The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1873-02-21
ALSACE AND LORRAINE.
THE SUFFERINGS OF Il CONQUERED
COUNTRY

THE SUFFERINGS OF Il CONQUERED
COUNTRY.
Scenes of the Emigration.
In the Revue des Deux Mondes for Decem-
bsF is an exceedingly interesting, though sad,
narrative of the eXpatrIation of the people of
Alsace and Lorraine in October. Though not
new ss to the general statement, it contains
details aud incidents sill fresh, and not hith-
erto go fully related. The whole article Is too
long tor our columns, but Its spirit ls preserved
and its essential facts given In the condensed
extracts which follow:
Since Prussia has now possessed Alsace and
| part or Lorraine for nearly two years. and
the time has arrived when she ls preparing
the official census of her new subjects, 1t will
not be useless TO ask what her Victory has
brought her, and what price che has paid.
The stones oil Melz and Strasbourg are hers; the
forts, the ramparts, The arsenals, the Immense
barracks. The magnificent military establish
ments are In her hands; but has she gained
the population 10 her cause Do the souls Of
| the people belong 10 her? Facts alone can
answer this question; the simple recital Of
| what is passing In the countries annexed WILL
suffice to enlghteu Europe.
In the ancient departments of the Upper
Rhine, The Lower Rhine and the Moselle, the
Mearlhe and the Vosges, suppressed or null
| lated by the conquest, the date (henceiorWard
historically of the lst October. 1872, WILL be
| forever remembered. 1t was the last delay
allowed to the Inhabitants in choosing be-
tween the French and Prussan nationality.
| The government OF Berlin had officially an.
nounced that after this day all the French,
born or domiciled in Alsace or Lorraine, who
should not have elected for France, shoud be
considered as German subjects. According
to the Instructions sent to the directors OF
each circle" the choice must be followed by
| a verltable change Of domicile.
Sixteen hundred thousand human beings
were then given the alternative OF quitting
their interests, their houses, their fields, their
affairs, the graves OF their relations, the
places they had Inhabited from Infancy, and
where they hoped 10 die; or 10 loose their
title of Frenchmen, to renonnce their country
aud their fllg. Who can tell us what tears the
necessity of choosing between such great sac
rlHces has cost an inoffensive population
worthy to be Tree and happy!
% the eve Of the lst October II was neceS-
sary to decide whether to fly or stay. Many
had not waited I'LL this last moment TO fx
themselves ia France, but he majority OIL
those who had given 10 their Eames as her
adherenls had not FASTENED thither. their du-
Ties, their affairs and necessities had detained
them In the place OF their residence.
What was TO be understood by the phrase
| ssverltable domicile," which every one was TO
select in France, to make mis- cnoice avalla'
BILE Night 1t not suffice to hire chamber
on French territory, and then return after
some time At first The Prusslan authorities
gave evasive answers, allowing the people to
suppose that great facilities would be granted
them. 1t was not Till the last hours that 1t
was announced that all who remained
after the morning of the hrst OF Octo.
ber. even when they had given IN q
public declaration of their choice OF France,
should lose the benefit OF this declara-
ton and be declared German subjects.
This news, which had been preceded by
more favorable rumors, produced verl-
table panic 10 all ranks of society. The con-
taglon OF flight became general: many who
had not as yet decided did 30 at once, and de-
parted Without regulating their affairs, with
out knowing whittier they were going or
what would be their means of living, or their
asylum on the morrow. The came sentiment
animated all, rich and poor; Inhabitants oil VII
las leIJ Jne'r elegant maneions, country people
their fields Without culture, workmen re.
TO run into certain poverty-nll moved oy tne
Irresistible desre 70 escape foreign dominion.
What response to the Prusslan pretence oil
restoring TO the great Germanic family lhelr
long-parled brethren OF Alsace and Lorraine
Singular brothers, who turned their backs on
these brett rem ana sought to know nothing OIL
Germany but the road TO France
All the trains which led to the Fre1ch IRON
tier were crowded to overflow with emt-
grants-in many places the numoer was 30
great that supplementary trains were organ
ized: on the 30th of September thousands oil
Young men crowded the roads, flying AZ the
last hour from the Prussian conscription.
Sad scenes took place at the railroad stations;
heads of families, merchants, small shop-.
keepers left their houses, their interests. all
their DOS .essions to the cafe OF their wives,
and even to the young girls oil their families.
Sons separated tiemaelVes from aged parents,
without knowing If They should ever see each
other apain-women wept, aud The firm
closed lips and set features OF the men told
what was passing in their sonls. AS always hap
pens in great public misfortune, strangers
ccnversed together and mingled their sorrows.
A etill more lampnlabie spectacle was that OF
the poor household goods OF The peasants piled
on carts which covered the road-the father
on loot leading The team with resolnte step,
the mother mounted on the rlckety scafold-
ing oil her paltry furniture, looking with sad
air at the vast spaces, and the unknown hori-
ZoD, Many Lrundled on wheelberroWs their
small possessions. The history Of this suffer
ing population deserves 10 be kept In memo
~, for the love OF the peasant for the soil he
cuitvates Is 80 great, tnat 10 losing this he
loses all he cares for, and these laborlous peo-
Pile, sharp In their bargains, eager for gain,
Injured 10 fatigue, and possessed with the
demon OF proprletorship, sacrifice the passion
of their whole lives to the pure sentiment OF
patriotism.
widow with her two children was asked
on the 29th of September where she proposed
to fix her residence. She replied simply: IL
do not know. I have neither resources, Eor
asylum, nor employment; but 60; my sons
shall not be Germans" These last words eX
press the sentiments OF all. This frontier pop
ulatlon, who have longest known Germany.
are The very ones who feel that TO belong to
her would be their greatest misfortune.
''Whither are you going?" people were ASK
ed, whose wretchpd possessions showed their
poverty. ITO France" was The answer.
they went right onward Till they reached the
lrunIer and then only asked themselves
where should be their shelter and how they
should gain their bread. The young men fed
that they might not serve 10 the Prusslan
army; the old men that they might not die
Prussiaus. kven ociogenarlans Quilted their
asylums to give in their adhesion 10 France.
II is Impossible 10 esllmnle the number oil
emiyrants. The German censas report (when
published) must be taken With some nl)w-
aimee, as they may mingle the ancient French
Inhabitants In the German newcomers. II Ia
said that l64, 900 persons gave In their choice
for France In the annexed provinces, without
counting 254. 900 'opIioEs" made 10 France IT,
self; but this number does not cover the whole
total. The 'opllons" Of the exempt minors
I,-tx@ I,t. ,nf nnI fry6