The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-12-07
ALL FRANCE AROUSED
OVER THE ATTEMFr TO REOPEN
The DREYFUS CASE

The Press Full OF the MafteY-Every body
Mixed Up In tho Affair from the Pope 70
Emperor Wiiiiam-Ths Court. N artiai of
M~jor E.tcrh.zy Expected to Throw
Light ON the Dr~yfus Css~-Contcnttoas
of the Opposing f.ctions-Ons ChAlieng 60
the Result
Copyright by Associated Press)
Paris. December All political and so
cial interests continue 10 be merged in
the case OF Alfred Dreyfus, the former
captain OF French artillery. who is aileg
ed to have been unjustly sentenced 10 inn
prisonment for life on the charge OF hav-
ing sold important plans Of the French
war department TO agents OF foreign
power. Everything else is neglected. The
journals skill devote endless columns in
the biggest type TO the affairs Of Drey-
fus. his friends and enemies and every
body in any way connected with the case.
Everybody seems to be mixed up in the
case, from the pope to Emperor William.
OF Germany, and syndicates and secret
societies said to be hard at work
spending millions on one side or the 9TH
er and all France is in the throes Of an
agitation which is unparalleled since the
days of Danton and Robespierre.
According 10 The Daily Telegraph, OF
London, Of Thursday last, copies Of
which paper have been passed around
here by those interested in the subject.
a person who is really behind the
scenes" says: Undoubtedly some per-
son persons did get important facts
regarding our Che French) military plans
and communicated them to the German
war office within fortnight after the de-
cisions in question had been taken IL the
extent to which this odius treason was
committed and the results IL has pro-
duced in a neighborng country where
fully made known, l doubt whether,
knowing my countrymen as 1 do that
they would remain satisfied with the
punishment Of one man. They would
call for a radical change in the entire
system and. possibly, for more This guilt
may be brought home to another. or TO
others, without necessarily establishing
the innocence OF Dreyfus, who IS lost be-
yond help and hope"
The military governor of Paris, Gen.
eral Saussier has ordered the formation
of court-martial to examine into the
charges brought against Count Ferdi-
nand Walsin Esterhazey Uhe retired ma
jor Of the French army who is accused
Of writing the letter which brought
about the sentencing of Dreyfus to im-
prisonment for life), who is alleged to
have admitted the authorship of letters
published by The Figaro recently Bit
terly rejecting upon France and the
French army.
The Journal says that the decision of
General Sausser is based on the report
of General Pellieux. who was appointed
by the minister of war to examine into the
charges brought against Count Esterha-
Zey, and which is as follows: so far az
Dreyfus is concerned, the case has been
tried, no new fact has been brought to
light and no new document has been
submitted during the course Of the in
Quiry to justify revision Of the trial.
In consequence, there is no ground for
proceeding against Count EsterhaZey, SO
far as regards the crime Of high treason,
of which Alfred DreyfuS was con-
demned.''
Both sides profess to be pleased with
the announcement. The anti-Dreyfu-
slams contend that the order OF Genef al
Saussier cannot be construed as i'm ply
ing doubt as to the validity Of the sem
tence imposed upon Dreyfus and that the
EsterhaZey inquiry was not concerned
with the Dreyfus case, but was merely
a sequel of General Pelliuex.
On the other hands the Dreyfusians
assert that the inquiry will necessitate
the introduction of expert evidence con-
corning the hand writing of the memo
randum which convicted Dreyfus, priv
ing 1t to be in EsterhaZey's handwriting
and they also propose to introduce evil
dence that documents. which were not
submitted for the inspection OF Dreyfus
or mis- counsel at the time of his trial
by court-martial were communicated to
lic IOlipcSlHS TIE COURT. mere
seems to be no doubt that this was done
and lawyers who have been questioned
on the subject say it invalidates the
court-martial
The case of Dreyfus was discussed in
the chamber of deputies today and oc-
caSiOnally gave rise to heated utter
ances. A good majority Of the deputies
however, sustained the stand in the mat
ter taken by the government.
AS a result Of some hot words sx-
changed during the Dreyfus debate in
the chamber of deputies today, Joseph
Reinach, republican member represent
ing the district Of Digne, we'll known
newspaper man and author and edit or
OF RepubliQue Francaise. sent his sec
onds TO III. Millerand, the well known
socialist republican and editor of The
Petite RepubliQue Francaise. duel
with pistols has been arranged to take