The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-09-26
DaEYFUS AFFAIR CLOSED
Is the Great Desire of
French Officials.
DRRYFUS NOT SATISFIED

With this Closing of the Incfdent-His
Desire to Liye Long Enough TO Estab-
hsh His Innocence Official Publfcs
ton of the Pardon He Goes I'd Home
of His Brother-in-Law at Carpentras.
The Journey Described-Taking n
Day's Holiday.
Paris, September 21.-The Journal OF
fetal today publishes the decree grant
ing pardon to Dreyfus. In a report
preceding the decree, the Marquis dc
Gallifet, minister of war, points out
that Dreyfus has already undergone
five years deportation, but hat, as the
law does not assimilate his deportation
with five years solitary confinement,
the prisoner would have to undergo
ten years detention. The minister also
calls attention to the fact that the
health of the prisoner is seriously COM
promised and that he would not be
able without great danger to undergo
prolonged detention. The report of the
war minister concludes thus:
THE government will not have met
the wishes of h country, which de-
| sires pacification. if it does not hasten
to efface all traces of the painful con-
fiict. 1t belongs to you NJ. LIE Presi-
| dent, by an act of lofty humanity, to
| give the first pledge of the work of ap-
| peasement which opinion demands and
the good of the republic commands"
The minister of war has addressed
the following order to the corps COM
manders:
THE incident is closed. The militia
ry judges, enjoying the respect of all,
| have rendered their verdict with COM
| plete independence. We all, without
harboring af~ter-thought, bend to their
| decision. We shall in the same man.
ner accept the action hat a feeling of
| profound pity dictated to the president
| of the republic. There can be no fur
/ Their question of reprisals of any kind.
| Hence, 1 repeat it, the Incident is
| closed. I ask you, and if it were ne
| cessary I should command you, to for
| get the past in order that you can think
| solely of the future. With you, all my
| comrades, I proclaim Vive fArmee,
which belongs to no party but to
France alone"
The order will be read to the troops
throughout the French army.
Carpentras, Department of Vaucluse,
| France, September 21.-Former Captain
| DreyIuS arrived mere THIS morning ana
went to the home of NJ. Valabregue, a
relative.
Although the arrival of Dreyfus at
the home of Paul Valabregue, his
brother-in-law, who has been estab-
lished as a cloth merchant here for a
quarter of a century, was 10 known,
no demonstration occurred. Madam
Dreyfus is expected here tonight.
While Dreyfus' health does not per-
NIT of his receiving visitors, it is hoped
the climate will restore his strength
during the next few months which he
is expected to spend here.
London, September PA correspond
ent of the Daily Mail, who Joined the
Dreyfus party at Bordeaux and ac-
~companied them to Carpentras des-
cribes Dreyfus as "thoughtful, prema-
turely aged, with soft eyes, a smile
like a woman's and rather the appear
ance of a savant than a soldier"
When told of the great wave of Brit
ish sympathy in his behalf. he wrung
the correspondents hand and showed
the deepest emotion.
His health, the correspondent says
is far from satisfactory. He ate meat
yesterday for the first time.
"It is against the doctors orders"
said Matthew Dreyfus.
"Ah!" sal the former captain of ar
tillery, "let me have a holiday today. I
will be sedate and Obedient again to-
morrow. am just like a boy now, and
feel that I could run and jump about
the green fields for very joy. Just
think! I shall now be able to laugh
and play with my children in the beau
tiful country
Afetr the meal, despite his brothers
half laughing protest, he smoked sew
eral cigars "to celebrate the holiday"
The sad note amid the rejoicing was
the death of M. Standardization.
II am grieved beyond words" said
Dreyfus, "to think that I shall never
be bile to thank that noble heart"
One Of his first acts on obtaining his
freedom was to have a wreath sent to
be placed on the coffin of his champion
and friend.
At present he speaks little of past
events. He says: Il have forgiven,
but I cannot forget" and he intends to
devote himself to proving his inno-
cence. When that has been accom-
plished he will only ask to be allowed
to spend the remainder of his days
with his loved ones, far from the busy
world.
His delight at everything on the
journey, continues the Daily Nails cor
respondent, was that of a man return
ing from the dead to the world he
loved. The affection and solicitude OF
his brother are touching to see. His
physical weakness causes the deepest
apprehension to his friends. The jour
ney was in the main uneventful excep,
for a few expressions of disappoint-
ment on the part Of people who endeav.
ored to get a glimpse of him