Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-17
Dark Outlook for Dreyfns and France.

A belief is growing that Dreyfus will be
again convicted Certain ominous circum-
stances create this impression. The attitude
of the president of the court toward the
prisoner indicates hostility. The license
allowed the so-called witnesses for the
prosecution suggests that the army ties are
stronger than the love of Justice. The
unanimous refusal of the court to adjourn
TO permit the defense to meet the emer-
gency caused by Labori's disablement by
an assassin emphasizes the growing theory
that the judges are vigorously determined
to allow the prisoner no latitude to prove
his innocence The irrelevant lines of evil
dence opened up disclose tendency to
prejudice Dreyfus' case and to fnffame his
enemies. Instead of exerting every effort
to give the proceedings semblance of fair
ness the court is stretching a point to ap-
pear loyal to the army cabal Consequent
ly, it is altogether natural that the dis
patches from RenneS should just now be
couched in a vein of apprehension lest
the second verdict of the court-martial will
be an echo of the first.
The great misfortune of this prospect
is that such a verdict if rendered, would
be Immediately rejected by the world and
by the French advocates of Dreyfus. 1t
would persuade nobody of the guilt of the
prisoner The whole procedure. unless in
stantly nullified by the government and
remanded for further inquiry by less
pre- JUDGED tribunal, would serve only TO
further excite the passions and fears Of
Dreyfus co-religionists and to persuade his
other partisans that justice cannot be Sc
cured in France. The effect of such an
outcome would be far worse for France in
col x,-st y, ;ff-
strong indictment of the army chiefs.
The trial has thus far been mere farce
in American and English eyes. Yesterdays
proceedings were typical of the whole pro-
gram of the prosecution. The bitter de-
nunciation of Dreyfus by Gen. Roget was
fitting echo of the Nominations of Gen.
MERCER. The greatest weight seems to
be given by the court to the assertions of
the men who are practically on trial equal
ly with Dreyfus We're the court DESTROYS
of getting at the upcoored truth it would
have delayed the trial sufficiently at least
to permit Dreyfus' now active counsel to
consult with their wounded colleague, with
a view of overcoming, as far as possible,
the serious handicap of Laboris absence.
Labor has tia. case at his fingers tips, and
his presence in the court room would
doubtless have resulted in such shrinkage
of the apparent testimony against his client
as to change the situation materially.
In the American judgment ii would re-
quira but a little shrewd cross-questioning
to nautraize the bombast and the fustian
and the rancor of the general officers who
have appeared against Dreyfus. 1t is this
belief that gives the assault upon Labor
such sinister appearance. Every known
fact connected with the murderous attack
suggests a plot. The rifiing of Labor $
coat pockets and the effort to steal his
portfolio imply that the shooting was part
of a design to crush the defense. The time
of the attack, just preceding the reappear-
ance of Gen. MERCER on the stand, indicates
an ugly connection between the crime and
the army group now engaged in the prose-
cution of this unfortunate Jew, a sugges-
ton strengthened by the extraordinary
failure to catch the assassin.
The unprecedented world cannot rid itself
of these impressions, and If the case goes
against the prisoner it will Immediately
form its own conclusions, and France will
be again discredited For, as has so often
been said in this connection. it is France,
not Dreyfus, that is now on trial.