The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-09-22
He and Wife to Leave
Rennes Last Night,
HIS PARDON GRANTED
At a Cabinet Meeting Yesterday.
Doubt as to the Pardon
Notwithstanding the Time Of Ii
Taking Effect-she News causes no
Excitementfn Paris or Rennes-The
D~reyfusards to Continue the Prosecu.
ton Of the StaROmcers.

-
Paris. September 19.-The council Of
ministers decided today to pardon Drey-
fus in principle. The pardon will TAX
effect in a few days.
Dreyfus has relinquIshed his appeal
FOR a reversal Of the Judgment Of the
cOurt-martial.
The announcement that Dreyfus was
10 be ~pardoned had already been dis
counted by predictions, and there was
absolutely no excitement displayed
anywhere along the b~oulevards when
the newsboys ran along about 3:15
O'Clock p. m. with the first editions con-
tanning the statement that the cabi-
net had decided to pardon Dreyfus.
The newspapers sold quickly, but there
was no rush for them upon the part of
the boulevardiers. Those who bought
the papers sat down in front of the
cafes and read the announcement with
put comment. Every one expected IL
and the decision met with no Opposi-
ton.
The Droits de rHomme, socialist or
gan, said: "Our task remains the same
after, as before, the liberation of Drey-
fus, to continue the campaign against
all those who are responsible for the
lamentable affair and unmask the
fOrgers, traitors and false witnesses,
even though they may be covered with
glittering decorations"
I'm principle" is an idiom sometimes
used in semi-official announcements OF
forthcoming action. 1t seems to have
but slight bearing on the matter tx,
cept, perhaps, that it implies the full
filIment of various formalities before
the pardon is actually issued, thereby
qualifying the announcement of the
pardon with slight tentatiVeness. 1t is
not known yet whether the pardon ip-
cludeS amnesty.
The official announcement was made
in this form in order to avoid demon
situations of any kline at Rennes and
Paris. But, the pardon of Dreyfus is
not merely imminent, it was actually
signed this morning. Measures have
been taken in Rennes in connection
with it.
The newspapers now publish the
first semi-official announcement of the
cabinets decision without comment.
The Journal des Debats, however,
says: w are assured that the fami-
ly will receive an order for Dreyfus to
leave Rennes, unperceived, shortly,
during the night time. The government
does not know, or in n case does not
say ~ Luo 10 BULLS.
The Journal DIES Debats, however, fol-
lows the foregoing with the report that
Madame Dreyfus has taken a villa AT
FolkestOne, near Dover, England. This
report has been denied, but many be-
lieve Dreyfus will go to England on his
release, which nay take place tonight.
The result of a telephone inquiry at
Rennes this afternoon shows Dreyfus
has not yet left his prison.
IT is said that DrpVfuS will he sent
abroad before the PRONUNCIATION of his
pardon, in order to avoid ~demOnstra-
tons.
There is much remark here on the
strange coincidence of the death of M.
Scheurer-K esther, the first champion of
Dreyfus, and to whom Dreyfus will
virtually owe his freedom, ON the very
day the cabinet decided to pardon the
prisoner. NJ. Scheurer-Kestner's death
was sudden. He had been i'll during
the last few days, but it was not
thought that his illness would prove
fatal.
Rennes, September 19.-The news
that the council of ministers had de-
cided to pardon Dreyfus was received
here with intense excitement. Dreyfus
is still a prisoner.
London, September 19.-Truth, Henry
Labouchere's paper, protesting against
a universal condemnation of France on
account of the Dreyfus affair, says: II
believe there are many Americans with
whom the innocence of Mrs. Florence
Maybrick is an article Of faith. The
lady, in the meantime, is enjoying the
hospitality of an English prison as a
convicted murdress. Nevertheless, the
American journals, although by no
means reticent in the expression OF
their opinions, do not denounce the
English justice as a disgrace to civili-
zation, the English people as lost to all
sense of right, and Liverpool. where
she was sentenced. Is an accused
city"
London, September 20.-The Rennes
correspondent of The Daily Telegraph,
wiring at 8 O'Clock las evening says:
There is reason to believe that Drey-
fus is already out of prison, and that
with his wife, he will probably leave
Rennes tonight"
Paris, September 20-Pardoning Drey-
fus does not drop the curtain on the
drama. The Dreyfusards are determin-
ed to pursue the campaign against the
generals and other officers of the gen.
eral staff who have lied and committed
gross illegalities in order to keep the
prison loo closed on the victim.
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