The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-02-25
GAG LAW RULES FRANCE.
GOVERNMENT SAYS ALL AGI-
r.TIoy MUST CEASE.

c,upa,sn T~o.Day-ForoiEn Reporters
-. IA change Their Attitude or They
-, n. Expelled from Francs-Cel.
-. dismissed from the Army
nc, welcomes These blows at Liberty.
sp,cio, caoi, pe,patch to TnE Sun.
,.,,, Feb. 24-Tho new dictatorship Of
n.,oo confident Of It's mower, has decided to
-,r-,., summarily freedom OF speech and
dom, of the press. This decision was an.
-, IN general terms by Primo Minister
,,.,,,o in the Chamber OF Deputies this after
-, Tho Government. he declared. would
-.,,.., tho agitation. at all costs-by exist
,ne laws, II possible; II not then by other
means.
~. u.amres which the Cabinet has decided
..,aont became public in some detail tonight.
rorr newspapers, the Steele. Aurorc, Drofts de
uoum, and Lumitrc, wero notified that unless
,,.r ccase their Dreyfus campaign tomorrow
.,., will be vigorously prosecuted. MN. Yves.
Guyot and Clemenceau. and probably Others.
,,ceived a similar intimation. Finally, a con-
,,s,r,ble number OF correspondents of for
.,,, nevspapers were warned that un-
la, they abandon their attitude of hos
,,u,v 10 France In their dispatches they
viii DO expelled from France. These corre-
,,opaents include the representatives Of the
Cologne Gazette and several Belgian and italian
n,pers. 1t is even asserted at the Palais Bour-
hon that NJ. Blowitz, the correspondent of the
Io,don Times, has also been warned, and 1t is
confidently asserted that tho Times will to-
marrow change its tone in regard to the French
crisis.
It Is true, though absurd, that the French
politlcians, or many Of them, actually believe
that this intimidation Of correspondents will
ebsck tho unanimous condemnation of France
By the foreign press and public opinion. The
American correspondents are not without ex-
~o,riencss OF the strange policy Of the French
Government, but this is not the moment to
discuss them.
The hand OF tyranny has fallen heavily upon
Col. Picquart. whose courageous action as IN
officer OF the War Department and in the lola
trial excited the admiration of all lovers OF fair
play. A decree was issued by the Minister OF
War tonight expelling him from the army.
three years police surveillance. NJ. Leblois. the
lawyer who advised him, has been suspended
from the bar and removed from the office of
Mayor Of the Seventh ACCOMPLISHMENT OF Paris.
Major Count Esterhazy has received official
permission to prosecute Matthew Dreyfus.
whom. BY the way. he threatens to kill on sight.
II Is announced that moro rigorous measures
d the same high.handed policy will soon DO
promulgated in Paris. Franco will welcome
these deadly blows at liberty, and the nation
marches merrily on to disaster.
Never was there such q pressure to secure
admission to the Chamber Of Deputies as at to-
days session, when a series of interpretations
upon the Drcyfus and lola affairs were dis
eu'sed. The British. German. and other Ambas-
sadors were in the diplomatic gallery. and all of
Tie Deputies were present in their places.
M. Hubbard, Republican Radical. was the
nf't to offer his Interpolation. He asked II tho
Minister Of War had authorized the partial
revelations which had been made at the lola
niAl BY Gen. Pellieux. Col. Henry and Gen.
boisdeffre had undertaken In various ways to
Interfere with the processes of justice. M.
Hubbard denounced the assumption of au-
hoflty which had made "Vive Ia Republique"
acry OF sedition in Paris. and subjected those
VINO uttered 1t TO the violence of a mob. Why,
ne asked, did the authorities allow the cry of
Death to Jews" everywhere. The situation,
De declared, was big with peril. and it was time
That the country realized 1t and returned to re.
publican principles.
Premier Melino replied: After military JUS
uce civil justice has declared itself. 1t has pro-
sAlmed that the members OF the court-martial
were honest men. who obeyed their consciences.
Inc lola trial has ended the confusion made by
nose who presumed to put themselves above
.neiaws OF the country. Those who appeared
IN court were not there as subordInates of the
minister OF War, but as individual witnesses
under nobody's orders.
certain Generals may have been led On too
lr' out they were led on by the defence. Ono
General no doubt spoke a word too much. but
,,memoer the accusations that were flung In
hSlace. They ascribed to officers hidden I'm.
nnuohs to undermine our institutions, but the
french Army cannot be an army of one man.
.ueFels not a single officer capable of an at
nmpt against the country, for our officers have
0lner dreams. IApplause.l
itrust 1t will be understood that IL aeita.
Sou continues after yesterdays verdict VIC
n 10 IN the presence of a party issue,
IuouRh evil has been done Internally. The life
r.ae nation has been checked. Part OF tho
.Sreen press denounce us. 1t will always be
~0 punishment of those who speak evil of
nations. N"''3n
mere is but one conclusion. This must be
."ppsd' In the interests OF peace, OF the army.
our foreign relations. The Government
lN,'ueai with the wound which IL desires In
!, H., Sna IL Will impose silence upon EVERYDAY.
81 'aSe such disciplinary measures as the
Circumstances St"nces demand. Nobody can continue
nsNauoh In good faith. and after to-morrow tho
SHOnoinmeht will suppress all attempts TO con.
ai, e"o'ernmen is applying the laws at its
S1po'Sl' and II the weapons are insuffioient n
N. - lor more. Great tumult throughout
~ ohamber,l Tho vote of this House will
s'na' where patriotism is involved there
aag." "''0ouy railles under the
AT THIS utterancc tbo,,