Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1898-01-16

London, January 15.-The new
phase into which the Dreyfus case has
entered is a distinct advance The
era of secret courts maltial is over, and
a civil and public court will have to
investigate Emile Zola's charges Of
persistent distortion of justice. The
behavior of military authorities in
"Burking" the inquiry casts the grav-
est reflections upon the oft-asserted
honor of the French army, which has
shown an obstinate determination to
stick together, right or wrong.
Out OF France, all Europe believes
Dreyfus is the victim Of a villainous
conspiracy and the prosecution by lola
has broadened the question, for the
whole French army is now virtually on
trial. The gravity of the situation is
enhanced because the whole Of France
is in a state OF growing hysterical ex-
element. Temporarily, the republic
is generally supported throughout the
country; but history shows that SINH
lar hysteria has frequeaCiy lead to VIC
lenca and chaos. When France is able
10 analyze the situation and should
the suspicion spread that the honor Of
the army is really affected, the con-
sequences TO the republic might be Of
the most serious description. The
Panama scandals have deliled political
life and the law courts have been
discredited, therefore, if respect for
the army must also be surrendered the
desire to change the government
MAY BE IRREPRESSIBL
in which case the temptation for the
leaders to divert the attention of the
country to foreign war will be well
nish irresistible. Hence the deep in
toIest of Frances neigkbors
For the moment the intense excite
ment will probably find an outlet in
the renewal Of the spectacle presented
during the liveliest days Of Boulanger-
ism. Hot alterations in the streets
leading to assaults, are frequent, the
police are guarding the houses Of
prominent Dreyfu5ians, and it is i'm
possible to foresee where the affair
will end. SANDER and denunciation
are SO rampant that the authorities
are taking special precautions to pre-
vent the illuminated from taking the
law into their own hands. Duels have
already resulted. A monster manifes
tation is preparing in Paris for Su :
day. Allegedly, it is anti-Dreyfusia 4;
really, it is anti-Semetic, and unless
prohibited it is feared serious riots
may be the sequel.
Temporarily overshadoWed, the
movement of the French on the Upper
Nile are again becoming unpleasantly
prominent to those who ina gined that
Great Britain had undisputed claims
upon those regions. 1t is immaterial
to discuss the exact Whereabouts Of the
French expeditions. 1t suftices that,
according to the bulk Of evidence, they
have penetrated to Bahr-E i-Ghazal,
the most fertile province of the Egyp-
tan Soudan, with
THE DISTINCT MANDATE
of their goverI~nent. If this is true,
and the declarations of successive Brit
ish cabinets mean anything, NJ. Hon
ataux, the French minister for foreign
affairs, has brought about a causus
belli.
Thus far NJ. HonotauX seems to have
the advantages; but, the game is dan-
gerous Fear of war with France will
not stop Great Britain from recovering
the whole Of the Egyptian Soudan and
driving out any French expeditions
which may be found there when, in the
opinion of the Marquis of Salisbury
the proper time has arrived. In the
meantime Prince Henry of Orleans is
fitting out, at Marseilles, and evidently
with the approval of the government,
an armed expedition to subdue the
equatorial provinces which the Negus
presented, claiming they had belonged
to Abyssinia in prehistoric times; but,
in reality these provinces are identical
with those Great Britain is seeking to
restore to Egypt. So. perhaps there
is some truth in the story that the ac-
tivity of the British is due to the Egyp-
tian intelligence department Tearing
that the French Abyssinia troops have
reached Fashado, that King Menelik is
preparing reinforcements with the in
tention of following up this success,
and that common policy, which is
morally supported by Russia, united
France and Abyssinia.