The times., 1898-02-15

The number Of Zola's friends and Of
Dreyfus's sympathizers is increasing
hourly, and i'm bounds. but so, too, is
t-Dreyfus and the anti-ZOlaists, and the
abuse which these latter heap upon who
ever has a word to say, either in behalf
If ZOla or DTeyfus, is beyond descrip
tion. II Zola is acquitted, the exasper
alton OF The anti-Dreyfus party Will
reach such a point that ani-Semite
riots. OF even an actual insurrection,
are almost certain. to occur. and the Jews
n Paris are manifesting a good deal of
nervousness about the matter. 1t is
worthy Of note that the dnu-DreyfuS
feeling is more particularly violent
among the lower middle class, that is 10
say. among those who are more espec-
tally disposed toward anti-Semitism. and
it is doubtful whether either the police
OF the military could be depended upon
to suppress the riots
Les Youpins, the slang word used in
France for Iile jews. are to such de-
gree eXecrated by the masses and by the
lower middle ciases that an attempt TO
pillage their houses and their places of
business may be looked for at any mo-
ment on the part of the mob which is
likely to encounter but little interference
on the part of the republican guards,
the military or the police. The situation,
in fact. is very OminOus, and the only
bit of daylight is the growing likelihood
Of Iola eventually winning his brave
fight on behalf of Dreyfus, although
widespread belief prevails to the effect
that he viii be done to death by his jail
ers before any order of release could be
putSinto execution.
The impending visit of Prince Fer
70 htrr he
nouncement that the Sultan has order
ed his minister of war to Immediately
get ready no less than eighty regi-
mentS for service in Roumania, the
Warlike preparations in Bulgaria, Rus
Sia's threat to occupy Armenia under
the preteXt OF putting a stop to the
action of brigandage committed on
Muscoyite territory by Ottoman irreg-
ular cavalry, who crossed the frontier
for that purpose, the menacing atti-
tude of the Cars ambassador at Con-
Stantinople. in connection with his de-
mands for the immediate payment of
the $i50,000000 war indemnity due by
the Porte to Russia since 1871 and
finally the remarkable utteranceS of
Emperor William in presenting the
Grand Duke Constantine of Russia to
the German regiment at Spandau, of
wEich ne had made him honorary col
onel, ali tend to confirm the impression
that a conflict is imminent in the east
of Europe.
This is the state of sentiment in Of
ficiat and political circles here, and
the same ideas prevail at Berlin, where
the chilling and sighting manner in
which the Grand Duke Constantine re-
sponded TO the Kaiser's postprandial
reference to the possibility of com
radeshlp in arms between Russia and
Germany has excited hostile comment.
The Grand Duke Constantine is the
member of the reigning house of Rus
sia who enjoys to the greatest degree
the confidence and intimacy of the
Car. He is exceedingly accomplished
and Very liberal in his ideas. He has
published popular volume of patri
otic and military poems. and is presi
dent of the Imperial Academy of Sell
ences at st. Petersburg. His cold and
repellant attitude toward the Kaiser
in view of his being the Cars most
trusted adviser, is extremely signifi-
cant.