Norwich bulletin., 1917-05-24
STORIES OF THE WAR
AIsaoe Not German in Spirit.

IF there is entertained anywhere a
conviction that Alsace is German in
spirit today, it is a superficial deduc-
ton lacking exactly what the Germans
have never bad, that is, the element of
psychology" said Pastor Charles Wag-
ner, author of The Simple Life,
speaking to The Associated Press in
Paris, about President VFsson's speech
to the Democratic National Commit
tee and the semi official reply sent out
from Berlin in which it was declared
that Alsace is today. as it always has
been, German in language, tradition
and sentiment. Pastor Wagner began
his career as a clergyman in Alsace
after the war Of 1870.
The Germans claim Alsace as
German speaking country; yet they
themselves were surprised in 1870 to
fin1 a people there speaking IAN
guage similar to their own, yet so
different in everything that goes to
make up life" continued the Pastor.
There were Alsatians that might
have been called half and half that
had benefited from French culture
and German science. That element
thought that, if France should lose A.
SAGE, it might become more and more
a connecting link between the two
countries Indeed. the historical ORR
gin of Alsace cyould justify the con-
viction that the country had a great
mission to perform in the world but
that mission was denied by the Ger
mans. They would not admit that the
Alsatians could draw on two sources.
They required that the annexed PEG
pie should forget France, that they
should have only one pride and one
glory that of being German.
Il was a student at Strassburg aft
er the war of 1870 and saw the be
ginning of that new and painful era
for Alsace. My first preaching was
done there. | soon discovered that,
if 1 remained, 1 could scarcely be any
thing more than a corporal of the En-
peror. 1 left because 1 didn't want to
become a spiritual gardener
The Germans failed utterly to I'M
derstand what was noble and worthy
in the Alsatian character and how
they might have made themselves ac-
cepted. They were blind to the pain
full situation of the tenacious and OBJ
stinate Alsatian people, holding to old
affections, and to whom, remaining
faithful to France in her misfortuneS,
Germany appeared all the more excess
siVe in her eXulta tions. They had not
the tact and discretion of a successful
victor. The consequence was that AL
satians attributed the result of the war
of 1870 more to circumstances than to
Germany's superiority.
1.-The great contrast they were
obliged to draw between the Germans
e&O emigrated from other provinces
into Alsace after the war and their
ideal German, destroyed their conf
QSnCe III the IiuCH NduHlCu NoI
organization.
''The Alsatian lives well and drinks
good wine, but he is ashamed to be
seen drunk. The absolute absence of
dignity in this respect by the immi-
grated Germans made it impossible for
the Alsatian to associate with them.
THE younger generations became
more Indifferent than the old by force
of circumstances, but the partial CON
quest of this younger element was not
a spiritual conquest. 1t was simply
because the population was becoming
habituated to new rulers, as an old
woman becomes habituated to her
false teeth, to her failing beauty. with
out in any sense becoming enamoured
of her old age.
The Germans needed a Napoleon to
complete the military conquest of 1870
bv the spiritual conquest of the peo
pie. He would never lay a hand upon
institutions Particular to Alsace and
Lorraine. He was chaffed once about
the generals on his staff who spoke
German. Tt is true they do speak
German he said; KelRrmann swears