New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-07
". ZOLA on TRIAL.

One Of the most noteworthy lawsuits Of this
generation begins to-dcy. NJ Emile lola, one
Of the foremost literary men Of France. is the
defendant The Government Of the French Re
public is the prosecutor. The grounds Of ac-
ton are the uterances of NJ. lola in his recent
oren letter TO the President of the Republic.
the salient portions of which were recently re-
produced in these columns NJ Zola charged,
in the most emphatic and unequivocal terms,
that the recent court-martal acquitted Count
Esterhazy under orders and contrary TO justice;
that by thus inquitousy doing it cast suspi-
con upon the judgments of all military trl-
bunas that may hereafter be constituted in
France. and that il covered other Illegal deeds
by itself deliberately and knowingly commit
ting a crime-the crime of acquittng man
whom it knew to be guilty, in order TO perpet-
rate the condemnation of a man whom it knew
to be innocent. For saying these things he Is
to be tried. That he will defend himself with
much vigor is assured But he will do more
than that. He WIZ attempt to turn the tables
against his accusers by proving the truth Of
his charges and thus convctng the Govern
ment or at least the Military Administration
of one Of the most hideous Of crimes.
VI. lola will endeavor TO prove that two Of
Captain Dreyfus Of a crime which they knew
he had not committed. in order TO screen the
real culprt: that the Minister for War himself
suppressed The proofs of Dreyfuss innocence,
and that two other leading generals were his
accomplices in SO doing; that the officers Of the
court martial acted with deliberate and mon
strous partially: that the experts in handwrit-
ing perjured themselves; that the War Office
has been conducting newspaper campaign to
II islead public opinion; ard that the Dreyfus
court martial acted illegally In condemnng an
accused man on the sole strength of a secret
document These are terrible charges to make
against Government. 1t is scarcely conceiva-
bic that man of NJ. Zola's acumen would make
them lightly or without not only a personal
conviction Of their truth. but also n formula
bic amount of evidence TO that effect What
ever may be the outcome Of it. the trial, If not
smothered by persistent suppression Of evidence
must be replete with sensational incidents, and
perhaps with scandalous revelations.
The list of witnesses to be called by NJ. Zola
is a formidable one In includes many Of the
foremost public men of France, some Of whom
say they cannot imagine why they should be
summoned and that they will refuse TO attend.
1t includes various foreign diplomats. who. Of
course cannot be compelled 10 testify II they
DO not wish to or If their governments wish
them not to. 1t also includes number Of army
officers on the active list, whom the Minister
for War declares he Will not permit TO testify.
This last circumstance will be deemed unfortu-
nate The Minister has the right to prevent
them from testifying; but his doing so will in
evitably give rise to the suspicion that they
know things which the Government is afraid TO
have revealed. The most serious circumstance
Of all however. is the temperament Of the pub
lie In no other country would there be so
much danger of panics, Of unreasoning STAN
pedes. Already the mob of Paris has shown
itself ready for any extreme. The effect upon
it Of the revelations that may be made this
week is what is above all to be regarded with
apprehension. The fortunes Of an eminent lit
erary man are on trial. So the self-re
strant Of the people and the ability Of the
Government TO govern.