The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-02-20


providing adequate revenue through
taxation. Let no contingency, real or
pretended, excuse the addition of one
dollar to our bonded debt.
Does 1t Indicate National Insanity?
If, down at Rochester, the inmates
of the insane hospital-asylum were
holding a moot court for the trial of
about the same narrative that the ca
BILE has brought us daily Of the pro-
ceedngs in the French court of JUS
tice where the novelist is being tried for
his accusation against the chief officers
of the army of completely in the con-
spiracy to shield Esterhazy and pre-
clude an investigation that would Sc
cure the acquittal and discharge from
prison of Dreyfus. One familiar with
the procedure under English law reads
the amazing conduct Of judge and wit
nesses and populace, and asks him
self if the French are really sane. Ger
tainly any judge Of any court in this
country who should conduct himself on
the bench as does this one would be
hustled off to the insane hospital in q
hurry. And any witness who would
conduct himself before one Of. our
courts as do these generals and min
listers before that French judge. would
h al wiz aTt
fire for contempt or ensconced within
a jail cell in default.
Where, in any court, did ever a pop
Ulace gather and interrupt the pro-
hooting? Even the grim proceedings
in our extemporized courts of Judge
Lynch are characterized by solemn
dignity. Where, in any court in this
make to a jury a speech like that made
by Gen. Pellieux on Friday? Con-
firning the previous testimony of an
other general, he said: 81 do not wish
the jury, you are the nation here, for
you represent it. If the nation has not
confidence in the army, the chiefs Of
the army, let it say so, and we are
ready to leave to others the burden
of it's responsibility. Gentlemen of the
jury, you, who represent the nation,
pronounce an opinion" And no Won
der, as we view it, this speech is said
to have caused a prolonged sensa-
ton" We know it would have had it
been made in one Of our courts. And
then the general cried "Vive Parmee,"
and there were CHEERS" That was
quite up to what one would see in
Rochester's insane hospital, were the
trial being held there.
And the judge is just as crazy. When
Laborie, Zola's counsel, said, after the
general had made his speech to the
jury, that he wished to question the
witness, the presiding judge told him
CURLY that he could not, and Laborie
vainly protested. Think of that. A de-
PENDANT in criminal case denied the
opportunity to cross-examine one of
the states witnesses. Then Esterhazy
went on the stand and, La!borie being
engaged in drawing UP what, we as
sumo, was an exception to the ruling
denying him the right Of cross exam
nation, the court proceeded to examine
Esterhazy, who blandly told the judge
that he would answer any questions
put by him; "but, as for those peo-
pie Cola and his COUNSEL. I will not
reply to them" There was "prolong-
ed cheering" when Esterhazy left the
stand and the crowd outside shouted
'eVive Parmee," and "Conspuez Zola,"
and Down with the Jews" and gave
PellieuX "a great reception as he went,
bareheaded, down the steps," and the
police had great difficulty in prevent
ing the mobbing of lola. All this is
applicable to the Anglo SaXon mind
only on the conjecture that the French
mind lies close to the line that divides
genius from insanity, and, in times of
excitement, passes over the border.
Certainly, such proceedings cannot be
predicated upon anything we regard
&C conditions Of SANITY