New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-14
MILITARY TERRORISM.
HOW PREMIER DUPUY HAS CLEvERIY
PUT AN END THERETO IN FRANCE.
THE PEACE CONFERENCE UNLIKELY TO CON
TRIBUTE IN ANY WAY TO ITS
DIMINISHMENT.

Ten days remain before the opening at The
Hague of that International Peace Conference
organized by the Car with the avowed object OF
devising some means of diminishing the appaIl-
ingly heavy military and naval burdens that are
now crushing to the ground the people OF the
Old World. handicapping, IL not absolutely ar
resting, the development OF their growth and
prosperity. Doubtless many of the evils result
Ing from the maintenance Of the huge standing
armies of the great Powers OF Continental Eu-
rope will be described and discussed with view
to their remedy But it s extremely doubtful
whether the most serious and important OF all
these evils will be mentioned at the congress
At any rate, we can rely that the delegates Of
the Car. of the Kaiser OF the Emperor OF Aus
tria, or Of the King of Italy will permit IL to
become the subject of debate. They could no.
do so without gravey offending the sovereigns
by whom they are accredited. For the evil in
question is military terrorism. and to-day the
latter constitutes important element OF the
power welded by some OF the monarchs on yon-
der side of the Atlantic.
No more striking object lesson of the terrible
disadvantages Of a big standing army, and Of
the military terrorism which it almost invariably
entails can be furnished than by France in con-
nection with the Dreyfus case. have no inten-
ton whatsoever to discuss the merits OF the con-
troversy concerning the prisoner Of Devils ISL
and, whose story is familiar 10 every reader Of
this paper But what / desire to point out and
to explain is the policy which the present French
Cabinet is pursuing in the matter. No greater
mistake could be made than TO imagine. as most
people here apparently do that Premier Dupuy
is playing the game of the French HEADQUARTERS
Staff and Of the army, and that he is resolved to
shield the ring Of generals and staff officers con-
cerned in the affair at the expense OF Dreyfus
Equally faIlacious is the idea that he champions
the cause Of the unfortunate ex-captan whose
fate is probably matter of more or less in
difference TO him. For Dupuy is not a soft
hearted man, and has all along taken the ground
that even IL Dreyfus were innocent there was
always enough evidence against him (evdence
perhaps without value) to constitute a prima-
facie case
The object which Dupuy has had in view ever
since he has been in Office has been entirely df-
ferent When he accepted from the hands OF the
late President Faure the task Of forming an adj
ministration. he found the country a prey to
military terrorism OF the most extraordinary
character. II was military terrorism that had
practically driven the Brisson Cabinet out OF
office. The commanding generals, especially
those connected with the Headquarters staff,
were budoZing all the regularly constituted
civil and judicial authorities 10 such extent
that those who ventured to raise their voices in
protest were driven out Of the country as trail
tors, deprived of whatever Offices they possessed
and subjected to the most crue, form OF ostra-
cism. The tribunals were terrorized; so the
magistrates, as well as the Legislature and
even the President Of the Republic. while Bris-
son, although accounted strong man and a
perfect Brutus In his conscientious regard for
the popular rights guaranteed by the constitu-
ton, was either unable or afraid to prevent his
colleague the Minister of War, and his NOM
inal subordinate. the Military Governor Of Paris
from crowdng into the metropolitan district all
the officers and troops known to be mbued with
monarchical sentiments. while those loya' in
their allegiance to the Republic were transferred
to remote parts of the country Scarcely any
conceament was made Of the fact that these
changes were being made with the view TO
military coup d'etat or pronunciamento in favor
either of a monarchy of military dictator
ship in the event of the Government or the
tribunals persisting in granting a rehearing and
a revision of the Dreyfus case, which the gem
erals concerned well knew would result in the
exposure OF their own infamy.
THE MILITARY COUP D'ETAT AvERTED.
That was the condition OF affairs when Dupuy
became Prime Minister. As he had been IRE
mier at the time of the conviction OF Dreytus
the generals naturally considered that he was
not only allied to their cause, but idenuhed
Herewith. and hailed his advent to power as
friend He allowed them to believe TINS anu
even went so far to convey to them an as
surance that no matter whether the reVl''o,
OF the trial Of Dreyfus was decreed or not anu
no matter what the result OF the revision prey
fms would under no circumstances be rchabIh-