The herald., 1898-09-04
THE LOUDEST SOUND NOW
HEARD IN FRANCE
N. CAvAIGNAC'S RESIGNATION
Thought to Make It Almost Certain
That the Imprisoned Dreyfus
Will Get Rehearing
Associated Press Special Wire.

AASSAuo WiOtc W lIc NliuiotCi Va wa al
1894, ana one which he wrote TO his coun'
sci, M. de Mango, in 1895. protesting his In
nocence and denying that he had ever been
guilty Of any indscreton. The posters also
call attention to the fact that Colonel Pic.
quart wrote on July 4th affirming the falsity
OF Lieutenant Henry's documents and they
decry the arrest and Imprisonment Of Col.
onel PicQuart
Interviews with NJ. Cavaignac. Sarrien
and Bourgeois continue to be published
and the Temps prints letter from M. Ia
rieux, the former minister of justice. to
the minister Of the colonies, NJ. Trouillot,
asking that in view of the new aspect Of
the case that Dreyfus prison regime be
modified.
Tho Temps says: 1.-THE government rec
ognizes its duty, but there are several
methods Of revision and 1t desires to con-
slider them all carefully"
Revision Assured
M. Cavaignac. minister for war. mas
resigned.
The resignation Is due to a disagreemea
with his colleagues who desire a revision
OF the Dreyfus case. Thus revision OF the
case seems assured.
NJ. Cavaignac sent the following Letter
of resignation to NJ. Brisson, premier and
president OF the council:
Il have the honor to send you and beg
you to transmit to the president of tlle re-
public my resignation as minister of war.
There exists disagreement between us
which. being prolonged, would paralyzc
the government at time when 1t most
needs full unity of decision.
II remain convinced Of the guilt of Drey-
fus and as determined as heretofore to
combat revision of the case. do not
intend to shirk the responsibilities of the
present situation, but cannot assume
them without being in accord with the
chief Of the government to which have
the honor to belong"
These are the circumstances which led
M. Cavaignac to resign:
After the discovery of Col. Henry's forg-
cry the government sought means to re-
assure the public. The question of revd-
sion was broached. Certain minister's be-
lleved the time had come to throw full
hight and to establish every responsibility.
N. Cavaignac strongly objected. He de-
clared that he was convinced OF the guilt
OF Dreyfus. NJ. Brisson vainly pointed out
to NJ. Cavaignac that the revision would
be purely judicial. NJ. Cavaignac replied
that revision could only be justified If some
new fact developed to show that there had
been a judicial error and that no such fact
existed. Heury's forgery being subse-
quent to the conviction Of Dreyfus and
only indirectly connected with It.
NJ. Bourgeoise, recalled from Swtzer-
land, made new effort, but NJ. Cavaignac
still refused. The latter saw Brisson,
the premier and declared that his deter
mination was immovable and that he
would resign.
After NJ. Cavaignac's departure con-
ference was held at the ministry Of the IN
terror between NJ. Brisson, Ministers Bour-
geoise and sarren About Q o'clock NJ.
Cavaignac's letter OF resignation was re-
ceived. 1t Is assumed that a majority of
the cabinet accept the views of NJ. Brs-
son as the others maintain their port
folios.
The resignation Of NJ. Cava!gnac enables
the government to decide the matter, and
It Is believed NJ. Cavaignac's successor at
the war Office will soon be appointed and Il
definite resolution taken.
How Henry Died
NEW YORK. Sept. IA dispatch to the
Herald from Paris says:
Among the many wild rumors flying
about Is one that seems too incredible to
merit even notice, did it not show the state
Of the public mind. There Is a belief that
Colonel Henry did not commit suicide.
The Figaro says that when the Commits
sary Of Police arrived at Mont Vallaren he
asked for Colonel Henry's vallse and the
razor with which he committed suicide. He
was told they had been sent to the Ministry
of War.
This extraordinary proceeding could not
fail to be commented upon here, where re-
spect to legal formality Is carried to such
superstitious extent that the people would
leave man hanging rather than not wait
for the arrival Of the police. Naturally
enough, then, such detail as the razor
having been sent to the Ministry Of War
makes many people ask why.
The Eclaire, referring to this matter
says:
"Thds controversy has shown us long ago
to what depths certain individuals can
descend, so We are not surprised to read
that the suicide Of Colonel Henry was per-
haps murder"
The turn Of affairs here. however, have
been so startling that 1t is not astonishing
that people are ready to listen to the most
far fetched ideas What the ordinary pub
lie see In the matter DIS that from a ques-
ton of treason the Dreyfus case has be-
come national peril. What wonder, there
fore, that one melodramatic incident more
is credulously accomplished eagerly and
believed. The man in the street Is in IA
vor of revision. He sees a thread of con-
nection running through the AFFAIR from
tho accusation Of the Jew, Dreyfus, being
a traitor and his condemnation to the for
gerry of documents to prove him guilty, the
arrest of Colonel Henry and the suppress
sion Of the latter as an inconvenient wit
ness. This shows you how passion seems
to blind the people here and even to drive
common sense and probability from their
minds the instant they begin to consider
the Dreyfus case.
The Petite Republique says that on the
afternoon of the day that Colonel Henry
was arrested he was visited in his cell by
an officer, who remained alone with the
prisoner considerable time.
The Ministry Of War says Colonel Henry
was not visited by anyone
The Petite Republique, however refuses
to accept the denial and says that in 1894
Colonel Du Clam entered Dreyfus' cell an !
offered him revolver in order that he
might commit suicide. Dreyfus refused
the revolver, proclamlng his innocence.
The Petite Republique asks II the officer
who entered Colonel Henry's cell was not
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