Although born French, his primary allegiance was to the Catholic church, and he drew criticism for cooperating with the German authorities after Alsace was annexed in 1871.

[2] Articles in the journal often discussed Christian trade unionism, a movement with German origins that drew on the Catholic tradition of social commitment.

He was supported by reactionary elements in the German government, but was opposed to the Prince of Hohenlohe, prefect of Upper Alsace.

Some said Delsor asked that the discussion avoid politics, but others said it was a protest by reactionary Catholics against the ban on Volksfreund in France.

Delsor was greeted by a police commissioner who handed him a notice directing him to leave France without delay.

[4] The monument was dedicated on 16 October 1909, with Delsor giving a speech on the religious aspects of sacrifice for "the homeland".

[5] The National Union was founded in Alsace in June 1911 in an attempt to unite the Alsatian parties into a common regional program to consolidate the rights that the new constitution had defined.

Émile Wetterlé(fr) thought it should defend religion and oppose the left, while Daniel Blumenthal and Léon Boll had more secular and democratic views.