It seems, however, that there must have been a sinister
side to the autonemiim of some of the defendants, for Dr. Ricklin was proved to have said that when he talked about -autohoiny "within the -Constitution of France," he used the words as a blind in order to bring in donbtfill simpoiters for separatism. On the other hand, it is very significant that the electors have been gradually turning away from the mere loyalist deputies whom, as a matter of course, they used to return to the Chamber. At the last General Election they returned two autonomists— Dr. Ricklin and M. Rosse. There is only one explanation. The people feel that local traditions—their love of a definite religious education, their German patois,. and so on—have been ignored. The General Election was, we think, an even more striking warning to the French Government than the result of the trial can be to the Alsatians. But if we may judge from the sympathy of M. Poincare's recent speeches the warning will not be disregarded in Paris.
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