Evening star., 1899-09-13
Resolutions Strongly Condemning It
Adopted at Mass Meeting.
VOICE OF THOUSAND WASHINGqONIANS
Committee Appointed to Lay Mat
ter Before the President.
EXPRESSION OF SYMPATHY

| the District assembled in Masonic Temple
| last evening and protested in most positive
| manner against the persecution of Capt AL
| fred Dreyfus by the French generals. There
| were many ladies in the audience. Men and
women of every form of religious belief
| were there, and without a dissenting word
| they all united their influence in favor of
| the Jewish officer who has been the victim
| of racial prejudice. A number of stirring
| speeches were made, and resoluti ms were
adopted condemning the recent farc-cal
| proceedings in pretended court of justice
! in France.
| Mr.. Simon Wolf was made chairman and
| opened the meeting. He spoke briefly and
| said he was especially gratitied to see so
many of his country women at the gather
| ing. He said he would not consume time in
recounting the mediaeval story OF VIII ch a
| chapter had just Geen closed. He hoped the
| influence of the meeting would be far reach
| ing not only in this country, but all over
| the world.
The hall was crowded and all available
standing room was taken up. Those pres
ent were enthusiastic and every sentiment
OF condemnation of the persecution of
! Dreyfus was loudly appiauded.
Mir Wolf called for nominations for the
| office OF secretary OF the meeting, and Dr.
| VIM A: Croffut was nominated AMI elected.
! Inc following coInmitlee ON resolutions was
appointed: Il. ii. Mackey. Wm. j. Nll4er,
Col. ii. G. Worthington, John C. Parker
ana Louis Bauer.
| DIR. CrOTut's Remarks.
| The committee retired in order to frame
| resolutions to be presented to the mee,ing
and during its absence Dr. Croffut spoke
| briefly.
'France and not Dreyfus," he said, sis
to suffer degradation this week 1t is
France that is marshaled in front of the
assembled nations and her bediZened epau-
| lets are torn from her shoulders and her
| Clsnonored sword is broken amid the Kisses
amt eAecrations of civilized men, 1t is
| france that has been consigned to a dun
| geon of solitary confinement, and before
she escapes she shall be certain that it is
| on DevlI Island
! The great question that concerns us is
| What is to become of American citizens
stranded IN France this year and next
| year? " hat is to be the fate of American
| citizens charged with misdemeanor of any
sort in France? What man can get i'm
| partial justice there? An American citizen
| charged with an offense within that re-
! public should be tried in a consular court,
In court of Americans under the Ameri
| can nag, Tor that is the only way in which
| he car be sure of receiving anything like
| justice or anything like personal liberty.
man had dIifted into the meeting after
too liberal indulgence in liquor, and al this
| stage of the proceedings he conceived an
| IDEA that he wanted to make address.
! He arose and after a short maudln talk
| was escorted out of the building
|
| that France, too. is drunk tonight" He
| thought France in the future should be
| treated as China and Zanzibar We're treated.
! Report of the Committee.
| The committee on resolutions returned to
the meeting and the chairman. Mr.. Mackey.
| presented its report. The resolutions set
| forth in effect that "citizens of Washing
| ton, District of Columbia, in mass meeting
| assembled, wish to give expression to their
| feelings in the matter of Captain Alfred
Dreyfus," who, has again been condemned
| by court-martial. We feel that IN said
| condemnation justice has been outraged,
| and an INNOCENT man uniHs,ly condemned.
We tendef to Captain Dreyfus and his
| noble and devoted wife sincere and
| heartfelt sympathy in this crucial hour
| firmly believing that time and constant
effort to right the wrong Will finally estab-
iish the complete innocence of the tortured
| and persecu,ed citizen-sodier of France.
| LAS citizens of the United States. remem-
! bering all of the traditions that bind us in
alliance with France, and remembering
| ever the glorious days OF Lafayette and
Rochambeau and also remembering the
| heroic and manly efforts OF tIcquart, lola,
| Scheurer-kestner, NJ. Trarieux. the edi-
tors of 'Laurore' and Figaro Captain
| Freystaettcr. L;-bori and Demange, We do
| NOT despair of final victory and in be-
half of what is just, right and equitable.
| I'VE invoke the active aid of all Amer-
| can citizens, irreSpe tive of faith or ma
]
| the end that justice may be done, and that
| the sentiments of the American people be
| broue ut home to the citizens and govern
| ment of France; and that, in the meantime
We take such measures citizens to en-
| phaSiZe by word and act our deliberate in
| tention not to participate in the exposition
| of Paris next year. and to do whatever Is
| legal and proper in preventing our gOvera-
| ment from officially recognizing said eX-
| position.
Views of Ministers and Others.
| Rev. DIR. c. c. Meador, pastor of the Fifth
| Raptst Church of this city. was in the
| audience. and being invited to the platform
| added his words of condemnation of the
| way Dreyfus had been treated by his coun-
! try The result of the farcical trial in
| France he said. involved more than the
life and liberty of one man; it involved the
! principle of justice. France had struck a
| deadly blow at justice, and the world should
| tsD,,11 Thaf,s tho co,1Y,ca1 1-arv