The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-02-15
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY Is, 1898.
Tile rnTNcn CRISIS.

We are quite sure that the ordinary
American has been completely at sea
about the great excitement Of the
French over the Dreyfus case.
The so called Anti-semitic feeling does
not begin TO explain the great public COM
notion IT cannot be pretended that any
antipathy 20 the Jews by the public, or
devotion 10 them by NJ. lola can &C
count for the demonstrations by the
Parisians Of which We daily read.
The seat OF the disease IS far deeper
and has been brought out only in foreign
journals which explain that the political
earthquake which is now going on in
France is the issue between militarism
and civil government In its vehement
desire to re-ostablsh itself as one Of the
great powers OF Europe. and to be pre-
pared to recover Alsace and Lorraine at
an opportune moment. France has with
out reserve bent her tremendous energies
20 organizing an army which should be
more powerful than any she has ever
had.
She has now more than 100000 men in
actual army service besides a first and
second reserve which carries the grand
total to over 2,SOOOO0 or more men than
were enlisted IN the whole United States
service during our late war, and four
times as many as we're in the Confede-
rate service The army IS the pride Of
France. and the determination to re-
deem the disasters Of Sedan and Metz
insured the whole nation with one grand
resolve.
Think now that some base and mortal
attack has been made upon the character
of this bulwark Of French glory. and
some idea may be formed Of the feeling
toward an officer Of that army who was
suspected Of sending out vital secrets TO
the hated enemy 1t was with some such
treachery as this. that Dreyfus was
charged, and of which he was by a Sc
cret court marshal adjudgod to be guilty
Why the proceedings were all so secret
II is difficult for an American, whose
country Is happily free from "entangling
alliances" TO understand. But in the
circumstances disclosed there was
sufficient reason to believe that Dreyfus
was not guilty and thus to create an agi-
tation for a new trial and the accusation
Of another man, Esterhazy, who was ac-
cordingly tried and acquitted, and by in
ference. If not by actual declaration,
Dreyfus was again declared to be the
guilty traitor
These proceedings being still unsatis-
factory. and the representatives Of the
army having again computed them
selves TO the postulato that Dreyfus and
not Esterhazy was the guilty man. a con-
tinued attack upon their findings was
naturally. II not necessarily construed
by the representatives Of The army. as an
attack upon them. and they have practi-
cally taken the ground that If they were
not TO be permitted to determine for
themselves the guilt OF member of the
army ther were unworthy OF the conf
denoe OF tho people
The agitation therefore inaugurated by
NJ. Emile lola was regarded by the Min
lister or the Army and by its generals. as
an attack upon the mainstay OF the
greatness and glory Of France. All con-
alterations Of what might be just or legal
have been utterly thrown aside, and
General Pellieux has declared on the wit
ness stand that military justice and civil
justice were not the same. as II there
could be two kinds Of justice about the
same subject. while General Billot Min
lister OF War. has announced TO the Leg
islatiye Assembly. that Il they reopen
the Dreyfus case they viii have to look
for another man to take his place.
The excitement in Paris is due on the
one hand 10 those who would stand by
the army at all hazards. whether an in
nocent man suffer or not. and on the
other 10 those who would stand for jus
tlce though the heavens fall. The SYM
pathies OF every American can only be
on one side. and all honor must bee given
10 ~ lola for the heroic stand he has
taken. the grandeur Of which it is difi-
suit for US in this country TO appreciate.
A deeper danger lies behind IL all, and