The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1899-06-22
PRESENT DAY THOUGHTS
DREYFUS FROM DEVILS
ISLAND.
The Eyes Of The World on The Jew
Who Deserves A New Trial
BY G. GROsvENOR DAVE.

Written for The Commonwealth.
Delight over Drefyus.-A few day
from now-unless, by an accident
which is not impossible under the Cir
cumstances-Dreytus, re-attired in th'
Uniform of his rank, will set foot upo1
the soil of his country. This poor maj
after an absence of over four years from
france-the country that had degraded
him and condemned him to perpetual
Observation-Disclosures by an almos
theatrical revolution of the Wheel o.
Fortune from the solitary confinement
of Devils Island and will face his &C
cusers once more in new trial. The
effcrt put forth and the risks endured
by those who believed in him have
been so extraordinary, that there is nc
case Of modern times that can compare
with his. At one time it looked as
though France would be forced into
war with Germany because the accus-
ations against Dreyfus impugned the
honor of Germany and more than once
has revolution in Paris come near to
head because of the feeling for or
against the accused man. In addition
all these spectacular dangers to re-
public Of 3S,0OO,OO0 the greatest OF
frances writer's, Emile Zola-a man
of generous impulse and wonderful
brain-dared death and endured exile
that he might say to the Republic of
his love the fearless words OF, warming
that he felt oughtto be uttered.
*.T
The Frenchman is so volatile that
doubtless it is safe to assert that the
interest of France in the case has been
no greater than that telt by other ciy-
llized nations. The whole thinking
world, but chiefly America, has watch
ed the matter almost breathlessly, for
reasons which will be elaborated later.
It is probably correct to say that the
fckle boulerardioss have oomprehended
less of the disgrace that was attaching
itself to the France of "Liberty, Fra
ternity and Equality" than many an
intelligent American farmer reading
his weekly paper far off from the route
OF travel. This second trial may pos
slbly contain revelations not earlier un-
derstood but it will, in all likelihood,
result in the acquittal Of Dreyfus. The
plain man who loves fair dealing
whether he lives on the steppes of
Russia or the plains of Texas, the
ranches of Australia, or the moors of
Scotland together with our own farm
and factory workers has felt that in any
event a second trial should be granted
to this poor creature, who like the
scape-goat OF old was burdened with the
sins of a people and driven forth never
more to he seen again of men. Be-
cause this sentiment, this hunger, this
demad nfor justice was real thing
and genuine impulse of the human
heart, positive tone of rejoicing was
in the voices of all good men when they
heard that the second trial was to be
held.
What has made plain, thinking men
tremble for France in this affair? The
reason is not far to seek. Though none
of us are perfect, though none of us
live fully up to our ideals, even though
some of us be gross and almost ignor.
ant that there are such things as ideals,
yet when we are brought face to face
with the fact, we wonlo rather see a
man given fair chance than have him
suffer from foul mischance parti
cularly If all the facts of his case are
brought before our minds as clearly as
those of Dreyfus have been. In fact
the old heart of humanity, cracked and
SCARED with thousands misdeeds, has
still much of soundness in it ard this
famous case has brought 1t greatly into
evidence. It has been no disgrace to
any OF us to be thus stirred up-eyen
exclted-over the fate of man whom
we have never seen and perchance nev-
er will. Our fear was that France, the
Republic France, the inspirer OF some
Of the ideas now embodied in our own
form OF government France the coun-
trv OF Rochambeau and of Lafayette
would for the sake of shielding prom
inent army officials allow this man to
rot and die. Thus we trembled, be-
cause country that once voiced the
hope of men appeared ready not only
to blind Justice but to slay her in the
temple of her friends. We saw in
this dreaded happening sure proof
of national decay that we did well to
fear.
~
Again, / think, the fact that Dreytus
ia a Jew had much to do with the feel
inz On this side Of the water. For,
uoolth for ton cents. Caecarets make