emigrate. As the day ap-
preached there, was 0 great commotion
amcng the inhabitants. All the. depots OF
the railroads and the highways leading to
the French frontier, we're crowded with
people-men, women and children. The
two provinces contain ], 500, 600 people, and
OF these fully a third have chosen to abandon
their homes rather than become German
lied. Nothing like it has been seen In mod
ern times. Most Of the towns are nearly de-
serted. Metz, q city OF co. oOinhabitants, Is
left with less than IL, 600. In some towns not a
man subject to- military duty remains. In
the rural districts, the emigration Is not 80
eItensiye-from the lmpossibility Of obtain
Ing means for subsistence-though many
have gone, taking their all wrapped In a red
handkerchief Many heart-rending scenes
are. reported, and incidents related, to show
the intense devotion Of the people to France
and their d~etestation Of Germany. Aiabor-
er at Mulhouse sick unto death, determined
to be removed. that he might at least die in
France. As 0 o as the cars reached the
French soil he exclaimed With Joy, 81 die In
"FraRce |" and at once expired.
Years ago, a German, who knew his
people well, wrote that the German loved
his country as his grandmother. Let her be
never 80 old and decreplt, there WA always a
pla 20 for her at his freside. And the French
man, he said, loved his country as his mis-
t!ess. Let her be never 80 lovely, he will
adore her for q season, and c%apriclously de-
sert her for q fresher face, or wittier
tongue. Helne must change his spothegm.
The late war has shown that Frenchmen,
the French people, love their country 30
well that they prefer exile and starvation to
service under an allen Aag-that their
patriotism goes beyond the time when
clarions sound and cannon roar; that, In
the numbing tsorrow Of overwhelming de-
feat, they will begin life anew rather than
owe life to those who slew their. brethren
and trailed their proud blazon In the dust.
What people can do more2 How many
have done as much 7.