The reactionary parties in Germany complain bitterly that the Government
of Alsace-Lorraine by Marshal Manteuffel is not a success. He is, it is said, too lenient. He has founded a University in Strasburg, and the young Alsatians living at home become Alsatian, and not German patriots. The Pro- vincial Committee is far too independent, and Strasburg and Metz have elected six times over a man who refuses to serve while the province is still German. The Members sent to the Reichstag have always protested against annexation, emigration increases, and finally, the Protestants have become French in feeling, being unable to endure the dissoluteness of the crowd of functionaries hastily swept together from all Germany. There does not seem to be much in these accusations, and they are not believed by the Emperor ; but they show that Alsace-Lorraine, in the thirteen years which have elapsed since its conquest, has been in no way reconciled. It was hardly likely it would be, while the defeated generation survived. Germans ruling among foreigners are nearly as disagreeable as Englishmen, and, though in a very different way, for the same reason. They can never believe they are not utterly in the right. The Englishman an- nexes for his new subjects' benefit, and the German because only Germans are upright and kindly. Naturally, the conquered grow irritable.
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