The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-08-15
COMEDY IN FRENCH COURTS.

French courts of justice are theatres
in which the plays enacted may be
tragedies 20 the people interested and
comedies TO the rest Of the world. The
more important the trial is the more
apt the excitable participants are to
give it a comic opera turn: What ap-
pears to be a constant outrage on pro-
oriety is not appreciated in France at
all. The composure, order. suppression
of demonstrations on either side, which
Anglo-SaXons deem essential to an i'm
partial investigation and an absolutely
fair application of the principles of eX
act justice would not only be consid-
cred exceedingly dull in France. but
would be regarded with disfavor and
suspicion as concealing secret designs
of fen injustice.
The Frenchman believes that the only
way To show his courage is to give an
exhibition of i'll temper in public. He
IS urbane-painfully polite. but eXcit-
able beyond restraint. He thinks with
a frown on his forehead and a curl
to his lip: speaks with a hair trigger
sheer: makes gestures with almost
every muscle in his face and body:
crates upon the slightest provocation;
acts well his part with the self-satis-
faction that therein his honor lies. And
it must be conceded that he feels it all
and means probably one per cent of it.
Tor your Frenchman is nothing if not
dramatic, and facts that are prosy are
treated to the blue pencil of his arts
tie taste.
It would be inconceivable to asso-
ciate with an American court the
scenes reported daily from Rennes.
France Nothing more irregular III the
way of legal proceedings could be i'm
agined The prosecution has been de-
clamatory, personal. threatening and
abusive The only thing that can ap-
proach it in these characteristics is the
defense. The prisoner denounces the
prosecutor. threatens TO slap a wit
ness in the face, and the acrowd cheers
itself hoarse. Men are allowed to go
upon the stand and tell their suspicious.
Leading statesmen are called merely to
exprss their contempt for TIE defend
ant. The judges themselves take
hand in the demonstration.
An important witness being called
and sworn to tell the truth turned to
the president of the court and then to
the spectators saying in a loud voice:
You ask me TO speak the truth and
all the truth. I have sworn TO do it,
! will speak without reticence, with
out reserve. in its entirety. Whatever 1
may have said in the past, whatever
people may believe and say, which un-
fortunately is not always the same
thing. that l alone am aware of incl
dents and facts which might throw
light and that have not hitherto said
All. justice ought to know that it is
false l will not leave this place with
out saying all"
This he repeated over and over again
during the recital of his testimony, ir-
stead of simply telling the truth ard
stepping down and out as a witness in
this country would expect to do. Wit
nesses refuse to testify to facts. but
enter into long harargues setting forth
their opinions and Boosting of their
patriotism and service in the army.
General MERCER, the ex-minister Of war,
addresses the court for four long hours
in this strain on Saturday. Detectives
whisper in the ears of the judges dur
ing the progress of the trial. 1t may be
that some rumor is current, Pierre has
told Jacques. Jacques has told Jean.
and Jean has told Louis-that an at
tache of the Italian legation winked at
a member of the German embassy as a
lady passed them on the boulevard. and
it was ascertained that this lady had
been a sweetheart of one of the school /
boy friends Of Dreyfus. The attention
of the bench being called to this the |
court is thereupon adjourned and in |
secret session the learned judges con-
slider this damaging report upon its
dramatic merits.
such is justice in France No Won /
der monarchists declare that the
French people are incapable of govern |
ing themselves. No wonder that con-
servative friends of France admit that |
she needs a tyrant ct the head of her |
affairs for while, at least.