Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1899-08-31

Wastebasket of the German embassy
revealed communication enumerat
ing list of plans that had or could b,
furnished to the Germans by The
writer, who omitted to sign his name
The only clue to the author of thi,
7 reasonable offer was the handwriting,
: Either with or without sufficient
{ reason, Drey fus was accused. 1t was
5 alleged that he had knowledge of the
5 matters referred to in the missive and
t also that his handwriting resembled
that Of the so-called bordereau Some
further evidence against Dreytus was
, provided, including a significant letter
in which the parties who were buying
/ the military secrets were made to al
. lude to the source of their information
as an enigmatical d. Result, af-
ter a court-martial, which excited
much interest, Dreytus was convicted
of heinous military offence, publicly
degraded and sentenced to life-exile.
He was-taken to lie du Diable, a
| French colony on the north coast Of
South America, bleak island where ii
was expected he would end his
miserable days as Napoleon did at st.
Helena.
During his trial, Dreytus did not
lack for friends, who believed his pro-
testations Of innocence. These did
not desert him in his exile, but CON
tinued an agitation in his behalf for
tie purpose of having a second, and as
they argued, a more impartial trial |
To a great many it seemed that ORGY |
fus had been convicted on very insult /
ficient evidence. His trial had been
secret and the public imagined that he
had been made in some way scape-
goat for the real guilty party. Sympa-
thy for him began to grow and people
to take sides, one way or the other.
The affair was dragged into politics as
the result of a number of different
factors. Dreyfus is a jew. In France,
as in other European countries, vio-
lent prejudice exists against AL Jews.
Everything mean and vile is attributed {
to them. In spite OF this prejudice, the
Jews, in France, especially, have be- {
come among the most successful and
powerful citizens. This only increas- !
es the prejudice against them. Then !
.he military party execlated Dreytus /
and upheld his punishment. On the
other hand, the socialists who hate the !
military arm saw in Dreyfus' summary e
md cruel fate grave danger to the !
liberty Of civil Institutions. The rot
enness Of the guardians Of the ma a
ions honor in revealing such impor- i
ant secrets to a possible enemy was !
apparent to all and was enough alone a
0 excite a people SO excitable as the J
french. q
The agitation in favor of Dreyfus con-
inued with constant increase. NJ. 10 "
a, the great novelist, lent his power :,
III aid and finally accused certain mix "
lary personages OF conspiracy and
orgery in procuring the conviction Of
,reyfus. lola was found guilty of :,
bel but his accusations produced Of
reat effect, notwithstanding At
,ngth, the military party began to >
'eaken. Henry and Esterhazy con-
essed that much Of the evidence 81
gainst the exile had been forged and :
nat they and others above them were ?
The former committed W
nicide. A revision OF the case could
0 longer be prevented and was or y
cred by the court OF cassasion, or vi
ighest civil court. Dreyfus was
rought back after his five years alb OF
ence and his second court martial is R,
ow in progress. sa
Taken all in all, it is most remark
BILE case. What the outcome will be da
uncertain. To most unpreiudiced
ersons it seems either that Dreyfus is ~ =,
lnocent entirely or that at least the Y,
roof against him would never con- y
let him in a far court. Even il WI
lilty, he must have suffered deeply lie
I'D sufficiently already. But the fate ~
Dreyfus itself is insignificant, COM Il.
lred with the possible, even probable, az on
iect ofthe verdict on France itself
'hatever il is it viii very likely pro- :
ice dissatisfaction so deep that grave Zoe
ouble will ensue. The French are
zone to turmoil and only require a lit
e excuse for vast amount OF vio- tut
nee. The history Of this case is such y
al we may reasonably expect re- /,
IN Of the commune The acquittal Sal
Dreyfus means the degradation of y
c high officials who, it Is believed by i