Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-09-14
IRE VERDICT UNPOPULAR.
Decision of the CoMt-Martial
in the Dreyfus Case Gen
erahy Denounced.

NiIics TAarSnly Cr1tlc1se
the Courts Finding-A Committee
TO Be Organized to Intercede for
Dreyfus' Pardon.
NeW York, Sept. 12.-Divergence of
oRlnlon almost as remarkable as the
3tralct itself greeted the news of the
Or9yfus verdict in New York. In the
FRENCH quarters--if that term NAV be
uSed 10 designate territory no longer
homogeneous and distinctive-the opin-
ION practically was unanimous that
captain Dreyfus had been convicted
Justly. that the judges before whom he
was tfied We're men of probity and had
piayeu u heroic part in standing by
tneif convictions, ana that they had in
thelf possession evidence of such an
lhcrlminating character. not revealed
at the trial for state reasons. that II
conclusion could have been reached
after five minutes deliheration.
Ihis was the French view, by which
Is meant the view of the anti-D -Drey-
fus1tes, principally on the ground of re
iigious differences and prejudices. 1t
represented the wish as well as the
hopes and expectation of those who
We're against Dreyfus, not because the
evidence showed guilt but because the
bitterness of hatred. directed solely
against the accused officers religion.
ohstucted all sense of fair play.
Inc American view was protest
against an astounding injustice: and
against the bringing in Of verdict
directly opposed to the evidence;
contempt for hidden proof that the
judges did not dare make public No
affair entirely disconnected with Amer
lean matters ever has aroused such in
terest In New York. 1t was the chief
topic of discussion In the hotels. in the
elevated railroad trains and on the
surface cars. and gave opportunity
for vociferous eXr .ssion of opinion In
several theatres.
In keith's where an impersonation OF
Dreyfus is IA principal feature. the ap-
piause was tremendous at each ap-
pearance of the officer In the Crit
erion, where The Girl from NIaxim's"
is being played the temper Of the audi
ence was shown when j. NJ. Francour
who takes the part of French army
officer. WAS hissed and booted the mo
ment he appeared on the stage. Every
audience in every place of amusement
was a Dryfus audience; every refer
storm of condemnation: every Sugges-
ton of injustice IA storm of applause.
And what was true of the theatres.
where the barometer of popular opinion
rarely is at fault was true also of the
hotels and other places of public meet
ing-with the possible exception of the
Hotel Martin, the rendezvous of many
native born Frenchmen. Most of them
who dined there twirled their cigar
cites and said they believed that the
verdict was Just and merlted Chief
among these was Henry Fournier. who
in 1894 told several regiments EN-
braced within the department to which
Captain Dreyfus's regiment belonged
to send a representative to witness the
degradation of the convicted officer.
Il was a member of the bicycle
squad" said NJ. Fournier. land it was
my duty to serve this notification on
the commandants of the regiments. in
accordance with French military law
to be present TO witness the breaking
of Captain Dreyfus's sword and the
stripping of his insignia of rank from
his shoulders. Do | believe lin guilty:
What else can l believe? He was tried
by court of honorable soldiers. n
court that was sworn to see justice
done. and pledged on its soldierly honor
to find true verdict"
but did the evidence justify the
verdict?"
"The judges did their duty. They
did not make public all the proof they
had in their possession. That would
have been impolitic. and would have
given to the enemies of France infor
nation that belonged to France alone.
Yes. believe Dreyfus to be guilty. but
not the only guilty one. Colonel Henry
yes; Esterhazy-yes: Du Patty de
Clam-impossible.
On the Dreyfus side there can be
found no more fair and consistent
champion than Rabbi Joseph Silver
man of Temple Emanu-El. Fifth ave.
nue. and Forty-foufth street. DR.. Sil-
verman always has been outspoken,
and has not hesitated to Offend his CO.
religionsts If he was convinced that
he was in the right.
"A calamity to France, crime
against humanity and perversion of
Justice" is his summing up of the YER
dict. 'The trial." he continued. was
travesty of all court procedure. 1t
was one of the greatest judicial blum
ders and crimes of the century. The
voice of the world will yet declare Cap
tain Dreyfus innocent and do justice to
his honor
Cnon learning of the verdict Assist
ant District Attorney Blumenthal took
preliminary steps at once for the or
sanization of Il committee of citizens.
irrespective of religious belief, and in
cluding clergymen of different denomi-
nations. to start a movement for the
holding of n mass meeting for the pur
nose of making public protest against
the conviction of Dreyfus and his sent
ence Of ten years by the court-martial.
Dispatches received here from Phila-
delpha. Chicago and all the large cities
! In this country are to the effect that
the verdict rendered against Captain
| Dreyfus and the sentence imposed is
denounced as manifestly unjust and
unwarranted by the evidence produced
at the court-martial.