THE LAST DAYS OF "OPTION" IN ALSACE-LORRAINE.
AS the date approaches which has been fixed by the Treaty of Frankfort for the termination of the transitional stage in the annexation of Alsace and Lorraine, the anomalies, to use no harsher word, which are the natural fruit of so cynical a contempt for natural rights present themselves with less and less disguise. Only that Alsatian or Lorrainer who, by midnight on the 30th instant, has not merely performed the formality of declaring his continued membership of the French nationality, but has actually, at whatever cost in sentiment or property, completed the transfer of his ,domicile to within the new French frontier, will be held to be exempt from the hated condition of a German subject. It is in this manner that the German authorities have insisted on interpreting the clause of the Treaty which affected to assure to the inhabitants of the separated provinces the liberty to retain their nationality. If the Frenchmen of Alsace and Lorraine are to continue Frenchmen, they must summarily cease to be Alsatians or Lorrainers. It has thus turned out that the engagement to permit the Alsatians to continue Frenchmen really means that not a single Alsatian is to be permitted to be anything of the kind. It will be remembered that in a somewhat similar manner, it has turned out that the stipula- tion of the Treaty of Prague to restore Schleswig-Holstein to Denmark really means that Schleswig-Holstein is not to be restored at all, and that Prussia's promise to give it up is a Prussian way of expressing a firm resolution to keep it. A drawback to this method of redeeming international pledges is the suffering inflicted on the populations chiefly interested, and though this may seem but a slight consideration to the Blood-and-Iron School of political moralists, we apprehend that the ordinary mass of humanity will be apt -to view the matter in quite another light.
In attempting to convey an adequate idea of the present
condition of affairs in the two provinces which were but so lately the most thriving and contented portions of France, the only difficulty is the selection of the materials of the narrative. It is a terrible alternative which now lies but three weeks off before the wretched inhabitants of Alsace and Lorraine. To give up dear France or the native Rhineland, to fall beneath the yoke of that Prussian militarism from which even the Pomeranian and the Brandenburger are flying across the broad Atlantic, or in the midst of plenty to abandon the ancestral roof and every asso- ciation of infancy and age,—this is what is proposed to a com- munity of a million and a half of human beings, peasants and citizens, men and women, in this third quarter of the nine• teenth century. With such effrontery do the deeds of bar- barism repeat themselves amid our age of progress. Of course, a million and a half of people could not be expected to fulfil all the conditions which the rigour of the Prussian alternative has established. The Alsatians and Lor- rainers will not have voluntarily crossed the borders, will not have exiled themselves, will not have domiciled them- selves within the new French frontier, by midnight of the 30th instant, or by any midnight or noonday of any month to follow. If Prussia will have no French Alsatians dwelling in the lands which Prussia has seized, Prussia must drive the Alsatians into banishment at the bayonet-point. This is not a contingency, however, which is likely to occur. The promises contained in the Treaty of Frankfort will be fulfilled in a somewhat different fashion. The police autho- rities in the conquered provinces have received orders to register with care the names of the persons who have not fulfilled the requisite conditions for the transfer of domicile, and option or no option, whether the Alsatians have registered with all publicity and solemnity their French nationality, or not, all such persons will be held to have signified their preference for German subjection. From the coming 30th of September, every Alsatian in Alsace is to be liable to every incident of German allegiance, is to be liable to be marched out to fight in German ranks against his French brethren, and if he refuses to become a French traitor, can be taken out and shot as a German one. When we noticed some months ago the first rumours of these unprecedented severities, we were still inclined to hope that even late the Berlin Cabinet would see not only the justice, but the wisdom of moderation. There is no longer room for hope, and Western civilisation must learn at last the meaning which has been imposed upon the delusive stipulations in favour of some little mercy to Alsace.
