The record-union., 1899-08-30
were engaged in external difficulties

were engaged in external difficulties?
(Sensation.)
II adjure those of my cOuntrymen,"
continued NJ De Freycinet earnestly,
who participate in those attacks under
the impulse of generous passion, anu
with the object of serving a noble, ele-
waited idea. I have no doubt they are
led away to take heed in the dangers
to which they may involve the coun-
try. AS General lamont said to me,
1t is high time to end it.. Let us cease
throwing in one another's faces accu-
sations which discredit US in the eyes
of the world Gentlemen, let us pre-
pare to receive and accept your judS-
ment with respect and silence. May
the judgment of this French court, to-
ward which the whole world has it's
eyes turned, open up the era of recon-
ciliation which is so necessary. Qm-
mense excitement)
Gentlemen, pardon me for telling
you what I wish. 1t springs from a
heart which has no longer much to de-
sire here below except to live to see the
country loved and honored. l have fin
fshed. 1 have given an exact account
of the interview with the commander
in-chief of our army in time of war. I
! have nothing to add"
| M. Freycinet had fully maintained his
title to the nickname 1.-The Little
| White Mouse" which was bestowed
upon him on account of his ability to
| speak lengthily without conveying
much information.
Replying to a member of the court
martial, M. De Freycinet explained the
part which he played in the ministry
| to which he belonged. He said he con-
| fined himself to giving effect to the
! Governments decision when the Su-
preme Court decided in favor of re-
vision.
| NJ Demange wanted M De Freycinet
| to repeat in court his statements made
| in the Chamber of Deputies in regard
| to the small Importance attaching to
| the alleged treason, but NJ. De Frey
cinet declined to inflict them, saying
the court having indicted the sense of
| his speech. The publication of secrets
relative to moving the troops might
have been important, and the~publica-
tion of secrets relating to arming and
explosives was also dangerous.
M. Labori said: 'Is M. De Freycinet
aware of any fact which led him to be-
lieve foreign money played a part in
the revision of the trial of 1894?
M. De Freycinet-No, Monster lie
President
M. Labori-What does M. De Freyci-
net think of the accusations of certain
section of the press against NM.
Scheurer- Kestnec, Trarieux, Brisson
and Ranc, and by another section tend
ing to attribute the opinion on the re-
vision expressed by these persons to
the influences of corruption?
Colonel Jouaust-I refuse to put the
question.
M. Labori insisted that he should at
least be permitted to question M. De
Freycinet regarding NJ Scheurer- -Kest-
ner. whose statements about the let
ters Colonel Picquart wrote to him from
Tunis have been contradicted by Saw
ignaud, Picquart's former orderly, to
which the President of the court re-
piled that the good faith of M. Scheur-
er-Kestner was not under discussion.
Colonel Jouaust added that M. Labor
wished to import passion into the pro-
ceedingS.
Counsel was defending himself
against this aspersion, when M. De
Freycinet intervened and said he did
not scruple to say that M. Scheurer-
Kestner was his friend, and that he
had the highest opinion of his charac-
ter
M. Labori thanked the witness for
this frank statement.