The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1898-09-10
TEE pREYFrs AFFAIR.

The Dreyfus scandal in France is
matter OF more than common interest
and the civilized world Is interested
We find the following brief summar!
Of the leading events in the case in Al
editorial IN the ST. Louis Republic:
1.-The history Of the Drsyfus case bai
reflected no honor upon the army o.
the civil institutions of France. 0Tei
Eve years ago Il became known thai
military secrets supposed to be solely
In the possession Of the general staff
OF the French army were being banded
about in the war councils Of other
nations. There was treasoH u toe
army and the people demanded the
punishment OF the culput.
alt was shrewdly guessed aud partly
proved that General de BOisdeffre,
while military aitAche at the French
embassy at 81. Petersburg, had trans
cended hs authority by exposing .he
military plans Of his government in the
hope Of accomplishing = military
alliance with the Slav. The result OF
these alleged indiscreuous did not
mAierialize untll after de Bolsdeffre
had been made chief Of the general
staff Of the French army, and then II
was discovered that the information
coBhded TO the Russians had become
common property At Berlin also.
Popular clknor for a victim was
met in October, 1894, by the arrest Of
Captain Alfred Dreyfus, Sn AlsatiAn
jew, prominent in the intelligence de-
partment Of the army, and an officer OF
established ability and character. The
snti-Semiiic bigoty Of public opinion
made DreTfus = convenient scApcgoai,
the ''triAl' was conducted in secret,
three out Of five experts who examined
the letters which formed the chief eVl-
dence against the prisoner pronounced
the documents forgeries. II developed
that one Of the most active sgents
against Dreyfus was an officer whose
viie's name was ~unpleSsantly linked
with that Of General de Boisdeffre, and
from first TO last the investigation
reeked with intrigue, fraud, bigotry,
vanity and 3 palPable desire to shield
the French army at the expense Of the
unhappy Dreyfus.
ale was publicly degraded 10 the
parade ground of the Ecole MilitaIre,
and sent TO DEVILS Island, 8 desolate
spot of the coast Of French Guiana, TO
erpiate s srlme which had never been
fairly fastened upon him. The sppear-
ance Of Emil Zola IN 8 heroic attempt
to secure justice for the exile evoked
another parorysm Of popular frenzy.
The courageous author was Kissed and
spat upon, his life vas threatened, and
the same influence which ruined Drey-
fus expatristed ZOla and put smother
coat Of wbiteEash on the French army.
"Duels were fought, Z0la was exc
Grated, the Jews we're cursed with
insane ~yehemence, the fair names Of
women we're besmircbed, the gentle
wife Of the disgrsced captain was
scorned and b~umiliAted, his children
despised and orphsned-all for the
greater honor and glory Of the French
army.
"And now come. Colonel Henry OF
that French army and admits that the
outcast jew, dying 10 a cage on s
desert island, has more honor In bis
heart than = be saved 10 France out
OF The whole miserable case; that lola
Is 4 prophet; that . whole nation aud
q justice-loyipg world have been in
suited by a lying conspiracy; that the
race hatred which poisoned the shafts
directed at poor Dreyfus is unworthy
Of a people who boast Of liberty and
intelligence.
"When the reaction comes we may
see Emil lola president Of the repub-
lie and Captain Dreyfus 4 marshal OF
France, both doubtful bonors II meas
ured BY the celebrated ease which puts
3 new estimate upon civil justice and
military glory in a republic where
public opinion operates like acute
bysleria."