New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-06
ZOLA'S VICTORY.
1T COMEDIES WITH THE CELEBRATION
OF MICHELET's CENTENNTAI~-LET.
TIERS OF COLONEL COMBES
AGAINST ZOLAS FA-
THEIR.

The first victory of Emile lola. in his fight -
bring about revision OF Dreyfuss trial, may
have been partly due to the reaction OF the en-
thuslasm with which the anniversary Of the birth
Of Michelet. the only acknowledged national his
toran Of France. was celebrated. This qualification
was once given by Napoleon III. TO NJ. Theirs. be-
cause he had written a massive history OF his uncle
Napoleon I. But the French people never ratified
the Judgment OF the imperial nephew. and in
France there is only one national" historian that
is. Mcheet. who wrote the whole history OF the
country in liberal spirit. like that which inspired
Motley and other American authors.
on the occasion OF Michelet's centennial. many
papers published extracts from his books bearing
upon the Semitic question. which had never dis
turbed France before but which has been for the
last two years such a deep and dangerous cause
OF trouble. 4 few quotations will give an idea
OF the opinion which Michelet entertained OF tho
Jewish people, and explain the change OF opinion
which seems to be taking place in France. whence
lola has just been compelled to hee. The historian
who. with Edgard Quinst was the beloved leader
OF French young before they were expelled
by tyranny from their lcc,ure-chairs at the IA
College de France. wrote In his History OF
France:
What constitutes the greatness. grandeur. OF
the Jews in the Middle Ages. what gives to them
their immens, renown and merit. Is that they were
for long time the only ring which was bndine
Orient to Occident: which. In that npious oisorse
Mussulman and Christian. and preserved from one
world to the other a permanent communication OF
trade and of light. . Whenever the excess OF
evils drove people TO despair In the Middle ages,
whenever human spirit dared TO ask how In TINS
ideslistc paradise Of world so subservlent y
the Catholic Church only hell had been reanzeo;
the Church seeing the obect OF the query nastenSo
to stfe II by saying: THAT is the crime Oh tne
Jews. The murderers OF our Lord are yet uhpun-
ished" Then people attacked the Jews, VINO wero
burned. slaughtered. and then occurred the stupor
which follows these orgies OF death, and every
thing fell back the folds OF dark order. misery
and serfdom. ,,,.
The jews were accused not only OF having killed
Christ. but of killing Christians through usury.
These Christians charged them with crime WHICH
their own. The Jews did not practise usury
when they were allowed to do anything else :.
The chief point in the history OF the Jews Is the
effort they made at certain epochs TO renounce
usury. and the stupid furore with which the Chris
tans forced them back 10 It.
Just many people ask what s the real object
France. where anti-Jewish sentiments had never
existed since the Middle Ages. The Dreyfus AZ
fair was mere pretext to serve the ends or some
politicians little friendly to the maintenance or the
republican form OF government In France In the
last trial, the question moral one excIuslveiys
1t TO decide whether II Is permitted TO drag
into any polenics tho sacred memory Of dead pa.
rents The French military staff had gone oeyond
It's powers In communicating to the Editor or tho
Petit Journal" letters. dated sixty years ago.
and writer by Colonel COmbes. who related In
them the trial Of Zoa's father. who was then an
officer and accused OF theft. II must be noted that
tust now a French officer ex-Lieutenant Colonel
muncated to the press unimportant documents
held in the General Staff's office but which had
been brought out in the former trials In the Drey'
fls affair