The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-21
DREYFUs CASE DEBATED.
Statement of a Socialist Deputy De-
MED by EX-Premier MeIfne.

PARIS, JAN 20.--The Chamber of Deputies
to-day plunged into another Dreyfus debate
NJ. Breton, Socialist, interpellated the gov
eminent on the subject of the package of
diplomatic papers among the documents in
the Dreyfus case, and asserted that former
Minister Rambaud, speaking at the agricul-
tural show declared the members of the
Meline Cabinet were aware of the forgery
of the late Lieut.. Col. Henry. The state
ment caused great excitement among the
deputies, in the midst of which NJ. Meline,
who was premier in the Cabinet in which
NJ. Rambaud was minister of public instruc-
ton, and DR.. Barthou, who was minister
of the interior in the same Cabinet, rose
and formally characterized the statement
as false. NJ. Meline added that the day he
was first aware of the Henry forgery was
when NJ. Caviagnac, the former minister OF
war, announced its discovery in the Cham
Der of Deputies. The speaker further de-
clared that revision of the trial was UNI
necessary and that he had nothing to re-
tract.
The minister of foreign affairs, NJ. Del
casse, said tina so-called ultra secret dos
sier which had been communicated to the
Court of Cessation contained no letter from
Dreyfus to a foreign sovereign. He added
that there never had been such a letter
to the knowledge of the agents who had
been in the service of the Ministry during
the last decade. AS to the suggestion that
it contained letters from foreign sover-
eign to Dreyfus the minister said he did not
believe that any authenticity could be cred
tied to such documents [Applause.] Con-
tinuing, the minister of foreign affairs said
he, as well as every one connected with the
Foreign Office, was entirely unaware that
any such documents had been manufactured,
as alleged, but even if such were the case
the forger would never attempt TO offer
them at the French Foreign Office, for, how
ever naive the diplomatists might be sup
posed to be, they would never be simple
enough tc accept or place value upon such
merchandise IApplausel
M. Meiine, the former premier, formally
reiterated that neither he nor any member
of his Cabinet was aware of the forgery or
congratulated himself that he was not re-
spcnsible for the revision, as, he added,
there was not a new fact to warrant II.
The speaker further remarked that II there
was an innocent man condemned in the case
it should be proclaimed to the world; but,
the country only saw in the Dreyfus affair
a systematic and perfidious campaign
against the army Applause from the Cen
trists.l The partisans of revision, the
former premier said later, should cease to
Join hands with the enemies of the army.
This remark caused a violent uproar among
the Leftists. Meline added: The campaign
against the army is capable~o of being incon-
testify proved" IRenewed uproar and APP
plause followed this assertion.l
Later the order of the day pure and simple
was accepted by the government ana was
adopted by a vote of $50 to 81
NJ Breton and NJ. Milevoye. Nationalist
Republican, managing editor of the Patrle,
sent seconds to one another owing to in
suits exchanged during the sitting. but the
seconds decided that there was no ground
for a duel
According to the Soir. the Court of Cassa-
ton intends to conclude the inquiry by con-
fronting Captain Lebron- Renault, VINO was
radiation, with Dreyfus himself. The neces-
sity for this conformation is advanced as
a Dretext to Justify the return of Dreyfus
to Paris The court also proposes, accord
ing TO the Soir, to have the bordereau die
tated successfully to Dreyfus and EsterhaZy:
whose handwriting will then be compared
with the original document.