The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1917-11-07
STIRS HATRED IN
ALSACE-LORRA|NE
German MisruIe on Conquered
Provinces Fosters Pro-
French Spirit.
DRASTIC MEASURES ADOPTED
Newspapers Held to Most Severe Code
Of laws-Cartoonist Arouse Fury
Of Berlin Officials and Are
Thrown Into Prison.

hingtOn.-Observers are study
ing with increased interest the politi-
cal history Of Alsace-Lorraine. The
course Of this Reichland's history is
recognized as one of the most signifi-
cant in the story Of the world. Through
a multitude of other causes Of the hol-
ocaust in Europe, the case of Alsace-
Lorraine presents itself with grow
Ing significance. It Is here that Prus-
sia initiated her grand mistake and,
through the forcible cessOn of this
state, engineered the hatreds and
"Welt-POlitik' for which she is pay
Ing now with all that humankind hold
most dear and precious.
In 1872, when the German cOnfeder-
alton was formed, this booty land was
considered as prize of the confeder-
alton as whole, with the regulative
powers vested in the king of Prussia.
The state was permitted to send dele
gates to the reichstag, but could not
be represented in the bundesrat, the
real power In governmental Germany.
With the usual asininity Of German
officialdom, the assimilation Of the peo-
pie was hurried, and hurried by
most unwise and impossible meas
ures. The idea seems to have been
that an assimilation could take place
In one, or, at the most, two genera
tons, and that 1t could be effected
while the people paid Prussian taxes
and were not granted representation
vi Of fov
necessary vent to human nature, the
result was the failure of Prussian po-
lice methods all during the first thirty
years of the occupation. What hap
pened after that in Metz, Colmer,
Strassbourg and Mulhouse we shall
see.
Prussian MisruIe.
The year 1910 marks the new Pc
Rod of Prussian misruie. The use Of
French was stringently forbidden on
tombstones, in courts of justice, in the
schools and in public gatherings In
deed, severe punishment has been
meted out for the use of the French
language in certain private and semi
private gatherings.
German immigrants shipped into the
Reichsland bred children, only to have
them take sides with the indigenous
population in their camor for annexa-
ton to Germany on an equal basis
with the other German states. This
latter point, contrary to general belief,
was actually just what the Alsat1ans
agitated for. French culture and
ideals began to have their effect when
all opportunities and pleadings for a
relaxation of Prussian oppressive
methods and representation in the
government failed. @
Prussian rule remained inflexible.
Guarantees and alterations were
promised and seemingly complied with,
only to have the people discover, when
the smoke Of Prussian bland duplicity
cleared away, that they were bound
more helplesSly than ever.
In the spring Of 1912 the Prussians
further showed their disapproval of
the agitation engendered by attempt
Ing to ruin the Alsatian factories at
Grafenstaden, near Strassbourg, by
withdrawing all orders for locomo-
tives for the Prussian railways.
In the month of May, in this same
year, the popular indignation, already
inf1amed, was famed to fever heat by
the remarks of the German emperor
to the mayor Of Strassbourg, during an
Imperial visit to the city. He is re-
ported to have said:
Listen. UP to here you have only
known the good side Of me. Things |
cannot continue as they are. If this |
situation lasts, we will suppress your
constitution and annex you to Prus- |
sia."
AIsat1an newspapers We're held to |
narrow course by most severe code
OF laws, but suspensions were taking
place every day. To be profitable, a |
Journal could do naught else but sup
port the Berlin policies. A school of
cartoonlsts came to the fore, and, by
series of caustic and meaning car
toons, indicted Berlin till the officials
In their fury, began placing prison
sentences indiscriminately among car
toonists and journalists.
And so, France, who had represent
ed to the heroes of 1893 the beau-ideal
OF democracy, came gradually to the
fore as the influence in Alsace-Lor-
ra1ne. Her culture, her ideals and her
became valued dreams of
loyal AlsatianS. But far off dreams
h. - /