Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-09-12
THE DREYFUs VERDICT.

The members Of the military court
which tried Dreyfus recently have joined
IN q recommendation that he shall not be
subjected to fresh degradation-that Is
we suppose shall not be tortured again
by having the insignia of rank torn from
him and his sword broken in the pres
ence of the army.
That IS something to be thankful for
and we have no doubt their recommend
alton viii be adopted by the President OF
the republic. Meanwhile. it is not posi-
tivelv settled whether the prisoner Is to
have due allowance or not for the time
he served al Devils Island. In case pro-
per abatement be made, he Will be as
charged early in october.
However. he has applied for a revision
of the findings of the court. and it Is un-
derstood that ne will exhaust every re-
source at his command to have the judg-
ment reversed. Help of some sort Is sim
hoped for from the Emperor Of Germany
but how he can give it il not at all clear
Already he has gone pretty far in semi
official utterances without avail. Inc
French have treated him rather con-
temptuously 1t is suggested that he may
have published fac-similes of the docu-
ments which were obtained by means OF
his spy system, together with the names
of the persons from whom they were OBJ
famed: but. for our part we cannot be-
,ieve he will do any such thing. Still, the
Young man is fond Of creating sensations
and he may be heard from Yet In some
dramatic way.
II seems TO be understood that in no
event will Dreyfus be sent back to DeViIs
Island. The fortress at Corte, in Corsica
IS believed TO have been selected as inc
place of his imprisonment.
While the masses of the French people
appear 10 be well pleased at the result OF
the trial. they are without support or
sympathy from the outside world. the
European newspapers, 10y large major
,,v condemn the verdict as an outrage
which reflects unspeakable and irrepara-
HE disgrace upon France. Nor Is 1t be-
lieyed that the agitation will now end;
no. not even If. as is not improbable
executive clemency be extended Dreyius
In this country public opinion is almost
solid against the verdict Throughout
the North on Sunday ministers in their
pulpi,s detained against the wrong done
The prisoner and criticised the French
people sharply And both here and
abroad there are movements disfavoring
the paris Exposition OF next year and
calling upon governments and private in
diyiduals 10 withhold from it their money
and moral support
What effect this will have In France
we do not know; but II is worth while TO
consider ths, the exposition is dearer TO
Paris than 1t is 10 France, and that Drey-
fus has many more friends in Paris than
ne has in the provinces. AT the same
time IL cannot be wondered at that the
liberal-spirited and justice-loying people
Of the world should wish TO give some
emphatic expression OF their contempt
for the French Government.
AS for Dreyfps. he is said 10 be bearing
up well under the disaster of fresh con-
Nction. He is reported as believing that
he will be at liberty soon. That too. is
our opinion. Evidently. "the generals Of
the army" think they have gone far
enough. Now II is likely that they will
try 20 get some credit for 'leniency'!