The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-07

which Dreyfus was condemned was that
which, proved him TO have indirectly sold
French military secrets to Russia. Some of
those engaged in the crusade know this.
and they also know that the government
dare not acknowledge it. The fact that
Russia and not Germany is implicated in
the Dreyfus affair is the secret both of the
agitation and of the inaction of the French
government
DID DREYFUS CONFESS?
1t has often been charged by the friends
of the government that Captain Dreyfus
confessed his guilt. These charges finally
have induced Nine. Dreyfus to publish some
of the letters of her husband. which dis
to his counsel, Mr. Demarge, just before
his degradation he says:
I expected and was prepared for it. but
the blow has been terrible In spite of
everything ] hoped up TO the last moment
that Il providental chance GU nr.rg bout
the discovery OF the real culprit shau
go to the fearful punishment, which is
worse than death with my head high and
not be horribly tortured when the insignia
OF honor, which, have gained with the
sweat of my brow, are torn away would be
to lie. L should certainly have preferred
death hundred times. But YOU have
pointed out my duty to me, cher maitre,
and | cannot swerve from it, no matter
what the torture which awaits me may be.
You have taught me to hope and feel that
an innocent man cannot remain eternally
condemned. You have given me faith.
thank you again, cher maitre, for all that
you have done for an innocent mans :"
l shall always rely on you and on my family
to unravel this awful mystery
Two days later, and just after the degra-
dation parade, Dreyfus wrote to Maitre
Demange that he had kept his promise. He
said:
Innocent, | have endured the most fear
full martyrdom that can be inflicted on
soldier / have felt around me the con-
tempt of the crowd. / have suffered the
fprr he ina
/ should have been happier in the grave.
Everything would have been over. / should
not have heard of anything. 1t would have
been calm with fOrgetfulness of all my
sufferings. But, alas. duty does not allow
this, as you have so well explained L am
obliged to live and to endure more martyr
dom during long weeks in order that the
discovery CT the truth and the rehabilta-
ton of my. name may be attained. When
maitre with your kind and elo1u ant words
so that this martyrdom may have an eEd,
that l may be sent as soon as possible Over
there, where / shall wait patiently IL my
wife's company until light is thrown on this
mournful affair and my honor IS restored
to me. For the present this S the only favor
In one that he wrote to his wife Just
after his degradation he says that in prom
Using to live and to hold on until his name
is rehabilitated he makes the greatest sac
rifice that a man of heart and honor could
accomplish. Only his physical strength
must not abandon him. His conscience
to feel impatient and weak. After having
devoted his whole life to honor, to have sus-
tanned the most awful affront which could
be offered to Il soldier is too hard. He con-
tinueS:
so do all that you possibly can to find
the real culprit. Do not relax your efforts
for moment. This is my only hope in my
fearful misfortune. You will restore my
strength and courage, and | need them.
To-days emotion has broken my heart, and
my cell brings me no consolation. | shall
tell YOU later on, when we are happy once
more, what / have suffered to-day, how
often my heart bled in these many peregri-
nations among real culprits. | wondered
what / was doing there. why | was there.
1t seemed to me that | was the sport of
hallucination, but. alas, my torn and sullied
garments recalled me bru ally to the truth
and chances of disdain told me too plainly
why | there. Alas, why cannot one
open peoples hearts with a scalpe and
read them? All the honest persons who
me pass would have read. craven in
letters of gold. This man is man of hon
or But | understand them we'll In their
place / should not have been able to re-
strain my contempt at the spectacle of an
officer who had been represented to them
as traitor But. alas! the tragic part of
it all was that | was not the traitor"
Nine Dreyfus. who thoroughly believes in
the innocence of her husband. says she and
her friends Wal not abandon the struggle
until. living or dead. Captain Dreyfus shall
have been rehabiltated Meantime the out
come of NJ. Zola's trial will be awaited
with feverish anxiety, and possibly will be
provocative of great disorder in this city.