Today, before the
whole world, they proclaim that they want to remain French.
Europe cannot allow or ratify the annexation of Alsace and
Lorraine. Europe cannot allow a people to be seized like a
flock of sheep. Europe cannot remain deaf to the protest of
a whole population. Therefore, we declare in the name of our
population, in the name of our children and of our
descendants, that we are considering any treaty which gives
us up to a foreign power as a treaty null and void, and we
will eternally revindicate the right of disposing of
ourselves and of remaining French.
And, three years later, in January, 1874, when for the first time
Alsace and Lorraine had to elect deputies, they reiterated the same
protest. They elected fifteen new deputies; some were Protestants,
some were Catholics, one of them was the Bishop of Strasbourg, but
they unanimously signed a declaration which was read at the Tribune of
the German Reichstag. The declaration was the following:
In the name of all the people of Alsace-Lorraine, we protest
against the abuse of force of which our country is a
victim.... Citizens having a soul and an intelligence are
not mere goods that may be sold, or with which you may
trade.
Pages:
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135