The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-02-27

know that the general stan YVES Watching over
him. and that he. protected by the great chiefs.
must 20 TRANQUILITY on and not disturb himselfo IT
mako any sort OF confession. Such is the inter
est, the only possible interest, of the document
communicated to Esterhazy.
THUS 1t appears from the whole Of the pro-
ceedings In tho Esterhazy trial-from the huis
clos on the expert evidence, from the methods
adopted in regard to Col. Plcquart, from the alb
senco of any sort OF inquiry into the origin of
the secret document-it is everywhere apparent
that the trial was conducted. not with a view to
truth and justice, but for the systematic justin-
cation Of the great military chiefs.
And, gentlemen, tho country has all tho
more right to feel indignant. as the words used
to influence 1t are the more noble. No words
are more grand, more sublime, more sacred
than those of fatherland. national defence, ma
tional honor. But 1t is just because these words
are the most sacred and tho grandest in tho
language that you are bound not to use them
lightly. No. no, thore was in this proclamation
OF the Fatherland something to arouse all
French souls and all upright minds.
And now, why do citizens like lola and
many others with him fling themselves into tho
battlei why have they intervenedi Why have
they uttered this cry Of conscisncei Because
the persons in authority. impotent and absorbed
in intrigue, made no sign. But was 1t not tho
I'M uuty - II oiu III
authority. from the very moment that tho
rumor went abroad that u secret docu-
ment had been communicated to tho Judges
In a criminal trial without being COM
municated to the defendant and his coun-
sel-was 1t not their primary duty to
ascertain whether this violation of tho laws
Of the republic and of human rights had been
committed And why was it not donei Be-
cause the inquiry would assuredly have shown
that that photograph Of the secret document
could have been sont to NJ. Esterhazy only by
the general staff"
Here NJ. Jaures animadverted on the refusal
Of the Government to say. and Of the tribunal
to allow evidence on the question, whether the
secret document existed or not.
at 10 truly wonderful that a country be-
lieving itself to DO free cannot know, either in
the Legislature which enacts the law or the
Court which onforces it. whether the law has
been respected. There are not four Deputies who
doubt this violation. Why do they not speak
and acti The other day, when I put tho
question, fifteen or twenty supported me.
the rest Of tho Chamber being passive.
But afterward numerous Deputies of all
parties said to me: You arc right, but
what a pity that this affair camo on before tho
elections 1 think that they are mistaken. and
that, in spite of all obscurities. insults, and
threats, the country will demand light and
truth; but, even IL truth were to be vanquished.
better to be vanquished with it than to be the
accomplish Of oil these bubbles ana subter-
fuges. Not only has the law been violated. but
violated in peculiarly aggravated circum-
stances. Not only did the then Minis
ter of War communicate q secret document.
but he did not even consult his colleagues
in the Ministry. l have heard from NJ. Dupuy
and from NJ. Delcasse. then Ministers with Gen.
Afnr,,,, tbnt ~ I~,yar,-., o1nnA - onnlya,
of in Cabinet councils as a secret document, and
that no allusion was made to the other secret
document since spoken Of. Not only. therefore.
was the communication illegal. but a single man
took on himself to throw into the scales Of tho
trial a document the value OF which he alone had
ventured to measure. I say that this man, in
spite OF the distinction OF his services. in spite
OF his pride of power, this man is o fragile being
made upiof darkness and pride. OF weakness and
error, and ] do not understand how. in this coun-
try of liberty, one man. a single individual,
dnres to take upon his single conscience to de-
eide as to the life, tho liberty. the honor of an.
other man; and I say that II such customs az
this were tolerated in our country it would BIO
all over with every form Of liberty and justice.
This ia why citizens like lola are right to
rise up and protest. While the Government
was intriguing or equivocating; while Parlia.
mentary parties. the prisoners of fear. kept
silence; while military justice was establishing
the arbitrary methods of the huis clos; the citi-
Gems rose up in their pride. In their liberty,
in their independence. to protest against
the violation Of the law. and it is the
greatest service that they could have
rendered 20 our country. All! I well know that
M. lola is likely to be pursued by passionate
hatreds and attacks in consequence OF this noble
service rendered to the country; and I know also
why certain men hate him and prosecute him.
They pursue in him the man who has main
tanned the rational and scientific Interpretation
OF the miracle; they pursue in him the man
who announced in 'Germinal' the bursting
forth of O new humanity, the rising Of tho
miserable proletariat from the depths of suffer.
ing into the sunlight; they are pursuing in him
the man who has just wrested from tho general
staff that naughty and dangerous irrespons!-
bility under cover OF which are being unwit-
tingly prepared all manner of disasters for the
Fatherland. Thus he may be pursued and
tracked down, but I think ! am expressing the
feeling of free citizens in saying that before him
We bow Respectfully" III. II, G..