The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-12-06
THE FRIENDS OF DREYFUS.
Exciting DEBATE IN THE FRI
CHAMBER.
Alleged Conspiracy TO Set the Traitor Free
Some Strange NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Cast on n High Government Omcini-Two
Letters from DreSrus's Fnther-in.Lny.

Letters from Dreyrus's Fnther-in.Lnyv w.
NJ. Castelin, Deputy from Alsne in the
French Parliament. asked the other day
for Information In regard to the doings OF
tho friends of the convicted traitor. Drey-
fus. In substance NJ. CRstelin claimed
that some of the degraded and imprisoned ex-
Captains recent defenders were Just MS guilty
as the traitor himself: that there was n dan
Rerous conspiracy In tho case. and that the
Government should put forth the most ener-
Ietic measures in the prosecution Of the offend
ers. When the day for debating the question
arrived. the galleries were crowded. and the
deputies all wore q serious look. Everybody
expected that M. Cnstclin would mako tho
opening speech, but 1t was the Minister of War
that first mounted the tribune. He said:
The question submitted to the Chamber
by NJ. Castelin is one OF grave Importance.
1t involves tho Justice of the country and tho
security OF the State. Two years ago this I'M
fortunate affair was the subject of q judgment
rendered by one OF my predecessors In the War
Ministry. Justice was done. The trial and the
decision were In conformity with the military
code of procedure. The Military Commission,
regularly and legally composed, delibereted
with regularity. 1t unanimously condemned
the accused. The Revisionary Council also
unanimously rejected tho appeal OF the con-
victed man. The cnse, therefore,. 10 closed,
and nobody has q right TO bring IL up again.
All precautions have been taken since that
conviction to prevent any possible escape of
the prisoner, but the motives which In 1894
necessitated o trial with closed doors have
lost nothing of their gravity. The Govern
meht. therefore. appeals to the patriotism Of
the Chamber, requesting II not TO enter upon a
debate which might present the Rravest dim.
culties. and to close the discussion as quickly
- 1AalflA " - 90 t
NJ. Castelin said that he had no intention
to reopen the case of Dreyfus, but simply tn
cut short q campaign OF insinuations and In
suits undertaken by certain persons and jour-
nails Interested in defending the traitor. They
should be prosecuted. They formed a syndi-
cate constituted to create doubt in the public
mlnu, with the view. probably. of facilitate
ing the escape OF Drevfus.
President Brisson sold: such journals can
have no influence upon any body here. LAD
plause.l say it for the. honor OF France;
we have all the same confidence in the .ecis-
ions OF tho Military COMMISSIONS. and we
have AL the same horror o: treason" loud
NJ. Castelin said: Tho President certainly
docs not believe that | Lave any intention to
throw any doubt upon tha patriotism Of the
But one cannot suppress the facts.
l Will endeavor TO shorten the debate. hut
there are guilty parties to be dealt with; It is
my duty to denounce them he~e, and ! pro-
pose to do so. without fear or favor. During
the trial 1t was sought to intimidate the menu
DeTb Oh inc COMMISSION. 60 tne Journals TOLL
us. II such attempts, were really made, tho
authors of them should have been prosecuted,
and. II the story was false, the journals should
GERS In the case complained that he was an
noyed by disguised solicitations, but he was
ordered to keep silent.
Here Is another circumstance which l felt
bound.to bring TO the notice of NJ. Dupuy. and
which. will doubtless be the subject of u pro-
Lire. Parole tSohii oh!"l in which 4, i is
stated that an officer Of" Interruptions
The PtesidentNAll those who desire that tho
debate may not assume excessive PROPORTIONS
should be silent. l request them, therefore.
to hear the speaker.
NJ. Castelln-It is satd that a considerable
sum was offered to the President Of the Com
mission. certainly not TO acquit the accused,
but 10 express n doubt as TO his guilt. | should
add that NJ. Dupuy told me that he considered
M.:Charles Duouy~i thank you. sir. for hav.
ing made in ADVANCE the statement which
wished 70 make. Bus | viii say here that I
sion, and that | have never had any kno VI
edge OF any such advances having oe m made
Commission. l may add that. II | had known
any party guilty Of such an attempt, i would
cord!ng TO law. tApplause.
NJ. Cas,elin- Before speaking to n. Dupuy.
I had already notified the responsible author
OF tho i~nformat,on in question. He declared.
without naming NJ. Dupuy, tina, a conversa-
ton took place. and that u sum OF 200. 900
francs was offered to the President OF the
Commission to induce HIM to bring about a
decision in the sense Which ! have indicated.
lie will explain the matter. Tie responsible
author OF these statements l. NJ. Merry. who.
rest assured. will reply to-inorrny. Whatever
may be the result OF this debale,,i IT is none
~manuuvres under "theIr rirrumstances.
NJ. Charles Depuy-l declare that l have
meyer knowm anTthins about y: o, .
nevertheless. | have n right u place conf
demce IN the men who pennGd those lines.
proceedings outside OF this Chamter Good.
NJ. Castelin then went on To say that - n vast
conspiracy was formed 10 save lreyfus. The
Government took precautions TO prevent his
escape. but The Consplrntovs dt not by any
means give up the project. When Dreyfus
festation was made. Persons surrounding
Dreyfus endeayorel to carry him or. A group
%airins for his landing at :he wharf. 4 com
motion WAS created. and Dreyius in the
crowd VAS completely separated fro'a his
that he was about TO escape, was Obliged To
strike him down. 'eRving HIM senseless on the
ground. NJ. Noise Dreytus. the director and
administrator OF the great niills OF Corbcil.
and as such. charged with the supplies. OF tho
rntrenched camp OF Paris. and also with the
did everything In his power 10 save the traitor.
This NJ. Noise nreytus is. moreover. the ad-
lie who builds our cruisers aud our torpedo
boats. and he knows the most secret plans OF
10 defend the traitor. sensational imagine
that in u country OF good sense and loyalty
there Is some lnGOinpatlhlllt between n puT-
vcyor Tor the army and a defender OF n trail
tor. tApplause. IN n pamphlet recently
published it is admitted that NJ the time or
ths trial All individual Was Swallowed by OH.
GERS in the secret service. That Individual
was followe across the frontier. and he was
seen to enter the War Ministry OF II ne!ghbor.
Ing power The Italian War Ministry. Now,
| can speak openly OF this affair. because the in
diyidual In question declares that he Is ready
Ia make himself known. refer to NJ. Hada-
muTd, the father-in-law OF Dreyfus. And Is
II not IA strange coin 'idence that during the
trial certain documents known TO be in the
possession Of Dreyfus' relative 10 the defence
81 tho Alps and to the entrenched camp at
Nice. had myster!ously disapprhredt
Now. NJ. Barnard l.azare the author of
the pamphlet referred tol aduiils that he mas
seen stol, n documents belonging Ia, the secret
inquiry lie cites fragments OF The Indictment
and Of the reports II colbert and BertillJn,
and he gives the text OF the stolen documents.
Are these secrets or are they not And mas
any man II right to publish them without be-
ing prcsccutedy"
Continuing. NJ. Castelin argued that Lazare
in his pamphlet insulted the officers Of Tho
Commission In his criticisms of their findings,
for which he should he prosecuted.
After some further discussion. an order OF
flip Ia y \yAa "A Iinost unanimously voted n. n uest.