The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-01-11
THE CRISIS IN FRANCE.
Beaurepaire's Action May Result
in Grave Complications.
HIS ATTACKS ON THE COURT.
Evidently Believing That the Judges
Favor Dreyfus, He Is Infiaming Pub.
lie Opinion by Newspaper Attacks
Which Jeopardize the Republic.


Favor Dreyfus, He Is Infiaming Pub
lie Opinion by Newspaper Attacks
Which Jeopardize the Republic.
Paris, Jan. 1.-THE Dreyfus affair
has now entered upon one of its bit
terest chapters. Accusations, vituper-
ations and threats are raging in the
cafes and among the scores of bOule-
ward sheets, many Of which have found
their sole reason for existence for
months past in the unhappy strife they
foment.
1t Is regarded by impartial observers
as the most dangerous factor to the in
stitutions Of the republic the affair has
yet developed that the president of the
chambers Of the court of cessation
should assume the role of leader OF
agitation against the tribunal. declar-
ing that 16 of HIS colleagues are con-
spring to defeat the ends of Justice.
The method he employs. of appealing to
the populace through the newspapers.
in the eyes Of the most conservative.
aggravates his course by its lack OF
dignity. 1t Is evident that he, believ-
ing that the court of cessation will
decide in favor of Dreyfus, intends to
divest the decision of all weight by
impeaching its fairness in advance. and
he seems likely to succeed, so far as the
anti-Dreyfusards, many Of whom have
hitherto respected the court, but are
now only eager to find excuses for dis
crediting 1t. are concerned.
The opinion is gaining ground that
the opponents of the republic may find
In this man. M. Quesnay de BeauHe-
paire leader, the lack Of which has
hitherto been the chief guarantee of the
continuance of the present regime.
M. Beaurepaire today contributes to
the papers another rhetorical denuncia-
tion of the court of cessation. He ex-
horts the government to take the Drey-
fus case from the hands of the criminal
chamber and to entrust 1t to the 40
magistrates composing the whole court
or to five Of the oldest justices. He ap-
peals to the Dreyfusards: "Repudiate
M. Loew and the others who serve you
too well not to serve you badly. Ac-
cept instead magistrates without pre-
conceived opinions, men who are hon
est and slaves Of the law"
The gist Of M. Beaurepaire's charges
is that M. Bard and M. Loew conferred
with Colonel Picquart privately in an
anteroom, and also instructed the clerk
Of the court to express to him the
courts regret at having kept him wait
ing and being unable to hear him that
day, which the clerk refused to do, re-
questing messenger to take Colonel
Plcquart glass of wine.
The Matin asserts that when General
Billot (former minister of war; was
before the court drink was offered him
also. To such trihes has the strife de-
scended. The papers heatedly affirm
and deny the statement as to Billot,
who has been appealed to settle the
matter. but the refuses to speak.
1t is believed that only Is judges in
the whole court have Dreyfus leanings,
so that the hearing thus far is said to
be to the advantage of the anti-Drey-
fusards.
The discussion of the affair in the
chamber of deputies ELECTED the usual
cries of "Vive rarmee" and "a bas |