The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-09-20

Paris, Sept 19--The council of minis
ters decided to-day to pardon Dreyfus
in principle. The pardon will take ef-
feet in a few days. Dreyfus has relin-
quished his appeal for reversal of the
judgment of the court martial.
1t is said Dreyfus will be sent abroad
before the PRONUNCIATION of his pardon
in order TO avoid demonstrations.
In principle is an idiom sometimes
used in semi official announcements of
forthcoming actions 1t seems to have
but slight bearing on the matter ex-
cept, perhaps, that ii implies the fulfill
ment of various formalties before the
pardon is actually issued, thereby quail
flying the announcement of the pardon
with slight tentativeness. 1t is not
known yet whether the pardon includes
amnesty. Ma
There is much remark here on the
strange coincidence of the death of
Schuerer- -Kestner, the first champion of
Dreyfus and to whom Dreyfus will vir-
tually owe his freedom, on the very day
the cabinet decided to pardon the pris-
oner. Schuerer Kestner's death was
sudden. He had been i'll during the last
few days, but it was not thought his
illness would prove fatal The an
nouncement that Dreyfus was to be
pardoned had already been discounted
by predictions and there was absolutely
no excitement along the boulevardS
when newsboys ran along at about 3:15
p. m. with the first editions containing
the statement that the cabinet had de-
cided to pardon Dreyfus. Everyone ex-
pected it and the decision met with no
opposition.
Up to 6 o'clock this evening the ut
most calm prevailed throughout Paris.
The decision of the cabinet to pardon
Dreyfus seemed to have passed unno-
ticed. The only remark was I'VE ex-
pected it, The official announcement
was made in the form cabled to the as
sociated press in order to avoid de-
monstra tions Of any kind at Rennes and
in Paris. But the pardon of Dreyfus
is not merely imminent but was actu-
ally signed this morning. Measures
have been taken in Rennes in connec-
tion with it and it will have good eff
feet generally.
The newspapers now publish the first
semi official announcement of the cabi-
nets decision without comment The
Journal Des Debats, however, says:
I'VE are assured that the family will
receive an order for Dreyfus to leave
France. unperceived, during the night.
The government does not know, or in
any case does not say, where Dreyfus is
going" The Journal Des Debats fol-
lows the foregoing with the report that
Nine. Dreyfus has taken a villa at
Folkestone, near Dover, England. This
report has been denied, but many be-
lieve Dreyfus will go to England on his
release, which may take place tonight.
The result of a telephone inquiry at
Rennes this afternoon shows Dreyfus
has not yet left his prison.
The decision of the cabinet to
don Dreyfus created less interest in
Paris than would be the result of big
horse race. In fact 1t may be said that
it caused no excitement whatever.
There was no rioting on the boulevards.
In front of the offices of the Libre Pa
role, where a crowd usually assemblies
in the evening to gaze upon the huge
Colored tranSparencies outside the win
dows of the leading anti-Semite organ.
there was not the slightest gathering
or the faintest sign of demonstration
either for or against Dreyfus.
One would think that the first of ths
Dreyfus agitation had burned itself
out The -Dreyfusard evening pa
pers tried to infuse interest into the
governments action by a rabid attack
upon President Loubet, but their efforts
were futile.
The peaceful crowds that filed the
tables in front of the cafes, slipping
their after dinner coffee. looked at the
newsboys who displayed the front
pages Of these sheets with their violent
headlines but utterly refused TO get
excited. The majority did not even 5is-
cuss the matter or only made the pass
ing remark that the decision was just
as had been expected and predicted by
every Partisan newspaper since the
Rennes court martial delivered its ver-
dict.
The anti-Dreyfusard newspaper Soir
had the most sensational caption, two
lines of enormous letters extending
across the entire front page announcing
''The Traitor Dreyfus Pardoned; Out
rage on the Army" Then in the course
of an article violently attacking Presi-
dent Loubet, it said: ''Loubet has
.ri..nr, hi,rnsale . do i.,