The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-29
BY PREMIERDUPUY
WHO SAID PICQUARTs CoURT-MAR-
TIAL WOULD NOT BE POSTPONED.
His Speech Regarded as Having Been
The Government Upheld.

| PARIS, NoY. 2S.-An immense mass meet
| Ing was held this evening in favor Of Col.
Picquart Thousands of people, shouting
| Conspuez Rochefort!" and "Conspuez Dru-
ment!" marched to the Cherche-M Midi prison,
where Picquart is confined, and cheered and
demonstrated there on his behalf The anti
Picquartites rallied, and there were several
conflicts between the two bands. The
demonstration was the outcome Of
a stormy meeting of the Cham
| Der of Deputies. The chamber was
! crowded to-day, much interest be-
ing taken in the announced intention of
! some of the deputies to interpellate the gov
ernment on the Picquart case NJ Paul
! Deschannel, Republican, announced that he
| had received request to interpellate the
government regarding the Picquart pro-
! ceedings, and the premier, NJ Dupuy, pro-
posed an immediate discussion of the mat
! ter. M Fourniere, Socialist asked for an
| adjournment for an hour and half in or
der that the Republican deputies might be
| able to consult with their colleagues in the
Senate regarding the adoption of a common
policy. The Chamber rejected the motion
to adjourn by vote of 252 to pa.
Radical deputy, NJ. Bos, opened the dis
cussion. He said that while there had been
there had been nothing but dishonesty in
the Picquart affair These remarks caused
an uproar Continuing, NJ. Bos detailed the
history of the Picquart persecution" re-
calling Colonel Picquarts exile to Tunis
and asked the minister of war; NJ. De Frey
| cinet. why he had permitted court-martial
to be summoned for Dec H. The deputy
also accused General Zurlinden, the mill
tary Governor of Paris, who, he said, had
promised a revision of the case of having
broken his word. This caused another up
roar. NJ. Bos concluded by insisting that
the government ought to postpone the trial
of Picquart by court-martial until the de-
cision of the Court of Cessation in the re-
vision of the Dreyfus trial IS made known.
This brought forth lively applause from the
majority OF the deputies.
POSTPONEMENT NECESSARY.
M AIilerand, Radical Socialist, spoke in a
similar strain. He said it was absolutely
| necessary to postpone the Picquart court
martial in order to avoid the scandalous
contradictions which otherwise were likely
to arise between the verdicts of the court
martial and of the Court of Cessation.
The president Of the Chamber at this
stage of the proceedings was frequently
obliged to intervene in order to quiet the
uproar on all sides.
NJ. Poincare, Republican, made an i'm
| passioned speech in the course of which he
| said 1t was not necessary to confound the
army with q few imprudent men. While
! the members of the court-martial were
above suspicion the prosecution Of Picquart
savored of reprisal. (Applause) Colonel
| Picquart's secret Imprisonment, M. Poincare
| further asserted, was beyond all precedent
and there were guilty persons, he claimed
who were enjoying scandalous immunity
| (Applause) There are other forgers be-
side Picquart who ought to be prosecuted
exclaimed the deputy. '"These injustices will
| end by eXasperating the nation" M Poin-
| care, who was minister of public instruc-
ton in 1S93-95, created a sensation by add
| ing: I'VE were attacked for the Dreyfus
prosecution in 1894, but I learned of the
Dreyfus affair through the newspapers
Tremendous applause and uproar followed
| this assertion.
NJ. Barthou, who was minister of public
works in 1894, here interjected: II am ready
to indorse the words of NJ. Poincare, which
are true
This called forth more applause and ex-
clamations Of ut is absurd, 'It is incon-
ceivable."
THE ONLY PROOF OF GUILT.
Thereupon NJ. Poincare added: THE only
proof of Dreyfus's guilt in 1894 consisted of
the bordereau. No Cabinet minister, nor
even the president OF the council of min
listers, heard any mention of the confessions
| Dreyfus is alleged to have made to Captain
Lebrun- -Renault." (Applause)
NJ. Cassagnac. the former minister of war,
said: General Mercier secured those con-
fessions" General Mercier was minister
of war at the time of the Dreyfus trial)
NJ. Poincare continued: Captain Lebrun-
Renault. when he was examined by the
president of the council did not mention the
Dreyfus confession"
| This statement caused applause to break
forth from all parts of the house, dur
ing which NJ. Cavaignac tried to speak. but
was howled down, although one deputy
shouted: Let us hear the hero of the for
gerry"
NJ Poincare concluded by saying: SILENCE
has weighed heavily upon me- and am now
happy to have had the opportunity to tell
what ] know of the case" (Renewed ap-
plause.)
NJ. Cavaignac reasserted that Captain
Lebrun- -Renault's evidence was given to
General Mercier 'IIis report exists" he
exclaimed, amid uproar and cries Of Date
date!" But perhaps Captain Lebrun-
Renault has since retracted his admissions"
Shouts of surprise followed this suggestion.
| NJ. De Freycinet said: THE government
on assuming Office, found the proceedings
pending. We have only one anxiety, and
| that is 10 ascertain the truth. We do not
| object to furnishing the Court of Cassation
with all the evidence available, excepting
the evidence involving the national defense
Both the civil and military courts are fully
equipped to deal with the respective cases.