The San Francisco call., 1899-09-09

to the voice of my conscience and pursued
an undertaking course. free from anger
and passion. not needing hatred or preJu-
dice. l have done my duty. You Xlll DO
yours, which is to mete out Justice.
Continuing. NJ. Demange said he wished
to clearly define the prisoners position,
saying ,.oo,
Dreyfus was a convict and serious pre-
sumptiOnS of his innocence were neceS-
sary before the case could be taken up
by the Court of Cessation. To-day 1t IS
for the public prosecutor to prove his
guilt. Let no one blame us, therefore:
If we have not proved the innocence OF
our client. The task was not incumbent
upon us. 1t is for the Government COM
missioner to show that he is guilty OF
the abominable crime imputed to him.
M. Demange then protested against the
! suggestion that it had been attempted to
put EsterhaZy on trial, explaining that
all the defense desired was that the inno-
cence of Dreyfus should appear, dazzling
and complete, and that the court-martial
should proclaim it. Counsel was salts
fled that the judges of 1894 were honest,
like the present judges. But if the for
mer had seen Esterhazys handwriting
they would have pronounced a different
verdict. NJ Demange dilated upon the
prisoners increasing protestations of in
nocence and his touching letters to his
family. exclaiming: In them you see
his SOUL which speaks. Alone in his
tomb he communes with himself. He
cherished the hope of seeing his inno-
cence acknowledged
Among the letters of Dreyfus read by
M Demange was one in which, after
asserting his Innocence and declaring he
always served the tri-color with devo-
tiOn and honor. the prisoner complained
that he was treated on Devils Island like
an ordinary, convict. 1t concluded with
the words Il wish to live.
THAT is a soldiers SouI!' exclaimed NJ
Demange, and it is that man you call
traitor. 1t is that man who in your
presence restrained his sobs and his
emotion. All, gentlemen, | would rather
defend guilty men who are clever dissem-
blers than an innocent man who is too
sincere
Other letters of the prisoner were read.
all breathing the same desire, to live to
see his honor disclosed, though the writer
vas broken down in health and spirit.
eral de Boisdeffre to lend his generous
aid in securing for the writer restoration
to the liberty of which he had been
Writing to his brother the prisoner said
While one or more scoundrels are walk
ing free it would be a happy release for
me to die, but it would be disgrace to
Lucille and my children
In this letter the writer urged his
brother to find the culprits, while care
fully protecting the interests of the coun-
rs not, that the cry of an innocent
man." asked M. Demange. yet. though
General de Boisdeffre received the letter
he did not forward it to Matthew Drey-
fus.
Five Ministers of War" said NJ De-
mango: pronounced Dreyfus guilty while
admitting it was impossible to produce
proofs. General de Boisdeffre General
Gonse and General Roget also affirmed
their belief in his guilt But, happily,
they stated reasons. and instead of proofs
only accumulated presumptions.
Concluding his examinations of the
secret dossier, M. Demange remarked
that he felt compelled to refer to these
documents emanating from foreigners, as
General Mercier relied upon them to sup
port the guilt of Dreyfus. The state
ments of the military attaches THAI they
had no relations with Dreyfus had been
confirmed by the statement of the Min,
lister in the Reichstag. who could not have
been deceived by his attache at Paris
Il have finished" said NJ. Demange,
my examination of the secret dossier.
All France knows the worthlessness of
its contents. Yet it is owing to it that
the country has been distracted for
months. and it has been thought that
there were documents and proofs in it
which might bring France to blows with
neighboring power You are now ac~
quainted with it. The secret dossier has
been exploded. You will pardon me the
loss of time l have imposed upon you. l