New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-23
EMILE lola. HERO AND

The lola trial ends to-day. Maftre Labor
will bring his cogent and convincing argument
to a close The Presiding Judge will submit
the case to the jury with all possible bias In
favor Of the prosecution. The mob Of Paris
which has had full freedom Of the court, will
raise It's brutal clamor Of death TO Zola
Death to the Jews" led by army officers and
unchecked by the Judge. And after more or
less deliberaton the Jury will bring In YER
dict Of Guilty or Not Guilty. In theory the
verdict is the climax Of trial. In this case il
cannot fail to be an anti-climax. Interest In
II will be perfunctory. However shrilly the
newsboys may cry II on the streets II will sound
dull as a twice-tod tale upon the ear. There
Is hearing and there is thought for one thing
alone, and that thing is the speech Of the de
PENDANT. IN that titanic utterance the great
case found its climax. 1t matters not what fol
lows No word Of twelve can overmatch the
word of one when that one is n hero speaking
from his soul for truth and right.
Such was NJ. Zola's utterance on Monday
Call 1t argument, call It appeal call it defiance.
as you will. 1t was all three In one. And as
each and as whole 1t was unique amid court
speeches of our times. For its match In IN
trinsic eloquence and pathos we must turn back
to the classic days Of oratory; and even there
we shall scarcely find It's superior. For its
equal IN national moment one knows moi
whittier to turn. The dying words Of Robert
Emmett were full Of moving pathos. The clos
Ing speech Of Sheridan In the Impeachment
trial Of Warren Hastings was masterpiece OF
austere adjuration. But this was even more. II
dealt not merely with the fate Of It's author.
nor with the incomparably mournful fate Of the
exile Of Devils Island. Nor did 1t touch upon
the honor and stability alone of the Court to
which 1t was addressed. The orator spoke for
the honor Of the fatherland IN his own words.
for the salvation Of France; for the cause
of humanity of justice and Of eternal truth.
The verdict Of the jury matters little. 1t will
not change a single minds opinion in all the
world The injustice Of the Court the travesty
Of trial have discounted It's value hopelessly
The world has watched and llstered and has
already framed verdict to It's own satisfac-
ton. 1t has hitherto had much fault to find
with Emile lola. and most justly. To-day it
forgives him much. 1t believes that he has
spoken the truth, and that he has done so be-
cause of an unsehsh love OF truth. He has
brought upon himself the obloQuy Of the very
rabble that once hailed with JOY his less cred
table works but he has won for himself the
esteem and praise of millions 10 whom his very
name was once dstasteful. The savage bowls
and shrieks that assalled him In the courtroom
are lost In the worldwide plaudts of those who
honor manhood and believe in righteousness.
The verdict of the jury matters little 1t will
supply only one word TO the defendants title.
Hero he Is already. 1t rests with the twelve
Jurors to say whether he is also to be Martyr
or Victor AID even that matters little. for in
such cause a martyr is victor.