The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-09-14
BELIEF IN HIS INNOCENCE
1t Was Generally Expressed at the
Mass Meeting at the Commercial
Club Last Evening-But That the
French Nation Was to Blame Was
Not Sanctioned by the General
Sentiment.


of the verdict and viewing with alarm
the signal act of injustice.
Mayor I<iefer called the meeting to Or
der and announced that M. D. Mum, who
had been expected to preside was I'M
aVoidably detained A. K. Pruden was
chosen chairman and explained that the
meeting was called to give expression for
Or against what appeared to be an act
of injustice in the conviction by a French
court-martial of Capt. Dreyfus. The in
formation was meager, but the views of
the citizens were we'll fixed
Ferdinand Willius said a series of reso-
buttons has been prepared by self-con-
stituted committee. The resolutions pre-
pared by NJ. d. Mum and E. c. Stringer
were read by Mr.. Stringer and were as
follows:
THESE WOULD, NOT DO.
Resolved. That we. the citizens Of st.
Paul, in mass meeting assembled, view
with deepest indignation that reported
travesty on justice-the trial, conviction
the Republic of France. through and by
her cOurt-martial.
Resolved, further. That we hereby ear
nestIy protest against such Injustice I'M
the rights of citizenship. whatsoever be
the race, creed or condition OF the citizen.
Resolved. further, That, while we hold
France in grateful remembrance for the
assistance rendered our colonies in their
struggle for freedom and independence,
we view with alarm and indignation this
signal act of injustice by our sister re-
public to one of her citizens.
Resolved, further, That we extend our
sympathies to Capt. Alfred Dreyfus and
his family in their sufferings under this
most unrighteouS and unwarranted per-
Mr.. Stringer moved the adoption of the
resolutions.
MET WITH OPPOSITION.
A Michaud objected to the resolutions
being adopted, as they were not evidently
based on facts.
Justice of the Peace Smith thought the
resolutions were too drastic against the
French republic and people. There was
no nation, America not even excepted,
where the Jews were more favored than
In France. Had Capt. Dreyfus been a
Catholic or Protestant he never would
have come back from Devils island alive.
A Paradis objected to the resolutions.
For the past twenty years England had
been pouring its spleen against France.
England was the arch conspirator in this
great tragedy. There were certain mill
and this was particularly true in France.
The Rothschilds were a power in the
French government and controlled every
thing but the French army England
condemned the verdict as the most helm
Gus crin-o in history and that country
was the arch censpirator in the case and
intended to make it the base of a boy
colt against the French exposition It
would be far better for this meeting to
protest to President Mckinley to prevent
mob law in Idaho than to pass resolu-
tons against France.
No commercial body took any action
about the injustice of the labor riots at
Homestead or the more recent ones in
Idaho.
VOICE FROM THE CROWD.
what has this got to do with tie
case?" said a voice from the rear of
the room.
''It has this to Go with it." responded
the speaker. 'In France only one mans
liberty is in jeopardy while in this coun-
try there are thousands who are being
deprived Of their rights and liberty"
Edward II. Blackburn said a mistake
had been made in introducing the rcsolu-
tons before there had been any discus
sion on the subject. He favored the pas
sage Of the resolutions, but not without
amendment. The purport Of the meeting
was to express sympathy for an unfor-
tunete individual as an expression of
loyal and liberty-loving American citi-
Zens was due and that was all that was
needed.
LAWLER SUGGESTS CHANGES.
d. w. LaWler thought there was one
division in sentiment The meeting was
called 10 give expression to the popular
judgment as to the iniquitious conduct
of French court-martial which had con-
Victed an innocent man. There was no
doubt but that Dreyfus was innocent
The verdict of the last court-martiaI was
practically an 2cquittal Of the charge
DreyfUs was a victim of injustice. There
was no need Of criticizing the French
republic. The American people and espe-
c1ally those Of the North Star state were
proud of the French people and indebted
to them for much
The French people or the French re-
pubic are not to be censured." he said
We are here to tender our sympathy to
the French people and the republic We
are here to send protest against the uni
formed ruff1ans who control the French
people and the army. The victim of this
court-martial stands as an emblem of his
race of people The resolutions should
be redrafted and the censure of the
french republic eliminated. We are to
condemn, true to all our traditions tho
1n1Qu1tous action of the court-martial,
He wished that the resolutions be
amended NC
= CENSDRE OF FRANCE FOUGHT.
e. ID. OBrien said he believed in the
innocence of Capt. Dreyfus. He was al q
loss to know why, as Americans we
should ind fault with a foreign co,,,t
Ihere was no reason why because a court
nao MADE mistake the people of a ma
tlon should be censured. Capt. John FIT
Fofter was publicly disgraced by a court
hartlal and 1t took the American con-
sneSs twenty years to right the wrong.
me French people made America nosei
oIe. was there any need of censurino.
the French nation on account of the ac.
tion OF a few men? The American nd
ION coulG never pay the debt owed to
the french nation. Only resoIutions of
sympathy to Capt. Dreyfus should no
passed at this meeting. NC
IL we commence to regulate the ffairs
OF the world" he said, I'VE will ba va1,,
husy. Today the Beers, who have creof
go a republic in Africa, stand threatero7
~ 1ne same ROPER who never spared a.
weak man or faced strong one ),
D. ii. Fairchild said the MEETING W., 9
called not to pass resolutions of $50, VS.
thy for Capt Dreyfus He was q H.
Dfey1us had been condemned nv tho
army 1t was to express our SWINE ~.
10 the french republic and the, great com.
mon people of Fraalce. France was sleen-
ing over volcano, and needed symnathv
against the fearful conspiracy now hatch,
ing against her. France knew that In
the hearts of every American there was
love for her The people of America
should denounce the court-martiaI and
extend to President Loubet and Gen. Cali
fet sympathy for their course.
PRESS REPORTS FALsIFIED,
A Michaud said he was born on Eng
fish soil and was q fI1lJ.Haduad Ax,o..;..--