The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-09-04
SUNDAY. SEPTEMBER 3, 1893.


The Trcyfus case might nave "DNui-'"
An Russia. but FOR SO To- favc occurred
in a country like France. pretending TO
be a Republic. and claiming to DE one
81 the best opponents of our civilization
fsa lasting disgrace TO her. The man was
tried by a court-marual, in secret 'es-
sions. and as far as can Doc mafe onI
upon documentary evidence that Inc was
given no opportunity 10 meet I'm criuc'I
way. and after being condemned in
trial 10 which n dos should not he SUBJ
1ectcd, the French Go. rnmont has dog
sedly persisted in maintanins the con-
domination and shul,ing out amy pos-
sibilifv OF n review OF his sentence upon
the ground tina. tho honor of the army
was involved and that am innocent man
had better suffer than that the military
service should be exposed. 1T is hard 10
say which is the more infamous-to sub-
sect an innocent man TO cruel punish
mcnt. or 20 teach an army that It's honor
Is promoted by an injustice.
The latest indications are that tho
French conscience 0his sounds like a
1oko). is being coercod. and that the gov-
eminent viii be froccd 10 grant Droylus
a new trial which viii be held next time
I'm public. whore military sataps VIII ma
greater difficulty in cutting the accused
off from such dcfoncos as he may have.
Though. indeed after the scenes that
wore Witnessed upon the trial Of NJ.
lola. it IS hard 10 foreteli where French
Justice Will balk. But IN a trial before
the whole public it seems almost impos-
sible that DreyfEs can DE again con-
ylctod upon the evidence produced at the
former trial in the first place, am im-
portant piece OF that documentary evil
dence Is now confessed TO Ice "A forgery.
The case IS not one in which the maxim,
"falsus in uno. faisus in omnibus" would
necessarily prevail but a case comes into
court with a very black eye when it has
10 confess that one Of the chief cN-
dences that a. has heretofore asked the
tribunal 90 receive is fabrication and
q forgery. An impartial judge cannot
fail 10 look upon such a htgant with the
gravest suspicion. lie must say 10 him.
perhaps. hut stin you deceived me- maxi
ing me. possibly, do an innocent man
great wrong. i am bound TO examine an
that you now prefer with the most criti-
cal eve and 10 give tho accused
the benefit Of every presumption
against your case" Tried with the
advantages that this position would give
Dreyfus anywhere else, 1t does not seem
possible that he can be again convicted
even in France.
But French justice French ways, and
the whole French mind are inacrutable.
and no man can ever foreteh what is
going 10 happen IN France. Under our
system Of jurisprudence, 1t is considered
better that thousand guilty men should
20 free than that one innocent man should
suffer. But the French people think the
other way. They think 1t better that a
thousand innocent men should suffer than
that one guilty man should escape. The
Anglo-Saxon IS prone 90 hot blood, and
he may Stay while In his wrath. But lac
treats more Tor preventing crime to sound
moral instruction than he does Go the
hangman and the penuteutiary. Not So,
however. with the Tronchman or any
others OF the Latin race They believe IN
breaking bones and the marks OF hand-
cuffs as prevention OF crime. Punishment
Is their Instructor where wholesome adj
vice and admonition 81 ours. They may
hang Drcyfus Ibis time Just 20 show evil
doors that they can do anything when
hunting for cupfits.
II now comes out from Paris that a
new and public trial FOR Drcyfus would
certainly mean war between France and
Germany. We cannot imagine how this
can be so. FTenchmen are not going 20
declare war against Germany because
they End that Gremany has been endeav-
oring TO penetrate their military secrets
even by the use OF spies. because the na-
tions OF Continental Europe have always
done this, ana it Is accepted amongst
them as a sort Of common right TO do 60.
Germany Is certainly not going TO declare
war upon France because she IS caught
I'm such an act. for the same reason. Bach
will look upon the case as very gross
violation Of the Eleventh Command