New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-10-08
TIE RAZALNE TRIAL.

more perpleXlng ana lhiimtely more I'M
portant case than that Of the Tichbone claim
ant is beginning in France, and bids fair to
rival that wearisome suit III length. The wit
nesses and written documents to be presented
in evidence are already numbered by hundreds.
The trial is held at the TrianOn, and the
little palace will be crowded daily by the
leading persons in the social and official circles
Of France. The Court is made up among the
generals highest in rank and reputation in the
army and is presided over by the Due dAu-
male, who is designated by public rumor as
the Lieutenant-G General of the Kingdom who
is to guard the throne for the coming of the
Comte de Chambcrd The trial has also the
additional interest which is conferred by the
presence of eminent counsel. The prosecutors
have been selected by the Government with
a due sense of the importance of their work,
and the defense is TO be conducted by MaiTe
Lacbaud, the ablest advocate in criminal cases
now at the bar OF Paris.
The issues of the trial are Of an importance
BETTING the dignity of the dramatis PERSONA
and the setting of the scene. The Marshal is
accused of the gravest ofenses known to the
military code, of the unjustifable capitulation
of fortress, and of unjustifable surrender of
an army in the field. The trial therefore in
wolves not merely his rank and repute, but
his life as well, for death is a punishment
assigned by the articles of war for such de-
linquencies. This is possibly the point of
view from which the case is of most interest
to the Marshal and his friends. But it is not
the point in which the public opinion of
France and the world is most concerned.
Bazaine is the apparent defendant but the
real one on trial at the TrianOn is
the Second Empire. The negotiations be-
tween Metz and Chisohurst and VIII
helmsh0he; the mission Of Regnier and
Boyer; the state Of The army which was
shut up in Metz of the army which was beaten
at Forbach and that which surrendered at
Sedan; all these details are of infinitely more
interest to the reader Of history and the stu
dent of politics, as indicating the condition of
morality and efficiency to which twenty years
of Bonapartism had brought its servants, than
as proving the loyalty or treachery of Marshal
Bazaine. The world has little interest in the
question of his fate, but at this hour, when
France is about to fix her own destiny for
years to come, she will not fail to follow with
a painful attention the developments to be
made of the character and the tendencies of
that system Of government to which she sub
mitted quietly for many years and ratified by
repeated p6biscites.
Trials involving similar considerations have
been seen in our own and in English history.
The prosecution and Ioficial murder of Adj
miral Byng for his defeat by the French at
Minorca, in the last century, had it's origin in
political animOsity, and was carried to its
ruthless and frightful end by a mean political
panic. IL was not, as Voltaire said, ito en-
courage the others that tho British Min
istry shot this loyal and mertorious officer TO
death. 1t was to help their own failing popu
larity by display of rigid energy and viz
tue. Not 1.-THE OF what was proved against
Gen. FitZ-John Porter after the second Bull
Run was evon alleged against Admiral Byng:
and though many clamored for the execution
of that officer, the popular feeling was gener-
ally satisfied by the verdict of dismissal In
tie case of Byng the prosecution arose from
political motives. In the case of Porter tbe
ollense was committed from political motives.
The affair Of Bazaine contains within itself
both these elements. 1t is undeniable that he
was moro loyal TO lis fallen chief than to b;s
country, aul it is equally certain that the
Government knew Trey were placing the En-
pire on trial when they summoned him before
the Court Martial.
In one othcr respect there is a curions
paiaAeiism bsiyoen these three memorablc
cases. IN all three the enemy has given his
testimony in favor of the accused commander
The rebel officers 40 Manassas thought tho
proceedings against Porer an outrage. Tn
Marshal do RicheIieu thought the sentence Of
Byns wac q slain upon his own fame. Tho
Prince Frederick Charles. 1t ID said.A has