ALSACE AND IRELAND.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume II, Issue 92, 30 January 1875, Page 10

ALSACE AND IRELAND.

VAB VICTISI A special correspondent of a Paris paper — M._ Wachter, who is himself a native of Strasbourg — has just given an account of the system of Germanizing Alsace> -which is likely to make Frenchmen grave. M. Wachter Bays: — "The progress already made alarms me. I did not think it posible to change in two years the appearance of a town as they have changed Strasbourg." The means by which this transformation has been effected are : the German university, encouragement to German immigration, encouragement to French immigration, expulsion of teaching priests, and compulsory use of German in the Bchools. M. Wachter declares that the result must be fatal to French loyalty in. time, for the little children are learning German and no other tongue. How like an oft-told tale this news appears to an Irishman who knows the history of his country. The same process is being pursued in Alsace as Ireland has endured during the last six or seven centuries — but notably during the hist two. How vast must be the difference between the peoples. Four years have scarcely elapsed since the Prussians conquered Alsace j those who where children then are children still; the fresh marks of conflict are pointed out on the walls and windows of the cities j the veterans of the war are young men still j but a French observer sadly declars that already the loyaly of Alsace to France is being sapped, "for the little children are learning German and no oilier tongue!' Well we know that tyrants ever, with an art from darkness sprung, Strove to make the conquered nations slaves alike in limb and tongue. But the banishment of a language cannot banish love and loyalty from the hearts of a brave race. In this early day of her sorrow let Alsace look to Ireland for strength to resist. Let her, see there a people who have indeed changed then* language, \f\xb who have used the tongue of the conqueror to register their wrongs and perpetuate their love for fatherland. The Irish were forced to see their grand old language fade before then- eyes " like the leaves upon the trees j " but no man could say until this day that patriotism or hope faded with it. We are sorry'to see a land with so much Celtic blood as Alsaco must contain, sink into contempt in the space of four years. We fear the Prussian element across the Rhine must have been stronger than was thought. In a few years more even in one generation i when Prussia writes the " History of the War" for the schools of Alsace, we may expect to see the conquered province leading the Prussian States in anti-Gallic hatred. How wise were the words of i Mr. Hunter at the meeting of the Southern Historical Society in. Richmond a few weeks ago : Wo I to the people who leave it to their conquerors to write the history of the contest." — * Pilot/

At Roniford four children hare been fatally poisoned^ by having teething powder given to them, " *