The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-09-17
TAKEN As AN INSULT
GERMAN PEOPLE RESENT THE AC-
TION OF THE RENNES COURT
MARTIAL QUIETLY
DO NOT FAVOR A Boycott

Would Prefer That Some Other Ma
ton Than Germany Take the In
ritintive in That observation-disclosures
ed That Dreyfus Was Convicted
for Dealing With Russia and Not
With Germany.
Copyrighted by the Associated Press
BERLIN. Sept. 16.-Though the govern
ment has taken pains to preserve its
\ equilibrium, the result of the Dreyfus
trial has tremendously shocked the Ger
man people, irrespective of creed and pol
itics. The bitter insult implied by the
total disregard upon the part of the
Rennes court of the official Reichs Anzei-
gers declaration of Dreyfus' innocence, is
deeply felt here. Owing to tine peculiar
relations with France these sentiments
have not found full vent in the press, and
the government organs have even done
their best to smother them. But, in con-
.Yersation, indignation and almost con-
tempt, are universally and freely express
ed. A small majority, composed of anti
Semites and some Agrarians and Con-
servatives, more or less approved the
sentence. The Hamburger Nachrichten,
formerly the late Prince Bismarcks or
gan, made itself their mouthpiece, assert
ing repeatedly that the evidence against
Dreyfus this time had been no more than
previously made public and that Dreyfus
had not been convicted for spying for
Germany, but for Russia, citing a mass of
alleged evidence in support Of this asser-
-tiOn. When this was disputed and ridi-
culed by the bulk of the press, the paper
said the information was derived from
source excluding all doubt of its anthem
ITCHY and correctness, and was corrobo-
rated by several competent persons. This
view was shared by a number of promi-
nent papers, including the Deutsche
Tages Zeitung. the Stats Berliner Eel
tung and others. The correspondent here
of the Associated Press has interviewed
a prominent foreign office official, who
said:
The government was not surprised at
the conviction of Dreyfus. The Reichs
Anzeiger's publication was largely for the
purpose of depriving the world Of the
chance of saying Dreyfus had again been
sentenced because Germany kept silent.
We postponed the publication until the
last moment, as we suspected it might
hurt, rather than benefit, the accused
Regarding the comments of the Ham
burger NachrIchten, we think it quite
likely the paper is making the statements
on good authority. Many well informed
persons believed Dreyfus had Russia and
not Germany to deal with.
BOYCOTT PROPOSITION.
Concerning the talk of boycotting the
Paris exposition 1t is not Germanys
part to put herself in the foreground in
such a movement. The official relations of
France and Germany have not suffered
in the least through the sentence. There
is no intention upon the part of the gov
eminent to join in any directly unfriend-
ly steps against France. The best proof
that we do not mean TO suspend prepa-
rations for the exposition is that the COM
missioner, Herr. Richter, has just started
for Paris"
The reported connection of Dreyfus
with Russia is also commented upon
In diplomatic circles here, where it finds
credence. 1t is also stated that evidence
of this was produced at the secret ses-
sion at Rennes, and NJ. Delcassse's hur-
ried visit to St. Petersburg, just before
the court-martiaI is cited in support of
this theory.
On the question of joining in a boycott
public opinion is divided. The big major
ity favor active participation in the ex-
position. while a number of leading and
influential papers, like the Vossfsche lei
tung, Frankfurter Zeitung and Tageblatt,
advocate abstention. 1t is reported that
a few important firms and several COM
rnercial associations have declared their
determination to abstain, but these, so
far. are the exception and not the rule
The bulk of influential opinion seems to
await the action Of Germany's principal
competitors, particularly Great Britain
and the United States, and will be guided
thereby.
ARMY NANEUVERS.
The army maneuvers are regarded of
mediocre success, owing to many causes,
chiefly unfavorable weather. During four
DAYS OF sham warfare in South Germany
1t rained in torrents For one entire day
the operations had to be suspended and
the emperor modified the plan of cam
pafgn accordingly. The roads most Of the
time were impossible, and the condition
of the troops indescribable, though most
Of them found shelter and the commits
sariat ACQUITTED itself eXcellently.
The Alsatian press this week dwelt upon
the emperor's Strassburg speech in a way
showing that his majesty's advice to the
clergy to keep good friends with the
empire had borne good fruit.
SAMOA A FIREBRAND.
Samoa still greatly exercises the press.
The opinion seems to be about unanimous
that the new agreement, if it comes in
force, must be modified. At the foreign
Office the officials are very reticent re-
garding the matter. An official empow-
cred to speak, told the Associated Press
correspondent that Baron Speck Won
Sternberg, the German commissioner,
who had been Ill at Samoa, had been
granted sick leave indefinitely. The
propositions submitted by the commits
sioners are now being considered by the
three governments, and it is expected that
all the points at issue will be amicably
adjusted.
SEVERE STORMS.
The terrific rain storms in the whole
eastern part of Southern Germany did