The times., 1899-08-20
SUNDAY, AUGUST 20. 1899.
The Press shoe pinches France.


The Latins are pretty much the same the
world over. We remember how the Madrid
newspapers. before the outbreak Of the
war, were hugging themselves over the
enlightenment, civilization, and noble gen
erosity Of their nation, and denouncing the
hated Yankees as barbarous, lying, and
gEner---- ---------~-lS-At the same time
the editors OF these Spanish glorifiers knew
that Weyler was calmly numbering a few
thousand reconcentrados a week and was
torturing prisoners to death, while at
home. in the fortress of Mount Juieh, all
the ingenious devices CT the Inquisition
We're in active operation every day.
We are reminded Of these things by the
protest OF the Partisan Journal des De-
bats against the unanimous tone OF the
foreign press concerning the trial of Cap
tain Dreyfus at Rennes. This representa-
tive French journal is able to say without
as much as a smile:
There is no nation in the world where an al
fair Of this nature would have taken the proper
tions it has here. This native generosity is IN
homer TO France. which .sSrnetimes becomes A
victim % IT, Foreigners take advantage Of this.
but we warn them that <hcir irregular intrrven-
tstes and Eeyolts oar national sentiment
We have not the least doubt in the
world that the irregular intervention" OF
the outIand. especially the British and
American newspapers shocks the sensi-
biiities Of Frenchmen. and 'irrltates and
revoits their national sentiment
which. however. does not appear to be OF
8 kind that any civilized being is bounl
10 respect. Tine was when, in this co IN
Try Fl least, we should have hesitated to
hold al France responsible for The antics
0f absinthe-soaked Partisan demagogues
and the mob at their back. But the devel-
opments in the conspiracy at Rennes-for
ii is conspiracy and not trial, or q re-
trial-have satisfied Americans generally
that. il the French nation as a whole,
ever had the least conception of truth
and justice. either subjectively or ob3ec-
lively. il has been lost-lost so completely
that the decent opinion OF the outside
world would hail with delight the spec
taeie of a foreign power in military occu-
patton and control Of France, in the in
terests Of humanity.
The Journal des Debats' clearly repre-
sents the French kind of sensitiveness 10
criticism. 1t is not of the sort that shuns
giving any cause for reproach or the
worlds contempt II is never uneasy
about its own foolishness. puerility, vice,
or infany. IL is only shocked when public
attention is called TO these things Neither
the press of Paris nor its constituents
win hear the last of foreign disgust and
denunciation until honest reason is fur
nished for their surcease.
That viii not happen while the president
and members of the court-martiaI at Rem
nes exploit themselves as advocates Tor the
prosecution and unconcealed enemies of
truth and justice Do French editors Or
anyone else in France, expect the free
press Of America to remain complacent
or silent in the face Of what occurred at
the triad yesterday? Lieutenant Colonel
Picquart demolished what was left OF the
case for the conspiracy. He was continu-
ally interrupted by the anti -Dreyfusard
Jouaust, and ordered to confne himself TO
material points. On the contrary, Mercier.
Roget. and all the witnesses on the other
side had been given complete latitude to
introduce Irrelevant mater. gossip, scandal.
3esrsay, anything that would
prejudice the accused. And during the
noon recess the head Of the tribunal spent
the time in close conference with the
proven perjurer and criminal conspirator.
Roget. Why do not such manifestations
''irritate and revolt the national sentf-
.nent?" Why does not the cold-blooded
attempt to murder Labori. on his way To
raise the scslps OF the prosecutors and Il
ars. Mercier and Roget, shock the Gallo
sensibilities2
Probably because the only national SEN
timent," the only -sensibility' left in the
unhappy and degraded country, is one of
insane and criminal vanity. There is a
homely Anglo-Saxon proverb which bril-
liantiy iiluminates the poor wounded feel
ings OF the journal des Debats," and its
kind. 1t is to the effect that: NO rogue
e'er felt the halter draw. with good opin-
ion OF the lawr'