TaÌˆgliche Omaha tribuÌˆne. [volume] (Omaha, Nebr.) 1912-1926, 1914-10-30

of6erman Literature and Curator Of
the 6srmanie Museum At Harvard
University.
II Is easy 70 see why American pub
Tic opinion should have con-
demued BY an overwhelming ma
jority the diplomatic acts of AUS
tria and Germany which have
been the Immediate occasion Of
the terrific explosion which now
shakes the foundations Of the whole
civilized world. Austria's break with
Seryia and Germany's violation OF
Belgian neutrality-the one leading
10 war between Russia and Germany,
the ser bringing England into the
fray-must appear to the uniniliated
as reckless and indefeusible proyoca-
tons and as wanton attacks upon the
laws Of nations.
The thoughtful observer. however,
should look beyond the immediate oe-
casiou Of this world conflict aud try
70 understand is underlying causes.
By doing 60 he will, | believe, come
70 the conclusion that fundamental
justice Is to be found on the German
side and that Germany has been
forced to fight for her life.
France Opposed TO Uniheation Of
Germany.
II is an unquestionable fact that the
unihcation Of Germany and the estab-
lishment OF a strong German empire
half a century ago were brought about
against the bitter opposition OF
France, and that the defeat incurred
by France in 1870, in her attempt 10
prevent German unihcation, is at the
bottom OF the constant irritation that
hasl agitated Europe during the last
as years. Germany's policy toward
France during these 43 years has been
one Of the utmost restraint and for
b~earance. and has been dictated by
the one desire of making her forget
the loss Of the two provinces, Ger
man until the 18th century and inhab-
itated largely by German stock, which
were won back from France in 1870,
Whether the acquisition Of these pro-
vinces was a fortunate thing for Ger
many may be doubted. The posses
sion OF Alsace-Lorraine has certainly
robbed Germany OF the undivided
| sympathy Of the worll which she
otherwise would have had. But IL is
probably true that, from the military
point OF view, Alsaee-Lorraine was
needed by Germany as a bulwark
against the repetition OF the many
wanton French inyasions from which
Germany has had 10 suffer since the
time of the Thirty Years Mar and
the age Of Louis XIV.
However this may be, Germany has
done her best during the last four de-
czdcs to heal the wounds struck by
her TO French national pride. She
abetted French colonial expansion in
| Cochin China, Madagascar, and Tunis
She yielded to France her own we'll
founded claims to political influence
in Morocco. In Alsace-L Lorraine it.
self she introduced an amount OF locaI
| sclf-government and home rule such
as England has not accorded ever
now to Ireland. While Ireland still
is waiting for a Parliament at Dab
lin, Strassburg has been for seyera
years the scat OF the Alsaee-Lorraiut
Diet, a provincial Parliament based
on universal suffrage. And even il
spite Of the incessant ard inAamma.
tory French propaganda which last
year led to such unhappy counter
strokes as the deplorabie Zabern at.
fair, there can be no reasonable doubI
that the people OF Al sace-Lorraine
have been gradually settling down tc
willing cooperation With the German
administration - an administration
which insures them order. justice. ant
prosperity. Nothing is a clearer in
dication Of the peaceable trend which
affairs have lately taken in Alsace-
Lorraine than the fact that the Ma.
tionalist, i. c, French, party in thu
Strassburg Diet has never been ablt
to rise above insignihcance, and that
on the other hand, a considerable
number Of responsible Offices in th'
civil administration, including tbs
highest governmental positions, have
been occupied by native Alsatians.
While Germany has thus repeatedly
shown her Willingness and desire tc
end the ancient feud, France has re
NAMED irreeoneilable; and particular
" the intellectual class Of France
cannot escape the charge that thel
have persistently and willfully KEEP.
alive the fame Of discord. 1t surely
cannot be said that the restoration 0
Alsace-Lorraine is a vital necessity K
France. Without Alsace-Lorraine
France during the last generation hal
recovered her prosperity and he
prestige in a manner that has beer
the admiration of the world. 1t is +;
mere illusion to think that the recon
quest OF Alsaee-LorraIne would ado
TO her glory. 1t would have been
demand Of patriotism for the ;~ntellec
tual class to combat this illusion. In
stead OF this, French writers, scholars
orators of whatever creed or party
except the Socialist, year in and yea
out have been dining into the pop
ular ear the one word revenge. An,
there can be little doubt that Prot
Gustave Ianson, the distinguished lit
erary historian, voiced the sentiments
Of the vast majority Of his country
men when in a lecture, delivered SOM
years ago at Harvard University, hi
stated that France could not ant
would not recognize the peace 0
frankfurt as a final settlement, AM
that the one aim Of the French polio,
OF the last 40 years had been to fore
Germany to reopen the Alsace-Lor
raine question.
If there were people in German,
inclined to overlook or to minimiz
this constantly increasing rienac
from France, their eyes must hay