New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-09-02

raine but had been in exile since their
childhood, the people chose not a few
deputies, while for the rest they elected
men who had from the beginning been
identified with the French cause and
had paid the penalty in German
prisons.
On their side of the Rhine the Ger
mans continued to demand q plebiscite.
although they had refused to listen to
the unanimous voice Of the inhabitants
in 1871. To-day there is heard again
all over Germany threats Of a new at
tack upon France and a reconquest Of
the Reichsland. Moreover, for this
campaign the Germans are cleverly
making use Of. the minority in Alsace-
Lorraine, made up Of the German set
tiers and officials. OF these not less
than 100000 are still to be counted.
When Alsace-Lorraine passed to Ger
many thousands Of inhabitants left.
preferring exile to German rule. In
Metz some Of the representatives of
the Older families even exhumed the
bodies Of their dead that they might be
transferred to French soil. Over q
quarter Of million French emierated
in the years Of German rule, and in
their places have come horde of Ger
man immigrants who became the
agents Of the conquest. 1t is among
these that there still remains an anti
French sentiment, which is seized upon
by German propagandists to demon
stratc that the Rhineland is still Ger
man at heart.
OF course the truth Is otherwise. To
France the great mass Of the inhabi-
tants always remained loval. Those
that lost hope, and they were compare
lively few. by no means substituted
Germany for France in their hearts,
but sought reunion with France
seeming impossible-for some form OF
autonomy. "Alsace for Alsatians" be-
came the rallying cry Of those who had
long remained loyal to France.
Fifty years of foreign domination
bring many changes. The evolution Of
France under the Third Republic has
been something totally different from
that OF Alsace-Lorraine under German
rule. There are difficult problems still
to be solved, the thorniest Of all grow
ing out Of the religious difficulties in
France, the law of separations. Indus
trially and commercially Alsace and
Lorraine have been bound to GERMANY
by many ropes and L will take time to
absorb these regions.
But at every moment when there
comes some date or circumstance
stirring Alsatian affection for France.
enere are new manifestations, such an
those which took place In Metz and
Strasbourg in 1918 when the French
came back and those which are now
going on in the regions where the ar.
mics Of Napoleon III, ambushed in a
war OF Bismarck's making, were over
thrown after a resistance which was
heroic, but rendered useless by tho in.
competency OF French generals. To
visit either Of these cities in the week.
following the return Of France wss tn
realize how deep and permanent was
the satisfaction Of all but the sullen
herman minority, yesterday the mas
ters and now become helpless to COM
mand, but still capable Of infinite harm
1ee 1t Is we'll to remember, in the
presence OF the unmistakable decision
OF the people Of Alsace.Lorraine "a
DC FRENCH that the debate is. by no
means closed. To-day German hos.
s''ssy to France - greater than ever
IN history; the spirit Of 1913 In A.m,r.