, 1898-09-16

New York, Sept. IA dispatch to
the World from Paris says: France is
On the brink of the gravest crisis since
the birth Of the third republic. The
situation is briefly this:
Premier Brisson and all the other
members Of the cabinet, with the ex-
ception Of Zurlinden, minister of war
and possibly Lockroy, are convinced of
the absolute necessity of revision in
the Dreyfus case, in the interest alike
of justice and Of the state. Genera.
Brugere has signified his willingness
% take the portfolio of wal and accept
revision.
AT Saturdays meeting OF the cabinet
a decision will be taken, and 1T is GER
tain that revision will be decreed.
President Faure has been a determined
opponent of revision, and has caused it
to be rumored that he will resign If it
is granted. No n believes that he
will resign, but everyone sees that the
threat to do so is a desperate expedient
to get rid, at one blow, of Brisson's
cabinet, and it is fondly hoped, of re-
vision also.
But Faure's unconstitutional action
in directly interfering with RESPONSE
bility in the cabinet affords an exam
pie Of the lawlessness in high places
which is the first step toward revolu-
ton. He is accused of aiming at a
dictatorship, and If he succeeds In de-
stroying the Brisson cabinet it will be
the act Of a dictator. The Dreyfus agi-
tation can now be suppressed only by
the exercise Of arbitrary power. Pres
ident Faure has made himself the
champion OF the army and its tainted
chiefs. who will do anything to avoid
the exposure that revision would en-
tail, and they are ready ito place that
arbitrary power in his hands. A mill
tary coup d'etat is therefore freely con-
jectured tonight as the probable out
come OF the crisis should President
Faure's effort to bulldoze the Brisson
cabinet fail.
Colonel Patty du Clam, in an inter-
view at his home. said:
Il know very we'll that my being put
on the inactive list has set wagging all
the tongues Of Paris. but there is to be
no sensational sequel whatever. My
relation with this accursed controversy
is solely official. All these statements
about my having bounded Dreyfus and
prosecuted his wife are execraIble lies.
My connection with the bordereaux?
| have none. The war minister-he
best knows why-has retired me tenn
pcrarily, and, like a soldier. ask
no questions, but submit. II you, like
the French reporters, are seeking a
theatrical sensation, let me assure you
that you are on the wrong track. The
light about which lola has prated so
much cam do nothing but good to me-
Nevertheless, it is rumored tonight
that Patty du Clam has disappeared
from Paris.
The Matin today says that while the
cabinet is divided as to the althentici-
ty of certain documents in the Dreyfus
case, all the ministers admit that uney
were not communicated to the defense.
Hence, the paper adds, a revision of the
trial will bring up the question of the
responsibility Of General MERCER, who
a minister for war mt the time Drey-
fus was convicted. This, it is explain.
ed. is the reason for the hesitancy Of
the cabinet.
The Echo de Paris says Emile lola
is in Switzerland and that he will re-
turn to Paris early in October. He is
said to be preparing an address to the
public which will be posted in the prin-
cipal towns Of France.