The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-01-27
Says the Authorities Dare Not
Drive Him to Extremes.
They Know He is Not a Man to
Be Trifed With.
TALKS OF HIS TRIAL.
Declares Politics is Behind the
Whole Movement.
After the Elections Dreyfus
Will Be Freed.

Paris, Jan. 27.-Emile Zola, discussing
his approaching trial, said today:
Il will deny with all the emphasis of
which am capable that ever wished
to insult the French army. It is a
monstrous accusation. My books eve
ry one betray my deep affection for the
French nation, and what is the army
since the advent of universal conscrip-
ton but a nation in arms? I have ac-
knowledged over and over again the
splendid herOism of the French army
and the readiness of each individual
soldier to spring to arms at the first
call by France.
Il am not fearful of the consequences. In
this trial the authorities dare not drive
me to extremes. I am known as a man
who cannot be too far trifled with.
Later on they will say, The revision
would, of course, have been granted
eventually. 1t was quite unnecessary
for lola to act as he did
# his is what Louis XVI. said when
the revolution broke out: It's quite
unnecessary: 1 intended to grant the
people liberty
of course, if I had done nothing,
nothing would have been done My act
has forced on a revision, which will
come as surely as I stand here.
There are the elections impending;
bargains have been made and must be
kept. The Deputies who by their vote
seemed to condemn my action are
merely anxious for reelection. The
election past, the revision, if applied for
in due form, will be granted quite as
matter of course.
THE consequences of the trial can
not be very serious. To me a fine is
trif1ing, and my imprisonment cannot
be a long one. Civil suits brought
against me by experts and others may
be costly, but I am prepared to meet
them all; the more so that from various
sOurces-nOtably from Switzerland-pe-
cuniary support to any extent has been
70 A h0rA IL HFe-~
but have had no confirmation from
my publisher of the report which ap-
peared in the papers that my new book
is being cOuntermanded in large guam
titles by booksellers who had ordered
stocks.
Personally, I am well, though tired
and Overdriven, but buOyed up by a
splendid enthusiasm. only regret that
all these affairs have forced me to
break my rule of daily work I have
not written a. line for a month, and
shall not be able to return to my writ
ing table for another month. I have
not even had leisure to think what my
next book will be-
L am fascinated with the idea of
writing the full history of the Dreyfus
case, the psychology of which I would
study. I don't, however, antici-
pate that I shall be able to do so. 1
have never met DreyfuS, and have no
great admiration for him as a man. I
understand his character is not a pleas
ant one.
AT the time OF MS CONVICTION IAN
cied he had been rightly judged, as you
may we'll imagine, otherwise I would
not have waited three years before
speaking out. The revelation of his in
nOcence came to me just before wrote
the first article in the Figaro. AS soon
as this conviction was acquired, I hes
itated not a moment, though well aware
what it would entail upon me.
eve have no papers but those of the
smallest circulation. On the other side
in all the press Of France, notably the
Petit Journal, with it's million copies
daily, I am held up as the enemy of
France because foreigners approve of
my attitude. Yet receive many warm
letters of encouragement from French
men. I receive on the average 500 let
ters a day, of which barely per cent
contain insults. I am doubtful whether
all my letters reach me.
To-day I received anonymously a
quotation from Remains Life of Christ
which so absolutely fits the case of
Dreyfus that I am sending it on to
Maitre Labor for Incorporation in his
address to the jury.
This is most mOnStrOuS! 1t would
break my heart We're I not certain, as
again repeat, that truth will prevail A
great nation, thirsting for justice, will
come to acknowledge the truth in the
end-tardily, perhaps. but surely; as
surely as the wave breaks on the rock