Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-11-27

A recent dispatch announced that the
confederated states Of Germany have
failed to agree upon the
Project project which proposed to
F.;l.a accord autonomy to Aisace-
SsAe"' Lorraine. which still remains
under arbitrary rule. The significance OF
the dispatch is apparent when we remem-
Der that Chancellor Won Bethmann-Hon-
veg declares in the reichstag on March
II last that he would submit a project
Of constitutional reform for Alsace-Lor-
raine.
1t is recalled that the fundamental law
under which the "reichsland," or Inn
perial land, Of Alsace-Lorraine Is gov
erned was voted by the German reich
stag June 8, 1871. By that law 1t was
enacted that the provinces Of Alsace and
Lorraine, ceded by France in the peace
preliminaries Of 1871, were united with
the German empire.
the Emperor Of Germany appoints the
who represents the Imperial
government. having his residence at
Strassburg. A ministry with q secretary
of state acts under the statthaltery, VINO
has q council of, state, three under secre-
taries. q provincial court of justice. an
attorney general and ten or more Pther
ohicials appointed by the emperor
Alsace-Lorraine Is member OF the
bundesrath. one Of the fifty-eight men,
eminent Of the individual states twenty
six in number). But Alsace-Lorraine, un-
der the arbitrary rule. has not actually g
vote and only q consultative voice by
virtue OF the constitution which 1t re-
ceived in 1879.
In the midst of the discussion which
has been maintained with the partisans
and opponents Of the project the French
aviator Legagneux passed the German
frontier in an aeroplane, ana the lncioeh'
was the cause Of intense feehng ana tne
expression Of violent and vindictive SEN
timents against the French. The incl
dent was trifiing, for a fact. but 1t was
an indication that the question OF Aisace-
Lorraine. although forty years old. Is
still an explosive. Was 1t the Legagneux
aeroplane that stopped in Germany the
discussion OF reform In Alsace-Lorratne
A congress for the discussion of the
proposed reforms met at Strassbufg last
month. The first meeting
SfraSAhur0 was set apart for speakers
using the French language
MeetiuS. the second the German.
Herr Hauss, deputy to the reichstag
commenced by declaring that he had
committed the stupidity Of thanking. In
the reichstag, the chancellor for his prof.
'ect of a constitutional reform. "Alsace
does not desire an insufficient reform like
that proposed" said Herr Hauss. "but
complete autonomy" If Alsace-Lorraine
remained ''reichsland." or imperial land
the emperor would continue to name
functionaries who would never know
their situation and would take their or
ders from Berlin. 1t was not in Berlin
but In Alsace-Lorraine where would be
found the roots Of power capable OF de-
veloptng the prosperity of the country
vexations measures the little 1t accords
it does nothing but provoke distrust.
According to Herr Hauss. the govern
ment had proved itself incapable of un'
derstanding the people. This vexatious
policy could not respect even the Gene
teries in which sleep French soldiers.
Herr Laugel, deputy president Of the
congress, defended the nationalist senti-
ment in Observation-Disclosures he
said. which had been accepted In princi.
pie by the emperor.
Every people, said Herr Laugel, had Its
part which distinguished 1t from other
peoples. sAisace had produced great men,
among whom might be named Gems. Kel
herman. Rapp. Kleber and Lasalle.
Herr Wetterie. another member, de-
clared that Alsace would administer hei
own affairs. I'VE have the right" be
exclaimed, ito shed tears over our de-
feat as we'll as Germany to celebrate her
victories
What had government done up to this
hour to merit her confidence? 1t had
introduced the tyranny Of passports; II
had quibbled and quarreled with them
over the question Of language, option
and permits Of residence; it had held
aloof from them and now reproached
them with having been French and moi
forgetting it. The proposed constitution
al reform was not progress. Alsace wish
ed to be an independent state, wished q
second chamber elected on the basis OF
the suffrage Of the reichstag, and, i
necessary. high chamber elected by the
people; they wished chief of state; in
dependent and deHberative votes in the
federal council; but IL there was distrus,
they could not expect sympathy or at
tachment.