The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-17
A Russian Comment on Dreyfus's
Sentence.


To be wounded in the house of friend is
reputed the worst of injuries That is the
sort OF wound which has been dealt to
France, though the Paris newspapers have
studiously hidden it from the French peo-
pie, by Mr.. IGNATIUs ZAKREFsKY, the lead
ing Russian jurist, who is a member of
the Imperial Senate and ex-Procureur-
General of the Court Of Appeals. 1t was
Mr. ZAKREFsKY who, some time ago, pub
lished in the Lao journal OF st. Peters
burg n remarkable article in which he
warned the French that, for the proceed
ings against DREYFUs and PICQUART, they
would ultimately have I" to reckon with the
opinion Of the civilized world, which judges
and knows how to condemn"
The same eminent Russian Judge, within
a few days after DREYFUs was convicted
by the Rennes court-martal, addressed to
the London Times letter, printed in
French, in which he pronounced the iudg-
ment OF the civilized world upon that out
rage. When Frcnchmen read what he says
as they must eventually do they are likely
to be more impressed by it than by the
opinions Of Englishmen, whom they detest,
or by those OF Americans, Italians, Ger
mans and Austrians, to which, for one
reason or another, they profess Indifference.
But, 1t may be said, Mr.. ZAKREFsKY is u
Liberal, and may not represent the general
views of educated Russians. The answer
is that the article in the Lao journal OF St.
Petersburg was authorized by the Censor,
notwithstanding the protest OF the French
Embassy, and that, rs we learn from the
National Reuieto, even the severe language
of the letter In the Tmes does not differ in
substance from a declaration made con-
temporaneously by Mr.. PoBIEDONosTEFF,
the Procurator OF the Holy Synod and tho
spokesman Of Tory and Reactionist Russia
This influential adviser Of the Car has not
hesitated to aver that, "for all impartial
observers, the proceedings at Rennes prove
the innocence OF Capt. DREYFUs."
Let us see what Mr.. ZAKREFsKY says
He begins by enquiring: what is the con-
cluslon to be drawn from the spectacle
witnessed at Rennes?" In his judgment the
true conclusion is that modern French
society has definitely fallen from the rank
1t occupied among civilized peoples. Where
the sentiment of justice Is atrophed by the
intensity Of political and religious passions,
grated on to a monstrous national vanity
puSollB llStll VII pdITlOIlSul, IneTp Is,
contend, no room left for the moral ele-
ments Indispensable to well-ordered form
of society"
But should whole nation, it may be
asked, be indicted for the misdee(s OF a
military coterie2 Let 1t not be said" re-
joins Mr.. ZAKREFsKY, THAT the five officers
at Rennes, and the chiefs who inspired
them, arc alone guilty Of the acts of revolt
ing iniquity which have inflamed the whole
world. Truth compels us to recognize that
the great majority Of the French people, by
which we mean the great majority OF those
who read, judge and vote, were the real
inspirers Of verdict which expressed their
sentiments. l shall be asked, What about
lola and the Intellectuals? What about
those who fought so valiantly in the cause
of truth and justice2 l answer that they
We're an inhnitesimal minority, swimming
in sea OF stupidity, vanity and cruelty"
Mr.. ZAKREFsKY goes on to stigmatize the
motives OF some distinguished Frenchmcn
reputed men OF probity and conscience
who appeared upon the witness stand al
Rennes. and who showed themselves ex
tremely reluctant to give evidence likely tc
damage the General Staff Take" he says
lone instance among many. See how mer
who call themselves statesmen, who belong
to the cream Of society, like the Cashier
Periers and the Freycinets, when called
upon to give testimony, to tell the whole
truth, instead OF throwing light upon
important facts, are content to fence
and make oracular speeches. They think
above all, OF themselves their chief ANXIETY
is not to depreciate their own value in tn,
eyes OF their great audience I, e., of the
country which listens to them. What
splendid characters, what true Romans,
continues Mr.. ZAKREFsKY, "are thes,
French statesmen, and what superb audi
snce L. that whose disapprobation they ar,