The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-10
OPINION HERE ON THE rEHD1c1.
MASS Meetings to Protest Eainst 1t Talked
of-Jewish Sentiment Aroused.

"ass meetings to ProteSt Against 1t Take
Of-Jewish Sentiment Aroused.
Groups OF men and women stood on the
street corners OF the lower East Side yester-
day and discussed the Dreyfus case In all its
details. In the corridors OF tho uptown hotels.
men stood for hours talking OF Dreyfus. The
| concensus OF opinion was that Dreyfus had
been unjustly convicted. but that no would be
| compelled to serve out the sentence i'm posed
on him. The jewish population OF the
city seemed to be united in believing that
religious hatred and bgotry were at the bottom
OF the charges against Dreyfus, and that the
verdict OF guilty was rendered merely to save
from disgrace and punishment tho officers OF
the General STAFF who planned and carried out
the conspiracy against their comrade.
Supreme Court Justice James Fitzgerald said
that he had read all Of the testimony printed in
the New York newspapers. and did not believe
the verdict was justified by the evidence. 1t
was an unjust verdict. he said. and
must undoubtedly result in further trouble
In the affairs OF the French Republic.
This opinion was concurred In by many other
Justices on the Supreme Court bench. among
them Justice Blschoff. Justice Edgar NJ Cullen
and Justice McAdam. The latter said he be-
lieved Dreyfus to be innocent and that the YER
dict should have been not guilty.
Gen. Horatio c. King said that the verdict in
mo opihioh W az oil aCJ Vi INC RTOSSoSt injustice
which would arouse the indignation and con-
tempt OF the civilized world. Outside Of France
1t was the nation and not Dreyfus who was on
trial.
Brigadier- General James McLeer denounced
the verdict as outrageous. and expressed the
opinion that II it were allowed to stand 1t
would be reflection on the French people
and on the French nation.
Dreyfus may truly be called the martyr Of
this century" said Henry Hirschkind. the
president OF the Jewish Aid Society. Our
organization will certainly adopt resolutions
denouncing the verdict. and II possible will
organize a Dreyfus society in this city,
the object being to raise funds to
assist him in getting another trial
He was the victim OF an internal plot. and was
tortured and insulted simply because he was
Jew. The evidence Of his alleged crime was o
letter that proved to be forgery. He was
never guilty Of treason. but the arch conspra-
tors made up their minds to get him out OF
the French Army simply because he was Jew.
They have succeeded. but at the cost OF sacri-
ficing the honor OF France"
Max Stedler. President OF the Monteflore
Jewish Sick Benefit Society. said that mass
meeting ofthe Jews OF this city would be hold
as soon as possible for the purpose of making
public protest against the conviction OF
Capt Dreyfus.
THE proper thing would be mass meeting
In Cooper Union" said Mr., Stedler Clergy
men OF all denominations should be invited to
speak. and President Mckinley asked TO take
cognizance OF tho case from Humanitarian
standpoint President Mckinley may be asked
to appeal to the President OF France for q par
don for Dreyfus"
Lawyer Abraham Levy. who is member OF
the executive boards OF the leading Hebrew
organizations in this city, said that the convio-
ton OF Dreyfus was the result Of religious big
otry. and considerable trouble was now In store
for the French Republic. The TALL OF the French
Ministry would probably be the beginning, he
said Gen. Roget and some Of the members OF
the Chambe OF Deputies should be brought to
trial on charges OF conSpiring against the Gov
ernment.
Thomas +. Woods. President OF the Board OF
Aldermen. said that the verdict was to be ex-
pected on account OF the race prejudice that
exists in Franco.
The court reafrlrms the guilt OF Dreyfus,"
said Assistant District Attorney Blumenthal.
why does it not redirect lie Imprisonment
Certainly the crime OF treason is no less grave
now than 1t was in 1894. The latest
sentence is only for Ave years more. whereas
the original punishment inflicted was exile
for life On DEVILS Island. 1t was evidently
believed that the comparative leniency OF this
court would allay public sentiment and per-
haps content the miserable victim. The
French officials knew that the result OF the
first court martial was contrary to justice and
law The verdict OF court is right or wrong
There is no medium wrong between tho two.
II the condemnation Of Dreyfus was originally
wrong. and the change OF penalty indicates
that it is officially SO regarded. why was he not
acquitted? II 1t was right. why not
adhere to the original judgment Of the court e?
/ intend to take steps for the organization
OF committee OF citizens, irrespective, OF re-
ligious belief. and Including clergymen Of all
Railway Fares Lower than Ever to