Year: 1870

UCHu Le0der-lts Cause.


lie Nord of Sept. 20 says:-"The most i'm
portant news of to-day comes not from Paris,
nor from the headquarters of the King of
Prussia; it arrives from Konigsberg. The Prus-
sian Republican leader has been arrested by
order of the council of war. In order that our
readers may form precise estimate of the mo-
tives for this proceeding, we will place before
them translation of speech which he de-
hyeTed before a meeting which he had con-
vened, on the 14th, at Konigsberg. Here is the
speech


this Has Prussia right to appropriate to herself
Alsace and Lorraine We hear 1t said that Lor-
raine belonged in times past to the German Empire,
and that France got possession Of them by guile and
by force. Now that we have beaten the French, it
is but just that should take back from them that
which they once took away from us. Do not allow
plausible arguments. II all the empires Of the world
were the inducement, guard yourselves against
being brought Dto to worship the idol
guage, and you will see that it is nothing
more than the old right of the cannon
in a new dress. 'Alsace and Lorraine say they,
were German property, and ought once more to
become German What, we ask, have Alsace and
Lorraine them no inhabitants? or are the people of
these provinces mere souless chattel, of which
one may take possession without form or ceremony?
Has war deprived them OF their rights? Are they
become slaves, and may the victor decide their fate
according to his own caprice? Why, even the most
thorough of the annexationists acknowledge that
the people OF Alsace and Lorraine are French body
and soul, and wish to remain French. Then say
that even had they committed the greatest OF
crimes against us, IL WOulQ De contrary TO every
right Of humanity to endeavor to incorporate
them with Prussia or any other German State.
Sirs, there is an old saying, DO not to others
that which you would not have them do to you.
What should we say-what would our national
Liberals say-n one day victorious Poland, resting
its claim on the right of the cannon, should de-
mand the restoration of Posen and Western Prus-
sa? And yet she would bring to bear the Identical
arguments which we are now using to justify the
annexation of Asace and Lorraine. 1t is our duty
to set ourselves In opposition to these tendencies of
national ambition. Let us firmly maintain the prin-
cipes Of right much in political in private life
let us proclaim that any annexation Of foreign ter
ton OF the right OF the free disposition OF peoples.
Without allowing ourselves to be troubled by the
momentary intoxclation Of victory let us protest
people Of Asace and Lorraine. Those only who
respect the liberties OF others are themselves worthy
OF liberty"


unanimously resolution embodying the above
sentiments.


Certainly the Republican party, of which Mr..
Jacoby is the leader, is neither very numerous
nor powerful In Prussia. At the same time, the
rigorous measures of which this person has
been the object will tend to raise the suppo-
sition that the Government is not without fear
regarding the propagation of the ideas OF
which he has made himself the organ.
By the annexation of Alsace and Lorraine
Prussia would therefore, be preparing for
herself, among her. own population,
difficulties in addition to those which will occur
in the provinces incorporated against their will
with Germany. On the other hand the Prus-
sian Government may fear lest in giving way
upon this matter to the republican party, they
should give to it moral force and prestige
which it is far from possessing at present. 1t is
only reposes upon simple hypothesis, while
the material difficulties which would result from
the forced annexation of Alsace and Lorraine
belong to the domain of absolute certainty.