New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-07-05
DPEYFTS AND FRANCE.

Two noteworthy features OF Captain Drey-
fuss return to France are to be observed. one
is the attitude of France. Not only Paris. but
all France Is tranquil A few months ago
some were wildly clamoring that the traitor
must never I've allowed 10 poute the soil or
France by his presence. Such talk is now
stilled There are no mobs, no frantic out
bursts. no excitement The whole nation ac-
ouicsces in what has been done II is the vim
dIcation and the triumph Of French common
sense Even NJ Paul Deroulede. who has been
one of the most extreme opponents of revision
of the Dreyfus case and who recently was de-
claiming that, no matter what might be done'
Dreyfus must he kept in condemnation, now
admits the possibility that Captain Dreyfus
may be adjudged innocent, and declares that II
such be the verdict of the Rennes court he will
accept II in good faith, and will even then de-
mand the punishment of those who were Grim
inally responsible for the former false convic-
ton. Volumes could not tell more of the trans
formation that has come upon the French spirit
or the spirit of a large part OF France, than
those woros Of NJ. Deroulede.
The other thing Is Captain Dreyfuss own
steadfast confidence in his acqulttal ana VIM
dicltion His similar demeanor when he was
first condemned was declared by the preposter-
GUS Du Patty de Clam to be proof of his guilt.
Sane and honest men do not thus interpret IT,
Certainly Captain Dreyfus himself. above all
men, knows whether he is guilty or innocent.
He knows too, in the former case what evil
dence there is against him. 1t seems scarcely
possible that knowing his guilt and the PROOF
OF il that existed ne would thus court retrial.
He must know what n second CONVICTION would
mean. It could bring him no worse sentence
than the other But il would bring repetition
and intensifcaton Of all the personal humilia-
ton and degradation which he suffered years
ago. and an awful access of pain and grief to
his family and friends Unless he were mon
ster beyond the pale of humanity ne would not
seek such catastrophe. 1t may he that he Is
n monster But the law of probabilities forbids
us 10 reckon so on present evidence.
II is said that the case against him is formi-
dable one 1t is said that at the original trial
there were many damnng counts against nlni
in the ndictment-a score or more-and that
the prosecutor elected to try him on only one,
the last on the list. That, too, may be. we DO
not know But if So then the case stands thus:
out of n great number Of counts the one chosen
proved to be absolutely false and fraudulent
based on forgery and buttressed with perjury.
Were the other counts any more vahd! ii
there was so much else against hin, why dld
his prosecutors stake their case upon charge
which they knew to be fraudulent: why dlu
they resort to desperate tricks of dark lanterns
and mirrorned cells 10 extort confession II
they had so many other well supported charges
against hirl? And why. in all this contro-
versy have they not put forth some OF those
other counts in the Indictment, and thus ended
the clamor? There was lawyer once who SAID
he had dozen good excuses to offer FOR MS
clients non-appearance in court In the hrst
place. he said. the man was dead. mat set
tied It. No further excuse was demanded But
suppose he had begun with some false ana
forged excuse. and had fought out tedious
contempt case on it as an issue? He would
have been fool.