The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-09-21
Assessment Rolls Approved.
The Dreyfus Verdict.

To the Editor of the indianapolis Journal:
In the multitude OF opinions, expressions
and discussions by individuals and the press
of the proceedings and finding of the Rennes
court-martial l observe one from the editor
of the Catholic Record of Indianapolis. in
which the editor expresses his conviction OF
the honor, honesty and truthfulness of the
French officers and of the Justice of the ver-
dict OF the court. AS the editor Is a born
Frenchman it is natural that he should view
the matter through a French mind. But
even a French mind should be susceptible
OF the impress of truth and justice when
logically considered. Let us consider some
of the evidence. First. it is the testimony
of General GoAse, one Of the jealous wit
nesses for the prosecution. that there is no
direct evidence before the Department of
War that any of the documents named in
the indictment had been delivered to a
foreign state. Hence there is no direct evil
dence that the crime, as charged in the in
dictment, has been committed. Yet those
very honest and honorable officers" de-
clare their conviction that Dreyfus is guilty
as charged. and that they base their opin-
ions on the bordereau, the petit bleu and
other documents pointing to Dreyfus as the
culprit. BY a great -preponderance of legiti-
mate testimony ii was proved that the
bordereau is not the work OF Dreyfus. 1t
was proved and acknowledged by the prose-
cution that the petit bleu was tempered
with and converted into a forgery after 1t
reached the intelligence Office and that
other documents upoh which the generals
based their opinions were forgeries. Yet
those truthful, honest officers maintain their
opinions that Dreyfus is guilty. and con-
tinue TO pile UP a great mass of malicious
U0QEln nnlf0nd fncfnlraTfnn md ra~
possibility as proofs of his guilt, while at
the same time the court refuses to admit
evidence which would refute that gossip and
innuendo. Had IL been the purpose OF the
court to impartially elicit the truth 1t would
not and could not have pursued the course
II did. The bordereau itself and the exist
ence of those forgeries clearly indicate a
foul conspiracy against the Jew. The editor
of the Record says. M: De Freycinet said
against France and the French army VI.
De Freycinet testified that he had no recol-
lection that any definite amount had been
sire TO make prominent. Those officers
pressing the prosecution are not France nor
unworthy individuals of that army. The cry
of the friends Of revision Is not a cry
against France nor against the army of
holy efforts of a malicious cabal to strange
truth and cruelty justice In the courts of
France. Mr.; ChomeI points out that the
Jew has a double allegiance, and for that
reason he cannot be as true TO a country as
that their loyalty is suspected because of
their double allegiance. 1t occurs 10 me
that the editor of the Record did not re-
fleet before making that unfair and unjust
reflection. 1t is patent that the Catholic
also has a double allegiance, and perhaps
more pronounced than that of the Jew.
Does the. editor think that Catholics feel
that their loyalty is suspected because of
their ecclesiastical allegiance? Not so. A
Jew has been prime minister in Great
Jew Is a loyal. peaceable, law-abiding citi-
zen OF the country that gives him protec-
ton. LEWIS A
Indianapolis, Sept. 10.