Evening star., 1898-09-22
THE DREYFUS CASE
France Must Right the Great Wrong
of the Century.
POSITION OF AMERICAN JEWS
Mr.. Simon Wolf Describes How
They Restrained Themselves.
LOG ICAL DEDU ITO n S

Mr. Simon Wolf of this city, who. on ac-
count of his acknowledged position a
leader of the Hebrew people in this coun-
try, has been averse in the past to speak
upon the Dreyfus case for publication
broke this reserve this afternoon when a
Star reporter called upon him.
Captain Dreyfus, you are aware.
said Mr.. Wolf, was born in Alsace, which
of all the French dependencies is the most
intensely French, despite the fact that Ger
many IS now its owner. He. of course,
cherished all the natural hatred as d
Frenchnan for Germany, and was Jew,
who had in his own person enjoyed the lib
erty which France had extended to his
race and risen to rank in her army. l make
these preliminary remarks because every
crime must have a motive, and there was
no possible motive, as l have shown, IN
the case of Dreyfus. He was a man OF
means. with a fine salary. He had marrie'i
an heiress and an aristocrat- With these
facts in view | have always looked upon
the case from the start as vile consptr-
acy, due to the feeling of a certain class
against the Jew as an individual and thelf
power a race.
Awaited Developments.
Thinking Jews" continued Mr.. Wolf
land by thinking Jews 1 mean those who
are not of the class which Immediately pro-
claims the innocence of Jew when charg-
ed with crime simply because he is Jew
refrained from rushing into print for feai
it would further increase the wild enmity
existing against the Jews. ! must confess
that seif-restraint was difficult in my case
known as / am everywhere, both here and
abroad, as an ardent advocate OF the rights
of my people and all other people. | was
advised by many men high in our councils
Hot to say anything, but to allow things to
take their course, feeling sure that time
would set things right As chairman OF
the committee on civil and religious rights
of the Union of American Hebrew Congrc-
cations, I was strongly urged to approach
our government authorities and plead with
them to use its good offices, as 1t had done
time and again in other instances, notably
in Ireland Armenia, Russia and Crete, not
on religious grounds, but on the bass OF
broad humanity.
What brought about the recent develop
ments in your opinion inquired The Stal
reporter.
Madam Dreyfus is not only loving and
heroic wife but a born ariStOcrat and
moves in the very best circles. and l have
10 doubt although l have no knowledge OF
it, that she had very strong and powerful
influence back of her to bring out the
truth.
tinued Mr.. Wolf, that every step of the
development in the Dreyfus case has sup
ported the logic of the position we took as
American citizens and Jews.
A Victim of Esterhazy.
I'VE now believe, as we always have, that
Dreyfus fell victim to that scoundrel Es-
terhazy and his confreres, like the seif-con-
fessed Henry. Several officers now in this
city know EsterhaZy as rOue and a gam
bier, who would not hesitate to sell his birth
righ. or plunge France in Anarchy to attain
his end. Dreyfus was A Jew and on the staff
France was CCquetting with Russia for an
alliance, and the czar had sent group OF
officers to Paris. Russia has no use for a
Jew. What exclaimed the Russian Off
GERS to the French officers, permit sew
to have equal rank with you in the army
and socially? PreposterousH That led to
the doom of Dreyfus. A secret trial was
held. All the ethics and principles of law
and jurisprudence were ignored and he was
convicted on forged testimony. But France,
volatile, impuls!ve-aS Madame Roland
said, They adore me today and would exc
cute me tomorrow'-wiu be 50 with Dreytus.
The very ones who yesterday cried A
bas le Juiver will cry tomorrow, 'Hurrah
for Dreyfus.
"Of course" said Mr.. Wolf in conclusion
the great American nation that took up
arms for humanity at such fearful cost Is
first to recognize that France has erred in
permitting such a crime and to realize
that If she wishes to survive republic
she must right this great wrons, this great
crime of the century"