New-York tribune., 1918-05-03
The Poisoned Tongue
70 the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Permit me to add few observations
to your editorial comment on the letter Of
Mr.. Walter Jaeger in to-day's issue of The
Tribune on the subject, "The Poisoned
Tongue"
Mr.. Jaeger frsts sets up a hypothetical
question "we frequently hear: would
Germany permit the enemy language in her
schools, or allow newspapers in the enemy
language on her newstands ?" and then sets
out to answer it. He recites several in
stances of French schools maintained in
Germany, but, at best, their number is very
limited, even by the use Of vague plural.
He might have truly added that French is
taught in majority of Germany's higher
educational institutions, even though as an
optional course or study. But such con-
tention begs the question. No one ever
doubted Germany's preparatory courses for
the advent of "The Day" No one has ever
pretended that the German language as
such is inherently an evil, no more than
any other language. The correct question
might be: "Would Germany permit within
her borders the publication of newspapers
or literature of any sort, in the language
of an enemy with whom she is at war, by
enemy aliens, or naturalized aliens, former
subjects of that enemy, whose loyalty is
under suspicion?"
do not doubt for a moment that Mr
Jaeger would boldly answer, eyes" for
he also says in his letter: "There has
never been any thought of suppressing the
French schools, neither during 17S6-1814,
when Prussia was under the heel of Ma
poleon, nor 187O-71."
What occult powers enable Mr.. Jaeger to
disclose "the thoughts' of the Prussian
op+ Aho Erouch in
1786-1s14 1 am not prepared to say. Let
the readers judge.
AS to 1S70-71 believe I am better
qualified to express an opinion than Mr..
Jaeger.
1 was born in Strassburg, the capital of
Alsace, under the French regime, and
passed through the siege and bombardment
of that city by the Germans, and through
all that followed. What, then, are the
facts?
The teaching of the French language was
Immediately prohibited as soon as the Ger
man army set foot in the city. There was
banker, Mr.. Stehlin, who at his own
expense opened private school for Asa
tian children, where French was taught.
1t was promptly and ruthlessly "squashed."
What happened to Mr.. Stehlin no one has
ever been able to find out. All publica-
tions in French, whether newspapers, trade
journals, literary periodicals, whatever
their name and purpose, were suppressed.
All societies and organizations, gymnastic,
literary, musical, social, or OF arts and
trades Of whatever name or character, how
ever innocuous, were dissolved. Thus oper-
ated "the heel" of Prussianism in Alsace in
1870, and for decades thereafter; for does
Mr.. Jaeger know, or remember, that the
estate of SIEGE" martial law, under which
Alsace- Lorraine has been governed by Prus-
sia, was only partially and condtionally
lifted but few years ago? Will Mr.. Jaeger
enlighten us as to the publications in the
French language in Alsace-L Lorraine by
Frenchmen or pro-French Alsatians under
the German regime since 1870 to this day?
Mr.. Jaeger cites LA Gazette des Ar
dennes," published in French by the Prus-
sian invaders in Belgium. This is direct
slap in the face of decency, humanity and
civilization. It sufficiently characterizes
Mr. Jaeger's lack of sincerity in his let
ter to The Tribune AS to his loyalty:
his malicious innuendo on the attitude of
the French Canadians in the present war;
his notoriously untrue assertion Of ssthe
many attempts Of their English-language
neighbors to interfere with their Ian
gusge and their customs; and the final
wave Of the Star-Spangled Banner: .The
Americans Of German descent will, Of
course, do everything to help win the war.
no matter what happens, their pub
locations :. have done everything in
their power to further the great cause to
which the nation has dedicated itself.n an
title Mr.. Jaeger to berth in the folds a.
one Of Mr.. Hearsr's papers.
EMILE KREIs.
New York, April 2S, 1918.
Swivel Chair Patr;ot;.r,