New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-07-28

OW the people of Alsace-Lor-
rane felt about being torn
n Ia away from France and an
nexed to Germany is impress
slvely shown in speech delivered in the
Relchstag on February IS, 1874, by M.
Teutsch, Deputy of ACCOMPLISHMENT de
Saverne. 1t is reprinted in pamphlet
form by the Association Generate des
AlsaciensLorrains D'Amerique and is
sued by LIE Comte de l'Effort de la France
ct de Les Allies. The speech follows:
"Gentlemen: The people of Alsace-Lor-
ralne, of whom we are the representatives
IN the Reichstag have ntrusted to US a
particular and most important mission,
which we have at heart to fulfil without
delay. They have commissioned us to ex-
press to you their opinion on the change
OF nationality which has been forcbly i'm
posed upon them at the end of your war
against France. 1t is to Germany's inter-
est to hear the statement which we wish
to make; and we dare to count, gentlemen
on few moments of your kind attention.
Your last war, terminated in flavor of
your nation, gave her indsputable rights
to a reparation. But Germany has ex-
forcing vanquished France to sacrifice
million and half of her children. In the
name of the Asatian- Lorrainers sold by
the Treaty of Frankfort, we protest against
the abuse Of m ght, of which our country
is the victim
III, in ancient and relatively barbarous
times, the right of conquest could be trans
formed into effectual law-if even to-
day 1T can be sanctioned when exercised
upon savage and ignorant peoplc--no such
excuse can be argued against Alsace- or
raine. 1t is at the end of the nineteenth
century, century of light and progress.
that Germany conquers US, and the people
whom she has reduced to slavery-since
annexation without consent constitutes for
us a veritable moral slavery-this people
is one of the best in Europe, one which
perhaps possesses in the highest degree the
feeling of right and justice
"Will you urge the legality of the treaty.
winch consecrates the cession, in your favor,
of our territory and its inhabitants? But
reason, not less than the most elementary
principles of right, proclaims that such a
treaty cannot be valid. Citizens who pos
sess soul and an intelligence are not
merchandise which one can barter, and it
is not allowed that they be made the object
of a contract
Moreover, admitting even. what we do
not recognize, that France had the right to
ccde u.s. the contract which you set up
against us has validity. contract in
effect, is only valid when made with the
full consent of the two contracting parties.
Now it is with the knife at her throat that
France, bleeding and broken, has signed our
REIMBURSEMENT. She was not free; she was
crushed under the violence of your blows,
and our code teaches US that force is
cause for the notification of the agree
ments which soiled by it.
"To give to the cession of Alsace-Lor-
raine a semblance of legality the least
you should do is to submit this cesson
to the ratification Of the people who are
coded
"You see, gentlemen, we find absolutely
nothing in the teaching of morality and
justice to excuse our annexation to your
empire and in this our reason is in accord
with our hearts. Our hearts, indeed, are
irresistibly drawn toward our native land of
France Two centuries of life and thought
IN common create a sacred bond between
the members of family, which neither
argument nor yet violence is able to destroy.
Enemies of our cause endeavor to spread
through the newspapers, and doubtless
that Alsace-Lorraine made a purely re-
ligious and Catholic demonstration, and not
French demonstration, at the elections of
February /.
IF it is true that the vexations of which
the clergy is the victim in Prussia and
which eXasperates our Catholics of Alsace-
Lorraine, have resulted in leading upon
your benches large a number of honor
able ecclesiastics, known for their patri-
otism, as we'll as for their faith, we do not
protest the less unanimously against the
Interpretation which concerns US.
This Interpretation would make the
Protestant and Republican portion. of
whom I am part, smile in derision, did we
not see in it one of those perfidious ma
neuvres. we'll known in certain of your
political moves-maneuvres which it is
wise to expose.
I'm choosing u.s. each and every one, our
electors have wished to affirm their SYM