The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1918-01-22
men and women devoted to demo-
cratic ideas and ideals.

When the Germans took Metz they
5inned against the doctrine of nation
ality, for Metz and its enyirons were
us French as Paris and its suburbs
When they took Strassburg they com
mitted a crime comparable with that
they would commit if they should
seize speaking portions OF
Switzerland For both the German
speaking people Of Alsacc and Of
switzerland are republican in spirit
and in ideals.
When the Germans annexed these
French provinces the unanimous pro-
test of the representatives Of the in
nabitants was filed in Berlin and
Paris alike. And forty years after
tie annexation a German Chancellor
announced that Germany was still en-
camped on hostile soil IA the Reichs-
land The outrage of Sayerne a few
years before the coming Of the pres
ent war, was a final demonstration of
what Prussianism has meant in the
Rhine country. People who were de
riod tho rigbt IN choose fheir own ma
tionplitv were refused the opportuni-
~ to sneal, within tbeir enforced
frontiers At home and in Berlin tbev
we're treated as a conquered people
For nearly a half century Strassbure
has known what brussels is only inst
learning
THE German took Alsace-Lorrane
as he invaded Belgium. en- The pretext
of necessity He annexed tbo French.
speaking city of Metz ana the Ger
man speaking city of Strassburg for
the same reason He has held tfon,
ever since by might alone. No cra
pretcnds that German rule has beeA
popular. pcspite the fact FIAT npa,v
300 GOO Germans have immigrated "a
to the provinces and coaselessly la
bored 10 create German LOYALTY the
peunle have remained unreconcilod
Alsace lorraine has uiven France a
hundred generals in this war and Ger.
many not one. Thirty thousand Al
aatians have at the peril of their lives
crossed the frontier to fight in French
armies. If Americans have any doubt
as to the wish of these people of
Alsace Lorraine. let them inquire or
natives Of these provinces now lnng
in exile in the United States
And now President Wilson has sara
that the wrong must be righted But
Tor such a wrong there can he but one
compensation TIC stealing of child
can be compensated for only by the
return to the child. Only the pacif-
st and the Germanophile can misiak.
the presidents meaning. which vas
not mistaken by those who heard him
He meant that Alsace Lorraine must
be restored to France and he meant
that the United States would FIGHT
until This was achieved 1t was at
once a declaration of principle and
a pledge of purpose. And as to both
the American people stand with the
president
From the beginning Of the vai
France has been the buIwark OF civil
ization against Teutonism. Without
French heroism. sacrifice, victory
Germany would have achieved wogla
supremacy before England was roal,
or America enlisted. Had Epelan,
not permitted the German annexation
of Alsace Lorraine. GERMANY conld
not have invaded Belgium and North.
iern France would not have been raw.
aged and sacked
Without Alsaee-Lorraine Franc, i
always in deadly peril. The KEYS 4,
/ her richest provinces are StrassbiIr,
and Metz holding them, she guard
Lorraine and Champagne This wonI,
not be a reason for taking from Cor
many people who desidered TO he e.
man, but it is a final reason wbv noo
pie desiring to be French and VIII