The record-union., 1898-02-23
THE ZOLA TRIAL.

It is exceedingly difficult for the
average American whose education has
not been along the line Of French law
to comprehend such procedure as char
acterized the Zola trial at Paris To
the American accustomed to the broad
est possible opportunity to make de-
Tense to common witnesses and put
them under compulsion to testify re-
gaFdless of station or rank, military or
naval standing, it seems a travesty
upon justice and an outrage upon hu-
man rights to read Of military and
Government officers of France bluntly
telling the court Of trial that they re-
fuse to testify, or that this, that or
the other thing is a matter of their own
business, and not of the courts; that
they are the best judges of what is rel
evant and material in the case, etc.
So, too. it appals the American to
hear of a witness under oath rising in
his box and declaiming to the jury
against the defendant, as would a hired
advocate. Scarcely less astounding is
it to learn that while the defendant
was addressing the jury in his own de-
fense he was checked by the. Judge and
informed that he had no right to chal-
lenge the truthfulness of certain wit
nesses, who occupy high Government
position.
fs0Tz ial xr-nA 1rcf ta,c.
been conducted strictly according to the
French code, but assuredly though
France is a Republican limited de-
gree, however-such a system would
not obtain in America single day.
ANY attempt to set 1t up here would
cause a revolt that would topple our
social and political system from its
foundations. The idea of crowds of
partisans filing the hall of justice and
3ntimidating court, jury and witnesses
by their shouts and cries; the thought
OF an armed military body in a civil
court OF criminal Jurisdiction the duty
of which is to cow the defendant, pro-
tect military witnesses and remain ST.
lent and inactive when the mob inter-
rupts proceedings with political cries,
and hurls anathe1r1as at the prisoner In
the dock and witnesses in the box
these things revolt the American senti-
ment OF justice, fair play and square
dealing.
What would be thought IN this coun-
try, say In San Francisco for instance,
of the pupils Of the Hastings Law
School gathering in body in the lobby
of the Superior Court during the trial
Of Ffgel for the murder of Hoffman,
and robed as pupils of the State School,
capped with the University mortar
board, rioting and roaring until court
proceeding would cease Of necessity,
shouting against the defendant and
calling upon the mob to hang the Jew
and all other Jews" and as a result
being simply dispersed with soft words
and entreaties.
These things are inconprehensible to
the American with his larger, higher
and better ideas Of justice and fair
play. But the incidents OF the Zola
trial have a distinct value for US mas
much as they serve In the most strik-
ing manner TO illustrate how much
more of liberty we enjoy, how much
broader are our privileges. how much
better hedged about are our civil rights,
how much more justly, mercifully and
righteously guarded are the guarantees
OF citizenship for us and our families.
We perceive now how in the so-caiied
republic Of France where title remains,
and rank of blood and place are still
recognized, that the military power
may cow the civil arm and political
chicane interrupt the course of justice.
For back of the Zola trial are the cleo
tions about to take place. But for
that fact Zola would have been ac-
Quilted by this time. or at worst he
would have been convicted of mere
indiscretion and have been set free after
mere nominal punishment.
There is a powerful and dangerous
element in France doing its utmost to
bring about such a state of public feel