New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-13
VANISHING PROOFS"

II ,s the same old story. The mysterious
,,.oofs which verC TO confound Dreyfus and
nrovo his Chilli beyond a doubt when brought
fortb drindle 70 q mass of irrelevant suspicious
and malicious fahrications The wonderful Sc
oro, dossior which was so sacred that it could
No, be communicated 10 the defence for fear or
nlunptng France into war has been sublecteo 10
a long examination and everybody III the court
seems 10 be agreed that II amounts 10 no'nlhe
and proves nothing but that those VINO uSeu It's
alleged contents as an excuse FOR persecu'ihs
Drevfus were scoundrels Of the deepest ue
,.or,tv Yesterday General MERCER had the
orportunity to fulfil his threat 10 tell ever!
thing. He was going to throw his scruples 10
the wind as the last act for the prolecuon VI
France he would reveal the whole hldeons SLOT!
of Drevfus's treason. which hitherto the Worln
had heen 'led 10 believe in on mere assur-
ances upon the honor of generals. He ala thro"
scruples to the Wind He spent four hours pro-
claiming the guilt of Dreyfus and bringing for-
ward his heralded convincing proofs ana ne
went out from the courtroom dscredlted man,
branded as a liar by Dreyfus amid the cheers
of an audience that has generally had only
Kisses for Dreyfusites. The game must be
nearly played out.
After the failure Of General Mercier's testi-
monv the case against Dreyfus must he hlinsy
indeed. If neither his proofs nor the secret dos
sier can bring the prisoner under any cloud as
thev evidently have not. the backbone or the
prosecution must he broken. There must even
no an end some day TO the succession of ultra
secret secrets which as last resort are always
en- sura IN UNFOLD conviction. The ultimate
nroofs that have been so far heard OF turn out
,o1I nd sound and
10 see what resource for further pretence still
remains Perhaps General MERCER himself
realized that he was at the end Of his rope, for
while still declaimrg against Dreyfus ne
seemed also striving to defend himself for aid
ing in the unjust condemnation. His plea was
that whatever he did he did for France To
have told the truth and given Dreyfus a chance
10 prove his innocence might have plunged
France into war. 1t was better to sacrince
Dreyfus than the country. That play 10 the
galleries may have some effect on the ignorant
rabble who cannot or will not look at facts, Dut
with the secret dOssier exposed In all It's rlVlal
ity as something that neither convicted DreyIus
nor endangered France the pretence is TOO mol
low TO command even the pity Of intelligent
men. The dossier Is now only stage secret
Scores Of persons, civil and military, know
about it. and their knowledge utterly discredits
General Merciers protestatons Of sincerity. He
knew all the time, as the public knows now,
that there was nothing in the dossier to provoke
war. and he cannot excuse the crime OF wrong
ing Dreyfus on the plea of an honest mistake
based on fears which he could not in reality
have entertained.
r.he testimony Of NJ. Casimir-Perer was dis
tinctly favorable to Dreyfus, distinctly unfavor-
able TO the Ministers who were in power under
him when Dreyfus was condemned. There has
always been some mystery about his sudden
resignation Of the Presidency. Now he says he
resigned because his Ministers withheld from
him knowledge Of their dOngs. They carried on
affairs In secret underhanded way which
drove him from office. If they thus dealt with
the President Of the Republic. 10 whom they
were bound in all good faith, Is 1t any wonder
that they were ready 10 commit crime against
Dreyfus? II is evident that the consprators
who sacrificed him were high in the favor OF
INSCRIPTIONS politicians who were engaged In
operations which they dared not reveal TO the
chief Of the State Yet they are the men who
for wears have been assuring the world on their
honor that Dreyfus was guilty and that
everybody must take their word SDr 1t without
INQUIRY on peril of running France.