The times., 1899-08-28
MoNDAY. AUGUsT 2s. 1ggg.
The Press Opinion at Rennes.


Correspondents for American press as
sociations and leading journals on Satur-
day nights cable not only the facts ard
details Of the days sitting at Rennes, but
a historical and critical resume cf the case
and its progress for the preceding week.
On each recurring Sunday during the trial,
therefore, il is possible to get more or
less accurate consensus of the opinion
prevalent for the time being among the
trained and shrewd newspaper observers
who are IN attendance.
This week we must confess to some dis
appointment over the view taken of the
probabilities by most correspondents. Tha
best known among them as rule allow
the greatest importance to the staggering
blow given to Mercier. Maurel, and the
ccnspirators of the general staff by Captain
Freystaeter on Saturday But, instead of
assuming that evidence so conclusive o.
perjury, forgery. and all sorts of villainy
~ headquarters VIII help the prisoner, at
least some OF them are convinced that it
against him. and more determined to con-
vict regardless OF truth or consequences.
As a bolster 10 this pessimistic view. it
is argued that the real plot against Drey-
f-s is unfolding in way to show that IL
was only Incidentally made victim. A
bit Of evidence which Jouaust shut out the
other day as involving State secrets. but
which The Government has not-feI Labor
that he may use. is expected to prove the
existence Of a conspiracy the aim Of which
was to drive every Jewish officer out OF
the army. Spies hired to dog Dreyfus ana
Others and to make lying reports regard
ing their characters. associations, and
movements, and forged documents 10 fas-
ten the guilt of treason upon them, were
relied on TO make the plot a success. Coans
sci for the defence hope 10 bring OUT the
facts before many days, but their efforts
10 DO SO win be desperately resisted. AMI
nothing short Of a direct and stern order
from the Minister OF War is likely To over
come the opposition OF Jouauzt and the
other judges to anything so fatal to the
honor Of the service, as they regard the
matter
Both the press and popular elements at
Rennes look confidently to Labori 10 spring
a startling coup de theatre during the week
and any sort Of runner is given credence
The story that Nereier has taken fright
and fight, some say TO the Island OF Jer-
sey, Others TO Germany, appears to have
been quite commonly accepted as true Sat
urday night For aught We know at the
hour OF writing our later news dispatches
may even corToborate the report The Gov
erament has so clear a case against this
lying general and Colonel MaureI that
il woald be impossible in any other country
for them 10 escape prosecution and punish
ment. On that account il would not be at
all strange to see both initiate Boulanger
and the bogus Count Esterhazy, and put the
border between themselves and the fierce
old Marquis de Gallifet.
One would think, on the basis OF all that
has transpired favoTably to Dreyfns and in
criminative Of his prosecutors, that his
chances for exoneration we're golden; but
we are afraid they are not II is true
that supposing Loubet and the makeshift
Wsldeclz- Rousseau Cabinet strong enough
10 defy the clerical nationalist, anti-Sem-
ise. royalist. and imperialist factions. all
combined, the cOurt-msrtial might be bull
led into doing justice TO the accused. Il Is
more than doubtful II the Government as
nov constituted would dare to do this.
as there is reason TO suspect that the
army, which is almost universally anti
Dreyfus. would back the headquarters con-
spirstors and the judges in an opposite
course of action, and in open defiance of the
national authority. The prospect is again
a sinister one for the prisoner.