The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1899-08-16

side but soon returned excitedly debat-
ing the news. Colonel Jouaust lectured
reporters owing to reports that news
paper men were responsible for the
disturbance Saturday when MERCER |
flushed. M. Demange arrived after
seeing Labori He arose and in O |
broken voice announces the attempted |
assassination OF his colleague. Colonel |
Jouaust expressed extreme regret. As
Dreyfus entered he paled at receiving
the news OF the wounding of Labor.
MERCER was then called and confronted
with ex-president Casmir Perier.
MERCER represented the danger Of war
with Germany when Dfeyius vas first
arrested. Perier strongly denied this
MERCER claimed two versions of Pan
izzaroi's despatch, one discriminating
Dreyfus which was used at the first
trial. M. Paliogue, for the foreign Of
flee here, fatty contradicted MERCER,
saying there was one version and that
not discriminating Dreyfus.
PARIS, Aug, IA cabinet meeting
was called Immediately after the re-
ceipt of the news of the shooting of
Labor. 1t was ordered that the
Rennes authorities redouble their for
ces as it is feared there is general
plot 10 essassinate Dreyfus and his
principal defenders.
RENNEs, August 13.-The political
bearings of the battle over Dreyfus'
re-trial are shown in the arrest of Paul
Deroulede, the deputy and poet, and
twenty-three of his royalist and Bona
partist allies, who have pooled with
him against the republic. The pool
would be of little consequence but for
the military caste.
1t is strange how the fight has thick.
ened around the shadowy and emaciat-
ed Dreyfus. Last Mondays sitting of
the court martial and the subsequent
non-public sittings were skirmshes;
Saturday was a field day, in which the
two hostile forces set themselves in ar
ray of battle and drew the first blood.
The actual Dreyfus trial is trial of
strength which cannot end in a drawn
game. 1t is now "neck or nothing"
combat, IA desperate fight in which
neither side will give in unless utterly
routed.
The moral situation reminds one of
the French revolution. The Dreyfus-
ties have the brains, the forward inn
pulse, the dash aud the flexibllity.
The uationahsts have social and other
prestige, numbers and organization,
Their centre is composed of the ma
jority of the Frenchmen and French
women; their left wing lie formed of
$4,000 officers and their right wing con
sists of the church. All profess re-
spect for legality, but only from the
lips out.
Their adversaries can no longer
make use of the rope that hung Lemer.
cier Picard or the razor that cut Henry's
throat. The minister of war could not
if he wanted to, read forged docu'
ment in parliament. 1t is impossible
now to stuff the dossier with fables Fl
for Mother Goose tales. But organiza
ton, numbers and prestige and wealth
mean staying power.
The immediate issue OF the fight il
the freedom of Dreyfus, but Saturday.
incidents and episodes are the begin
ming of struggle of far-reaching con
sequence.
The nationalists foresaw what revis
ion would lead to. They, in man,
/ things, showed blindness. But the,
had keen instinct for the ultimat,
trend of the revisioni movement.
PARIS, Aug, INSTRUMENTATION
occurred last evening outside the Office
, of the anti-Semite League, where NJ
, Guerin, president of the league, anC
M. Max Regis, the former Jew baitin!
mayor of Algiers, against whom order
: OF arrest had been issued on a charg,
of government, are still besieged by thu
police.
Fifty snti-Semites took up position
in restaurant opposite and M. Guerir
harangued them from window. Fl
nally the police closed the thorough
fare to prevent the demonstration be
coming serious. M. Godefrey, presi
dent of the Guinness Royalists, and M
LIE Menuet, secretary of the League o
Patriots, have been arrested and man,
other royalsts.
A reporter of the Temps, who OBJ
tanned admission to the offices of thu
anti-Semite League, found the place {
veritable fortress. The grand hal
contained twenty Winchester repeating
rifles and plenty OF ammunition, re
volvers and side arms.