The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-09-27
TUESDAY. SEPTEMBER p, 1893.
THE CRISIS IN FRANCE.

Affairs III Il any ~
and the struggle between the civl ana
military powers may soon break out into
open hostilities.
Tho Cabinet met on Saturday 10 con-
slider the question Of the proposed re-
vision Of the Dreyfus case, but owing TO
the absence of some Of the members the
matter was postponed until Monday Yes
+erday the Cabinet again met and ordered
N. sarrien. Minister Of Justice 10 lay
before the Court of Cessation CHE court
Of appeals) the petition of Madame Drey-
FMS. wife of the prisoner on Devll
Island. for the revision Of her husband 5
sase.
The question for the court TO decide Is
xhether or not the first trial of the ac-
FUSED was made null by tho confession Oh
Colonel Henry, a witness before the court
martial. who confessed that he had
forged a certain document in the case
which was deemed necessary TO the con-
viction Of Dreyfus.
The suicide Of Colonel Henry, preceded
as it was by his confession, caused a
great sensation. and II was believed that
this would insure another trial for Drey-
fus and an acquittal. IT is, indeed a
triumph for the prisoner that the Caol-
net has permitted the appeal, but what
the court will do is stin q matter OF
speculation.
For the past two years there has been
a hard fight in favor of revision by those
who love Justice better than they love
the army, and eloquent pleas were made
by lola. Clemenceau and others, but the
friends Of the army, and their name
is legion. have refused to listen to any
accusation against the General Military
staff the accusers Of Dreyfus.
As far back as September l5 1885,
LEclair. the recognized organ OF the
General stan, confessed that Dreyfus had
not been convicted. but for the memoran-
DUN. in which, as alleged, he revealed
TO the Germans the secrets of the mobili-
ga,ion OF the French troops, called IN
military parlance "bordereau' The
paper then went on 20 say that letter
written by a German military attache to
a station attache had been seized and
photographed, in which at was said that
this scoundrel Dreyfus becomes very
exacting." 1t turned out. however. that
the word Dreyfus did not appear in the
original. but only the initial letter D., the
other letters to the name being supplied
by some one. il was also admitted that
this letter was not shown TO Dreyfus, nor
submitted 10 the court during the trial.
But when the judges were in the council
chamber. out of the presence Of the ac-
cused. that document was communicated
and decided his conviction. So said
LEclair.
Dreyfus is a Hebrew from The city
of Mulhfmsen, Alsace, who had elected
70 becoaue a citizen Of France when
Alsace parsed under the dominion OF Ger
many. He was an artillery officer, the
happy head of happy family. and was
possessed OF ample fortune. It was In
conceivable that he should turn traitor to
France for a pecuniary consideration but
the General stan were determined that
he should be condemned and condemned
he was. After his sentence he was taken
from tho military prison to the square OF
the Ecole Militaire. in Paris. where the
troops had been assembled TO witness his
degradation. The insignia OF his rank
were torn from his clothes, and his sword
broken. and while this was going on a
funeral march was played by the band
in February. 1895. no was sent TO Devils
Island. one OF the most desolate places
sn the world. where he has since been
kept IN close confinement.
Bur Dreyfus was not forgotten. III
had friends who believed in his limo
cence, and after the confession Of
L'Eclalre. Emile zola, the great novelist
took up his pen mad wrote mis- famou:
letter 20 President Faure.
.commandant Esterhazy had been &C
cused OF being the author OF the Dor
dereau." but was tried by court-martia
and acquitted. lola. therefore. made
two charges. lie accused the court which
sentenced Dreyfus OF having condemned
: man on a document which ,Has lnsysI