Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-01
UNREDEEMED GERMANY
Coming National Congress in Berlin in Favor
of the Austrian Germans.
The Slavs Are in the Majority There
How to BE RecOnciled
to France.

A gentleman who is very familiar with
the subject, both from travel in Germany
and from careful study of the condi-
lions there, writes as follows to The Star:
This month the Germans propose to hold
in Berlin great national congress in IA
vor of the Austrian Germans. That event
will recall to the Germans a fact which
some of them seem to have forgotten, that
the establishment of the so-called German
empire in 1871 did not make the Germans
what they fondly call themselves, a united
nation. Barely three-fourths of the Ger
man-speaking peoples are comprised
within the limits Of the empire. Another
fond belief is likely to be seriously i'm
paired. namely, the belief that the victo-
ries of 1871 and the partial unification have
everywhere inspired respect and admira-
ton for the German name. AS a matter of
fact, ever since that time the Austrian
Germans have steadily given ground to the
Slavs, and are now on the point Of lapsing
from the position Of ruling to that of a
subject caste. 1t Is characteristic that
while the Italians have made the world
ring with their cries over the little bits
OF territory they call unredeemed Italy, the
Germans have hardly said word about
the vast districts of unredeemed Ger
many.
Some fiery language will no doubt be
heard at the coming Berlin congress. 1t
a.
ton the congress will recommend. So far
as can be seen, the Germans of the empire,
with all their immense resources, arc at
present powerless to help their brothers in
Austria Shall Germany send an armed
force to restore the supremacy of the Ger
man minority in Austria? Every one
knows that the Slavs are fierce enough
to fly to arms In defense Of their majority
rights. What would then become OF the
triple alliance. SO anxiousy fostered by
Germany? Austria, torn by civil war,
would be fully occupied at home; Italy,
already lukewarm, would promptly abandon
the alliance, leaving Germany alone to
face Russia and France. The result can
not be doubtful. Germany would lose the
whole left bank of the Rhine the tight
bank of the Vistula. the province Of Posen
and perhaps upper Silesia. Under such a
shock the empire would probably break
up into host of kingdoms and duchies as
before. and Germany become merely a
geographical term.
the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. with France.
Signs are multiplying that the French are
getting heartily tired of their enmity to
Germany. This very summer, in the midst
Of the jubilations over the Russian al
lance, calm, respectable journals have
asked such startling questions as these:
Is 1t becoming great civilized nation to
fcndle the tarbarous Russian and hate
the civilized German? Do we really care
for Alsace-Lorraine? Were we not forever
making fun of the Alsace-Lorrainers when
they were ours? Did we not declare war
on the most frivolous of pretexts and
were we not Justly punished? Would we
not be immensely stronger by an alliance
with Germany than we are now? Would
we not be far more free to pursue our own
policy? Is 1t not absurd and shameful for
France. the champion of liberty to be a
vassal, doing the bidding of despotic
power against her own real interests and
antagonizing nation struggling with
might and main to be as free as France:
1t thus seems certain that France would
welcome almost any pretext for dropping
the expectant dagger Of revenge. Such a
without any real sacrifice. In the Review
OF Reviews. December, 1904. and the Arena.
January. 1887. "Pan-Aryan," who declares
himself German by birth. urges that
surrounding French-speaking districts.
comprising about one-sixth Of Alsace-Lor.