The record-union., 1898-11-19
JUSTICE IN FRANCE


THE sense of justice IS blunted in
france says San Francisco contem-
porary. Tt is worse than blunt. It is
aemau1, a bludgeon and a travesty on
the word justice. Think of trying
Dreyfus, for instance, and the defend
ant 5000 miles away from the court, his
counsel refused permission to examine
thespapers used against the defendant
and afforded no opportunity to consult
withshis unfortunate client.
Yet the French call that justice. On
the stage it would be denominated bur
1esques or the raw creation of a bru-
tai fancy. But this is the least of the
evils in the French system Injustice
maybe righted by revolution, but when
the courts and the Cabinets become so
MIXED as to operate one upon the other
foG.political ends, Heaven help liberty
iny that land. Preceding the decision to
grant Dreyfus revision Of his trial the
Erisson Ministry fell because it had
referred the case to the Court of Cas-
sationA When the court took up the
case officials from the War Depart
ment appeared before it and warned it
MOTTO grant revision.
Think Of an army officer in this land
entering a court Of justice for a SIM
ilarspurpose. Think of a Cabinet Of the
President of the United States being
driven to resignation because a civil
court had BEEN asked to review a Grim
hnal case in which it was charged in
Justice had been done. On the fall of
the Brisson Ministry Dupuy undertook
osform a new Cabinet, but it had to
Desbuilt upon lines relating to the Drey-
fts case and only men were called to it
who favored revision, men who would
not do as did General Chanoine,
Minister of War, arise in the Cham
Der and declare his conviction to be
that Dreyfus was guilty. OF course
a vote of want of confidence followed
that declaration and Brisson went the
way with his imprudent War Minister.
Yet there were 80 members in the
Chamber who expressed themselves
boldly that the Government should up
hold the honor of the army by ending
"a campaign of insult against it''-for
such the army holds the inquiries into
e.Dreyfus case to be. Imagine such
a situation in the United States-it is
simply impossible.
When the vote of want of confidence
was taken it was in the midst Of the
most disgraceful tumult, and after it
was had bowling mob of thousands
assembled in front of the Chamber hall
and sought to intimidate the members
by the coarsest abuse, the mob being
anti-Dreyfus and haters of the Semitic.
To the Partisan mob it matters not
what injustice is done, so long as its
hatreas and prejudices are not crossed.
Tt holds it to be right and proper for
theecourts to trim their interpretations
ofsthe, law to fit the outcry of the
moment.
The Paris mob has Dreyfus convicted
IN its judgment, and it will not tolerate
any other pronouncement. If Dreyfus
is brought back to Paris we may ex-
pect ito hear of mobs, and riots and Of
assaults upon his prison. If the case
is foundsto be one without warrant for
holding Dreyfus guilty, the likelihood
issthatsthe trial body viii be mobbed,
the Ministry assaulted, and even the
president himself may not escape vio-
rence.
Butswhen the second trial of Dreyfus
comes on, there will be trouble enough
in Paris. True, the confessions of
Henry have modified the judgment of
the better class Of citizens, but the
mob is as hostile as ever, and it is i'm
probable that it viii be content with
anything short Of the absolute subver-
sion of justice at the second court
martial The army will demand it and
the court-martial will not dare to Of
fend the army. In any case therefore,
Dreyfus cannot entertain much hope.
He is prejudged and will remain con-
victed. Certainly justice in France is
strange; it is incomprehensible by peo-
pleko this side of the globe.