The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-04-22
4 DREYFUS DECISION.

The French governments habit of
talking through the Paris press lends
only too much probability to the report
that the court of cessation will decide
against a revision Of the Dreyfus case.
The reasoning by which this decisienI
is reached is Enthusiastically French.
Substantially, it is this: A review of
the evidence on which the sentence of
the court martial was based indicates
that a mistake was made and the pris-
oner was not justly convicted, but asI
inasmuch as no new evidence of import
ance has been adduced, there is no call
for a new trial, and the sentence of the
former court must stand. 1t is inti-I
mated, however, that if Nine. Dreyfus
should petition for a new trial on the
ground of insufficient evidence in the
first instance, something might be done
for the relief of her husband.
The ways of French justice pass the
comprehension of a people Injured to the
practices of English law, but the absurd
bubble imputed to the court of cassa-
ton harmonizes perfectly with the
character of the proceedings from the
arrest of Dreyfus to the imprisonment
of Col. Picquart and the second trial of
lola. The case seems to have been
laid before the court of cessation in
such a manner as to compel an adverse
decision on the barest of technicalities.
A petitioner does not appear before a.
Latin court to demand right but to
ask favor and pray for indulgence,
and the attitude of the court toward
government and petitioner is not at
all what it is under English law. To
all intents and purposes, the accused
is deemed guilty till he has been proved
innocent. In the Dreyfus litigation,
however, there has been a marked ex-
ception to this rule. When Esterhazy
was brought to trial, the document cor
esponding to what we know as an in
dictment amounted to a counsePs plea
of innocence and an argument to prove
that Dreyfus and Picquart We're guilty.
Throughout this wretched travesty Of
justice the aim of the government has
been not to seek the truth but sup
/ press II anu oaNS Inc 6SlGIdl stall VI
the army from disgrace.
/ Little by little the government has
been compelled to publish the evidence
submitted and the records OF. the courts
are open, so that the world is virtually
in possession of the whole case, and
nowhere outside of France is there any
doubt as to the truth. Not only was
Dreyfus convicted illegally. but the al
legged secret evidence against him was
pure fabrication. In the desperate
attempt to cover up this awful mis-
take, which was actually discovered by
members of the general staff itself, the
adored army of the French has become
involved in a mass of lies, .forgeries
and eonspiracies that has at last and
not unnaturalyfD brought the real Gull
prits to light. Only the anti-Semitic
frenzy of the French people and press.
intimidating juries and public men as
in veritable reign of terror, has baf-
fled the efforts of honest men like Col.
Picquart, Maitre Labor, lola and
Scheurer- Kestner to force the govern
ment to release Dreyfus, if not imprison
the renegade. arch-traitor chief con-
spirator and forger, Esterhazy. But the
tide of sentiment is turning, even in
France, and the admission of the court
Of cessation is likely to inspire another
effort to correct the confessed mistake.