Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1899-09-14
THAT EXPOSITION BOYCOTT.

However obnoxious the verdict in the
Dreyfus case may be To the American
people. they should tistllin to pl. mot.
the ill-advised movement looking to q.
boycott against the French ex;, ,>i,i II.
This m'oveme nit may be. and doubtless
is. prompted by worthy motives. but
its advocates re influenced more Dy
irrItability and prejudice than by thA
dictates OF common sense. TO boycott
the French exposition would have no
effect whatever in alternating the SUE
ferings of Captain Alfred Dreyfus or
in advancing the interests OF humanity.
1T is not likely that Dreyfus will be
Imprisoned again, and it is foolish to
suppose THAT the evils which made the
crime against him possible can be
#eradicated by means of boycott
against the Paris show
President Loubet and the Waldecll-
Rousseau ministry. 1t must be remenl-
bered, did all in their power to secur.
the restoration Of Dreyfus to liberty.
and instead OF deserving such action
as is proposed by the boycott advocates
they are entitled to the friendship ard
sympathy of the American people
To convict them Of completely in the
military despotism with which France
is cursed. and which alone Is le-
sponsible for the Dreyfus outrage
would be to practice the same injus-
tice for which the iniqutous French
army and its adhercnts are so univer-
sally condemned. We are glad to see
that the American press which was
severe in its dcnunciation Of the Drey-
fus verdict, is not in sympathy with
the proposed boycott
The Petersburg Index-Appeal which
is usually, on the right side Of Whatever
question it discusses. <ieplores the
threatened boycott against the great
intelTationhl event at Paris and at
tributes ct to the ebullitions or a heated
and excited feeling of resentment
against the scandalous verdict against
Captain Dreyfus. These threats. SAYS
the IndexJA ppeal. "have no element OF
reason or sound Judgment in them. Or
course. there will be some hot-heais
in Congress whose cravings for noto-
I'icty may lead them TO introduce in
temperate and foolish resolutions of
withdrawal Of the governments appIo-
priaton and exhibits. but the saving
common sense of that body will protect
che country against such folly. Such
hills will not pass and ought not TO
pass. Threats of boycott. whether by
governments or individual action.
are calculated 10 do Captain
than good. The French nation and
army are on the eve Of reaction to Il
wiser public sentiment regarding the
Dreyfus case than has yet prevailed in
France, and when the tide of that SEN
timent sets fully in complete justice
may be done Captain Dreyfus and
-atOnemen!t made for the awful wrongs
he has suffered But the boycott at
best q dubious remedy, is not the chan
mel through which TO appeal to the
reason, honor and sense OF right Of
a brave, spirited and generous people
On the contrary, 1T is we'll calculated
to drive them into an attituGe OF stub
born resistance, and in spirit of retail
atory obstinacy make them Withhold
from compulsion and threats that
which they would be willing to con.
cede IS q matter of decent respect for
the opinions Of ,nankinu. The court.
aInartial has already signed q formal
Tecomn endation Of mercy to eliminate
the degradation feature Of the punish-
Tnent and it is not hoping for too much
5 to expect that President Loupet Will
align himself with the sentiment and
feeling Of the age by pardoning ard re-
storing the prisoner TO his honor and
rights as q French soldier. Ut is almost
certain that nothing or this sort will
he done under threat. 1t is proper
Il enough to agitate by passing respectful
resolutions, petitions and appeals bat
dismiss from them all threats Of boy
:cotting as foolish and wicked
e The opening of the theatrical season
4 last night inaugurates new amusc-
snent era in Newport News. In view
OF the building Of q conmcdous an3