New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-13
THE NEW ZOL4JSn.

The moral honorS OF the week rest with VI.
lola What the remainder of the trial VIII re-
veol is undetermined Thus far its trend has
been unmstakable. The prosecution has shown
a persistence in Withholding and suppressng
evidence and in preventing full inquiry which
does not seem compatible with a sincere desire
for Justice Leaving out of the reckoning all
that has been testified in NJ. Zolas behalf. the
conduct of the prosecution and its partisans has
been such as to strengthen greatly the impress
sion that some terrible wrong has been done
which is now, at all costs to be kept hidden
If such be not the case there never was Gov
eminent more unfortunate in suffering the ap-
pearance of evil. But that is not all VI. lola
has. despite obstruction. brought forward some
damning testimony That given by Colonel
Picouart has a significance that cannot be IL
nored Colonel Picquart is an officer of high
ability and unimpeachabe character. He was
detailed a couple of years ago to investigate
some cases of suspected treason He did so.
He found what seemed convincing proof that
Major Esterhazy was conducting a reasonable
correspondence and that the latter was the
real author Of the "bortlereau' not call
it memorandum" In good English:-on the
strength of which Captain Dreyfus was con-
demned 10 n living death. one would nave
supposed the authorities would be gratihed AT
his success in investigating the case. But no.
The trail was getting too hot They called MN
off and sent him TO Tuns; and while he was
there violated the mails and opened all his let
tiers They recalled him TO testify at the Ester
hazy trial. but refused 10 listen TO his charges
against that officer and finally put him into
jal-for having found ont too much? And now
PicQuart is denounced by his superior officer
for having in the course Of his Investigations,
searched Esterhazy's rooms. when that same
superior officer himself had Picquart's rooms
similarly searched.
The stubborn refusal of the prosecution 10 let
the Dreyfus trial be reopened or even discussed
IS also exceedingly suspicious. They say it is
closed" True; but the Esterhazy trial is equal
ly closed, yet they do not object 10 questions
about it. Why should the Dreyfus case alone
be declared taboo? Two answers have been
given Neither is proved. But no third is sug-
gosted. One is that Dreyfus was wrongly con
victed as a scapegoat for another man. Ihat IS
what NJ. lola charges. and what many of the
foremost men in France believe. The other is
that the foreign Power to which French secrets
were being betrayed was no other than Frances
prOfessed friend and ally. This latter suppose
ton has been much strengthened of late by
responsible and official utteranceS The Ger
man Government has declared. in the most d-
rect and emphatic manner. that it had no deal
ings with Dreyfus nor did any of It's agents
A similar declaration is made by Italy. With
what Power. then. DrcyfuS negotiating
supposing him 10 have been traitor: There
Is only one answer. But to let il be known that
Russia had been guilty of such perfidg would
produce consequences too serious for cOntem
plation. Such a catastrophe must be prevented
at all hazards Therefore the Dreyfus case
must not be so much as mentioned 1t may be-
Of course, that neither OF these answers is the
true one. If so. for its own sake the French
Government should make the truth known ri
once and to the satisfaction Of the world. Al
present no man can he blamed for failing to
understand how Drcyfus can he guilty and
Russia innocent
II would be an unpleasant thing to confess
that ali innocent man had been condemned
through official conspiracy 10 shield the guilty
one 1t would be unpleasant 10 admit that
Frances friend and ally either had been lrcach
erous 10 France or had suspected France of
being treacherous TO her. But neither of these
things would be as bad as TO suffer permanently
the reproach or even the strong suspicion that
courts of justice are. by official order delb
erately unjust. And in all possible kindness it
must be said that such a suspicion is now wide
~ entertained and Is daily gaining strength
1t will be an everlasting honor 10 NJ. lola if
he shall succeed AZ whatever cost. in com
pelllng his Fatherland to free itself therefrom
Hitherto Zolaism has meant all that Is unclean
and sensational That definition may have to
~. no lais fnt
love of truth and Justice and high elfsacrifce
At the present moment. AT any rate. II seems
to mean gallant fight for what its author sin
cerely believes 10 be the right.