The herald., 1898-01-22
Comes to the Support of
Emile lola
QREYFUS CASE IS REVIVED
CHE GOVERNMENTS ACTION rs
CONDEMNED
The French Writer Encouraged to
Persevere in Courageous Defense
of an Innocent Man
Associated Press Special Wire

NEW YORK, Jan. 2L-A special to the
World from Paris says:
Since the French government refused
+o hermit Zola to go to the Devils island
10 describe Dreyfus' situation precisely
as it is, Bjornstjorne Bjornsen, the fam-
ous Norwegian novelist, poet and dram
atist. has written from Rome to Zola
as follows:
VERY Honored Master: How envy
YOU, How l wish I were in your place.
in order to be able to render to the
country and humanity service like that
rendered by you!
.I also have proved by experience that
1t is much more perilous to want TO
eradicate hatred than love from the
minds of men. A host of things, when
have for long time been taking root
in the best as we'll as the basest instincts
of the French people, have brought on
a situation so tragic that a thousand
years of progress and CIVILIZATION are
swept away. All others tremble De1ofe
the cries and fury of barbarlans, but
they have not made you recoii. You
alone, with Tyre and sword, marched
against millions. Is there a nobler spec
tacle to be seen in the world? That was
lust what France needed. l can assure
YOU that all the people of Europe are
gazing at France at this moment in as
tonishment and PAIN
1.-TWO facts sufficiently explain it. The
first is the indictment against Dreyfus.
1t is unworthy of men charged with i'm
mense responsibility. That indictment
charges Dreyfus with showing treason
able favor to Germany. In the evidence
to show guilt, it was alleged that he
could go to Alsace more easily than 9TH
er French officers That was officially
denied by the Alsace-Lo govern
ment. Twice in the same year Dreyfus
was prohibited from entering Alsace;
the third time he started he was permit
ted to spend a week there, because his
father was i'll. Has any one ever seen
a man acting as Il spy for any country
refused access to that country?
1.-The imperial government of Ger
many, moreover, has declared officially
that Dreyfus never had relations with
their agents. The allegation of the in
dictment, therefore, is absolutely false.
The second fact is that the indictment
contains only part of the proofs of
Dreyfus' guilt, while the rest are kept
secret, having been made only to the
judges during the trial.
I'm other words, Dreyfus was not con-
demned legally. He was deprived Of
rank, disgraced and transported beyond
the seas without a legal trial, upon the
unsupported opinion of a few comrades.
"A government which, in the face of
rot IN
the Dreyfus court martial, assuredly is
more devoid of conscience than any
hitherto known among civilized people.
That is the judgment of all Europe, be
assured.
Furthermore, Europe admires what
you have done. l always have held the
opinion that the work of romance writ
er or a poet bears the same relations to
himself personally as notes do to the
bank which issues them, and which
should have on hand securities cores
ponding to the issue.
I'VE see now that, if your works have
circulated throughout the world to in
crease the courage and enrich the heart
of humanity it is because you, yourself,
are man of courage and heart. Yours,
"BJORNSTJERNE BJORNSEN."
A BASE TRICK
PARIS, Jan. 21-In the trial of NJ.
Zola the prosecution has adroitly chosen
only certain passages in NJ. Zola's let
ter on which to base the trial, the pas
sages accusing the Esterhazy court
martial of having dared "in obedience
to orders received to acquit the comte
with IAN iniquitous verdict which will
sully with suspicion the decisions of all
future courtsmartial."
The indictment wholly ignores NJ.
Zola's accusations against high person
ages in the army, General MERCER. Gen
eral Billot, General PellieuX and others
whom he specifically charged with lille
gality and breach of trust This indi-
Gates that no light is to be let on the
doings of the general staff
The Aurore publishes today a letter
from NJ. Zoa to NJ. Billot, the minister OF
war, protesting against the limitation
OF the indictment against him, and de-
claring that he will know how to prove
his assertions when he appears before
an Independent jury.
A DREYFUS DUEL
PARIS, Jan. 21.-M. Varvoort, editor
of lie Jour, and NJ. Adjalber, a writer
for Les Droits de L'Homme. fought {
duel with swords on account of a dis
pute arising out of the Dreyfus case
NJ. Varvoort sustained three hesl
wounds and II. Adjalbert was wounded
in the forearm. The seconds stoppeC
the fight.
The Latin quarter was quiet TODAY
The police have arrested about fft,
persons on suspicion. Three experts i,
handwriting, whom Emile Zola charge,
with making false reports at the court
martials of Major Count Esterhazy. will
it is announced, sue the novelist fo
100000 francs damages.
PLACARDS POSTED
HAVRE, Jan. 21.--Red placards wer
posted here today denouncng the Drev
fusians and inscribed with the usua
cries against the Jews and in favor G
the army and the republic.
IN THE DEPUTIES
PARIS, Jan. 21.-During the debate /
the chamber Of deputies today on III
estimates of the department of publ
worship, NJ Gerard denounced tn
dangers of clericalism'
The premier, NJ. Meline, declare