The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-01-21
BjOrnstjerne BjOrnsOn Writes to
the French Novelist.
He Joins Him in the Fight for
DreyfUS.
REMARKABLE LETTER
More Dangerous to Try to
Eradicate Hatred
Than Love From the Human
Mind Says BjOrnstjerne.

New York. Jan. M.-A special to the
World from Paris says:
Since the French government refused to
permit Zola to go to Devils island to de-
scribe Dreyfus' situation precisely as it
is. Bjornstjerne Bjornson. the famous
Norwegian novelist. poet and dramatist.
has written from Rome to Zola fol-
lows;
Very Eonored Master: How 7 envy
you. How 1 wish 1 We're IN your place,
in order to render to the country and to
humanity a service like that rendered by
I also have proved by experience that
1t is much more perilOuS to want to erad1-
cate hatred than love from the minds OF
men A host Of things which have for d
long time been taking root in the noblest
as well as in the basest instincts OF the
French people have brought on sttua-
tiOn 50 tragic that a thousand years or
progress and civilization are swept away
All others tremble before the cries and
fury OF barbarians, but they have not made
you reCOil You alone, with Tyre and
sword. narched against nllllonS. Is lntfe
world? That was just what France need
OF Europe are gazing at france at InlS
moment in aStOniShment and pain Two
facts sufficiently explain it. The hrst IS
the lndlctInenI against 11reyIuS. 1t Is
unworthy of men charged with immense
responsibility That Indictment charges
Dreyfus with showing reasonable favor
TO Germany. In the evidence to show
guilt it alleged that he could go to
Alsace more easily than other French Of
ncers That was officially denied by the
AlSaCe-LOrralne government IWice IN the
same year Dreyfus was prohibited from
entering Alsace; the third time he started
he was permitted to spend a week there
because his father was ILL., Has anyone
ever seen a man acting as spy for any
country refused access TO that cOuntry2
The imperial government of Germany.
moreover. has declared officially that
Drefus never had relations with its
agents This allegation Of the Indictment,
therefore is absolutely false. The second
fact is that the official communications
made to the press affirm that the indict-
ment contains only part of the proofs
of Dreyfus' guilt. while the rest are kept
secret having been communicated only
to the judges during the trial.
In other words, Dreyfus was not con-
demned legally. He was deprived of
rank. disgraced and transported beyond
unsupported opinion of few comrades.
a government which in the face of
these confessed facts refuses to review
the DreyfuS court martial assuredly is
more devoid of conscience than any hith-
erto known among civilized peoples.
THAT is the judgment of all Europe,
be assured. Furthermore, Europe ad-
mires what you have done. I have al
ways held the opinion that the work of a
romance writer or a poet bears the same
relation to himselfpers as notes do to
the bank which issues them and which
should have on hand securities cOrre-
spending 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,
'BJORNSTJERNG BJORNSON.''