The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-02-13

officials, military or civil, no buildings
decked with flags, no Examinations at
night. If he had been here on Friday
night. he would have seen the Cathedral
and its spire beautifully illuminated.
and this he might very possibly have set
down TO the ruthless barbarity of the
Germans, who, not content with, cele-
bratins the day, had begun thirty-six
hours in advance But the truth of the
matter IS that a Congress of Foresters is
being held here, and that the illumina-
ton was part of the programme. But
though the Germans have shown good
taste in this respect, they have failed to
win the good will of the inhabitants at
large, and the French and German ele-
ments of the population keep. as much
apart as they did twelve years ago.
They have their separate cafes and con
cert gardens, only those French who
are virtually compelled BY virtue of
their official position holding any social
intercourse with the German authori-
ties.
One of the grounds Of complaint
against them is that, whereas in 1870
the town of Strasburg had a surplus of
about seventy five thousand pounds,
there is now debt Of nearly four mill
ions sterling, and that all this money
has been spent lavishly on military and
other enterprises which ought to have
been paid for out of imperial rather
than local funds. The rate of taxation
is, they say, nearly quadruple what it
was twelve years ago, and all the money
has been expended in a way not likely
to be of benefit to the people of Stras-
burg. A large sum has recently been
expended-though that will not fall
upon Strasburg itself in building a
new railway station, which was only
opened for traffic in July last. Instead
of coming right into the town as the old
station did and forming a cul de sac, it
skirts the town to the southeast, and
will be of great utility in the event of
war, while it will be the means of
saving considerable time always.
This station, fitted up with the cleo
trio light all over it, is one of the finest
in Europe, though doubt whether the
inhabitants of Strasbarg much relish
the fresco in the central hall which
represents the German Emperor being
greeted by two maidens who are sup
posed to typify Alsace and, Lorraine.
The French in Strasbure complain also
that while they pay so much more in
rates and taxes than they formerly did,
they transact much less business;
that the city is going to financial ruin;
and that there is no prospect of any
Improvement until the Germans allow
them to have voice in the management
of their own affairs. How far their CON-
plants are well founded, do not Of
course pretend to say, but the aspect Of
the city is certainly the reverse of being
animated to-day, and many of your
readers will doubtless remember how
gay the squares and streets of Strasburg
were of a summer Sunday afternoon fiji
teen years ago The Germans, however,
believe that they have the silent forces
of time upon their side, and that when
another generation has grown to man
hood the French element in Strasb1trg
will be mere nOaliEgs umbra Ehis
will, | apprehend, in a great measure
depend upon how the annexed provinces
are treated and administered in the in
terval. X Cor. London Da6ty NeUS