The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-03-14

PARIS, March 13.-From the announce
ment that another safe conduct has been
granted to excel. Esterhazy, in order to
admit of his testifying once more next
week before the entire court Of cessation,
consisting of some fifty judges, 1t would
appear that the full court has resolved
not to accept without question the pro-
ceedings and reports Of the criminal divi-
sion OF the court. 1t is probable that each
of the more important of the witnesses
Will be called upon to furnish supple
mentary testimony in addition to that
which they had already given before the
criminal division. In spite of this, 1t Is
anticipated that the entire Dreyfus con-
troversy will have been settled before the
end Of April.
In the course of discussion with a
member Of the government, who stands
probably in closer personal relations with
the premier than any of the latters other
colleagues, he expressed the opinion that
the quashing of the court-martial which
convicted Dreyfus was inevitable, owing
to the circumstance that number Of new
facts have been already brought to light
by the criminal division of the court Of
cessation. Some of these facts tend
toward the innocence Of Dreyfus, while
others show that the court-martial by
which he was convicted had rendered
itself guilty Of number of serious irreg-
ularit1es, each one in itself sufficient to
invalidate conviction. These facts, he
continued, would weigh just as heavily
with the full court of cessation as with
the criminal division; facts are not theo-
ries and cannot be gainsaid
III 1Io.l A.
pected that the full court Of cessation
will pronounce a decree quashing the
court-martial and ordering a new one.
He went on to point out that there was
no ground for fearing that this second
court-martial would fail to do full justice
to Dreyfus. For a court-martial, If asked
to try the case in the light of investiga-
tons OF the highest civil tribunal in
France, would have no alternative but to
perform the task as men of honor and
officers.
This second court-martial Is expected
to find that the evidence against the pris-
oner Is not sufficient to convict him, that
the charges against him have not been
substantiated and that ne must be set
at liberty.
On being asked whether, If thus releas-
ed, Dreyfus would not be restored to the
army and rehabilitated, the speaker, who
1t is needless to add was rot talking for
publication, became very positive and
vigorous In his tone. He declared that
neither the government to which he be-
longs nor any other government would
ever accord to Dreyfus any further re-
Mobilization than is implied by his re,
lease, and by the restoration to his rights
as French citizen. He will not be re-
stored to the army, even if released; nor
Will any compensation be granted to him
The government takes the ground that,
inasmuch as there was strong prima
facie evidence against him, the mistake
made In sentencing him to DEVILS
island was made in good faith In fact.
the only directions which the officers Of
the new court-marital are likely to re-
ceive from the minister of war are TO
formulate the order for the prisoners
restoration to liberty in such a manner
that 1t can not give rise to any further
legal action on his part. The government
Is determined at all costs to avoid a con-
troversy through legal proceedings on the
part of the ex-captain to secure damages
for the tribulations that he has under
gone, either from the state or from those
who were responsible for his arrest and
illegal conviction.
The government Is resolved not to per-
nit any military or civilian personases 10
be sacrihced to appease the wrath Of his
friends, and 1t Is this knowledge impart-
ed to Gen. de Boisdeffre and to his fellow
officers who constituted the anti-Dreyfus
ring, which has led them to bow to the
inevitable and to abandon the struggle
against his liberation. Their fight against
the latter was to a great extent due TO
the fact that they believed that his ac-
quittal would entail their own dishonor,
disgrace, possibly their expulsion from
the army and imprisonment That was
the cause OF their desperation and Of their
readiness to go to any length, even crimi
nal, in order to avert the liberation of
Dreyfus.
AS soon as Dupuy, however. became