But though the Alsatians are nowfully aware of the fate which impends over them, it is not to be supposed that a population which the lapse of seven generations and the benefits of the French Revolution have welded into the unity of France can submit without a protest to their sentence. It has been long since known that in apprehension of the future, and in pre. paration for the future too, an immense proportion of the young men of Alsace and Lorraine have enrolled themselves in the French Army. This movement has intensified with the imminence of- the danger, and the recent conscription has afforded a fresh opportunity for the display of patriotic and military sentiment. At every French town along the frontier in which the ballot for conscripts was open, the number proper for the locality has been largely increased by the arrival of crowds of young Alsatians and Lorrainers, all pressing around the ballot-boxes and iodating on making their " option " in the form of a military enlistment which may allow them hereafter the satisfaction of their dearest desire. Thus in a single canton of the city of Nancy which ought only to provide some two hundred conscripts there were actually more than six hundred. Naturally, however, it is the civil " option " which assumes the greatest proportions and challenges the largest attention. Upon this subject, the testimony of the German journals themselves is either express, or still more significant than if it were express. "The options for France," writes the correspondent of the Allgemeine Zeitung of Augsburg, "continue to take place on a scale which exceeds all expectation. While only a few weeks ago there was reason to
believe Lower Alsace, at least, would be free from such exhibi- tions, even there the hosts of the applicants to make option, die
Schaaren der Optirenden, stand every morning before the doors of the Ifreis directions." And here it is to be noticed that in the effort to prevent the tremendous plebiscite of
French patriotism, the German authorities have adopted, among other devices to waste time, the notable plan of mak- ing the option-hours at the various bureaux so early and so
same feelings. A question still in dispute between the French And we have no misgivings in saying that the experience is and German authorities relates to the options of minors. The good, wholesome, valuable. It has been acquired in a fashion French hold that parents who are unable to quit Alsace and more soldierlike than that of last year. Indeed, the errors then Lorraine within the appointed time can at least preserve the made have been wisely remembered and corrected. In the nationality of their children by sending them to France and first place, two corps wholly distinct and of equal strength making option on their behalf. The Germans insist upon the have been formed far apart from each other. Each has been contrary view, and in this sense the German officials are made complete in itself, and is really a miniature army. The spreading intimidating notices, of which the circular issued by Northern troops, supposed to be defenders, were organised at the functionary who styles himself Maire of Sainte-Marie- Aldershot ; while the invaders, or Army of the South, col- aux-Mines is a specimen. In this precious document the lected at Blandford, on the Stour. Each has its due comple- unhappy people are specially warned that if they persist ment of guns, horsemen, and infantry, the latter including in favouring the departure of their children, " who for the both Militia and Volunteers. Now, this separation from the most part are liable to the German military conscription," outset is an immense advantage. Last year there was no they will incur the risk of prosecution " for complicity in the proper combination between the divisions of Carey and crime of desertion." It is with such refined feeling—Geist und Staveley, and when at the last two forces of equal strength Bildung, we presume we should call it—that the German were formed, neither troops nor Generals quite knew to which Government seeks to mitigate the horrors of the annexation, side they belonged. This year the evil is avoided. Sir by impressing on the unfortunate Alsatians the very feature Robert Walpole and Sir John Michel will know every hat- er their captivity which must be to them the most repulsive talion, squadron, and gun under their separate commands, and revolting. It is consoling, at least, to know that the and leaders and troops will have had time to pick up a little proverbial piety of the Prussian monarchy is at hand, and is esprit de corps and to breed a passion for victory which will about to interest itself in Alsace and Lorraine. "From the call forth the energies of every man. let of October," writes a correspondent of the Allgemeine Then the Northern Army, after being formed, marched Zeitung, "the Government will act with less reserve, inasmuch from Aldershot to Pewsey, a valuable experience in itself. No as its relations to the population will have become completely living soldier can remember any incident of the kind in England; settled. From that date, accordingly, prayers for the the "flying columns" at Aldershot alone have approximated German Kaiser will be compulsory in all places of worship." towards the proceeding. But useful as the inspiriting march It is to be apprehended that the impugners of the efficacy has been to the soldiers, it has been of far greater importance of Prayer might, with considerable safety, base their averages to the country-side. Not only the hinds and villagers, but on the resulting petitions. With this last display of what the classes above them, have, for the first time, learned what a "the liberation of the separated brothers" really means, we soldier is, and the fame thereof will radiate over and through gladly, for the present, turn our eyes from this, the most the adjacent counties. Lord Shaftesbury himself, who has sickening page of our century's history. Every observer will seen the world, seems to have become finally convinced that be able to judge of the pacificatory tendencies of a policy British troops are not only endurable, but welcome, from his which penetrates into the very sanctuary to insult the national personal acquaintance with the Blandford force upon his own sentiment of the conquered people, which converts every downs and in his own park. The golden opinions won by the Alsatian in France and every Alsatian volunteer in the ranks of troops are eloquent testimonies not only to a triumph over France into an incarnate spirit of vengeance, which holds up to prej udice, but to the actual and vast change which has taken the French nation the maddening spectacle of the oppression place in the military world. Education, discipline, good of their fellow-countrymen to quicken the sense of their own treatment, have told upon the Army, and it is worth humiliation and loss. The enforcement of the German mili- all the money spent to have that demonstrated. The tary conscription on natural-born Frenchmen, while every presence of the Volunteers is plainly destined to exert an bruise is still raw and every wound is still fresh, is alone elevating influence. The privates of the Line feel that their sufficient to brand the attempted Prussianisation of the calling is, after all, more estimable than they have been taught separated provinces of France as a proceeding worthy of the to consider it, when they see the rich and leisured classes living
age of Attila. on rations, doing fatigue duty, and sleeping twelve in a tent.
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