The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1898-03-04
Lessons 81 the Zola Trlal.

Lessons Of the lola Trial,
Newspapers in the United States fol-
low the trial Of Emile lola, in France,
with running comment which has many
points 6t interest Differences between
tie French methods Of procedure and
our ideas Of tba proper method to
secure justice through the courts
are emphasized, and yet there are
intimations that We are not Ia a
safe position to throw stones It is
pointed out that tile French procedure
IS a survival Of monarchical institu-
hons, standing since the revolutions Of
i789. On what we would call q charge
Of libel the French government prose
qutes lola and Editor Perreux Of
b4uon which published ZoIaie Latter
Of accusation against tho War Depart
ment and others concerned in the court
martial that acquitted Count Esterhazy
from the charge Of benin the real author
Of certain evidence upon which Drey
Jus was erilad The Court Of Assizes,
before which the trial is being held Hlas
limited evidence, 50 far as it could, to
the Estorhazy court martial but in
spite Of all obstacles a great deal Of
evidence bearing upon the Dreyfus AZ
fail has been brought before The jury
Our newspapers, besides giving atten
tention to the current exhibition Of the
mysterious forces Of antisemitism in
Eranoa, insist that IA reality lola IS
lighting for the overthrow Of 9 semi
military regime Of Responsibility
which IS out Of date in a state where
tho theory Of the sovereignty OF the PEG
pie is the ideal Of government,
Time to Remodel Procedure.
France is a republic, in name at
lqast but a Judge ia q criminal trial in
that country has powers granted to 40
Official In q similar capacity in any re-
public in the world 1t has been seen
in the trials recently how completely
the judge dominates everything He
asks almost any question he chooses,
and rules ont others that would be al
lowed in ether countries as q means
Cor getting at the truth. Trial BY jury
is the method Of The Anglo-Saxon PEG
pie, which altho not perfect, has been
laqnd to work Weil among the English
apeaking people the world over, Sup
preston 81 evidence, either in favor Of
the prisoner or against him, is CONTRA y
to tie prevailing opinion in an age
like this.
1.-THE French system il a relic Of older.
Days when military methods Of pro
oedHro were in harmony with civilian
ton as It then existed in shat country
Outsiders recognize the difficulties that
surround the Dreyfus case in the rela
ton France extends to Germany and
Russia but the effects Of ~5nppressing
evidence ia a criminal case for political
reasons on Tie people AS a whole must
give those entrusted with the making
of The laws serious food for reflection
If anything Is kept back chat would
tend toclear up one ease, il might be
kept back ii any and an criminal oases,
and 40 man charged with am oaense,
especially against the government
would feel that he could beproperly de-
Tended when brought to the bar.
THE republic in France has been o
success i87many particulars but in
others tn8 stage Ell expert menta 9aa not
been passed. This might be true IN any
0ther country where a change from q
monarchv to q republic always more
III less violent change had been made
with more or less s~uddenness. France
is working out her destiny successfully
"a republic but the wise thing TO do
Sit any government is to make improve
meuts when they are demanded and
tie time seems sc hand for the methods
al criminal procedure in France to be
remodeled TIE American Baltimore
There IS probably no mystery Of
NNNHAaAA NAAAANM AAAfNA NAAAeHN
averae Partisan mind when Il IS over
come by abagnthe and mysteries miles
lt be q French court eft Justice during
period of popular excitement and gov
efnment stupidity an alien Is q
l0sa t0 grasp d proper view From winch
adequately to serHtinize this mereullal
race and I'll singular legal forms Paris
isnaarly always intoxicated Rarely
ft blessed with the self poise Of perfect
s0brIetN We had no t1dg es who
gaHnizBd no infHngi ah ana no mob
tlae burned heingsa at 8 stake. we might
he tamutad 10 eall ihe P~arisians un
thinkneand injecting barhanans ~ f.
nerhans inst as well % look at Them rs
bitter With Tue gan 81 pfeAHdlea ike
fha people al aIl countn and merei
la with the iniu iea oi 2 pqpnlacg
hiindly following 3 vicious political
nalfy The W8Ild-Harald- omaha