Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-08-10
THE DREYEUS TRIAL.

IL we could eliminate from the second
trial of Dreyfus the fact that in it the
honor Of a nation is at stake and shut
out from memory the diabolical outrages
TO which the accused has been subjected.
we might well infer from the proceedings
of the court, as reported so far, that the
tribunal was engaged in framing the
groundwork of the libretto of a most
eXtravagant opera bouffe. All the ele-
ments for such a composition have been
furnished in the dispatches from Rennes
and in the situation. The dramatic Incl
dents have been colored by the reports TO
the point of the ludicrOus; the ques-
lions propounded by the judge have, in
instances. been utterly absurd, and those.
taken with the replies, have made up
dialogues as nousensical as any ever con-
structed by the most unintelligible repre-
sentatives of the modern school Of SYM
boIksts.
The descriptions of the stern Judge,
who, with harsh voice, but kindly eye,
and really soft heart, intcrtogated the
prisoner, and the reasons assigned for
mind one of characters that figure I'm some
of the nursery stories OF the earlier
vogue. And by suggestion the whole
scene is made TO move across back
ground of wild revel of vilainy and
travesty upon justice. which. had not
the contrary been established would
seem impossible of existence outside of
4
Imagination.
Turning. however, 70 the trial for
what it is, and dealing with its serious
suggestions. 1t may be said that up TO the
present the proceedings are in every way
encouraging. Dreyfus's denial OF the au-
thorship of the bordereau was mere
matter of form. In declaring that he did
not write it, he simply stated an accepted
fact, for Esterhazy has confessed that
at the instigation of Colonel Sandherr
nc was the author of that piece Of
scoundrelism. And the inquisiuon Drey-
fus was subjected TO by the court, with
the apparent purpose of connecting him
with the documents mentioned in the bor-
dereau, while cruel and revolving TO
American and British ideas Of the rights
of a prisoner, was. in effect. also a mere
matter of form. 1t was absolutely fruit
less OF anything that could rebound TO
the disadvantage of Dreyfus. And see
ing that the eyes of the civilized world
have, ever since the trial commenced
been centered on Rennes, it only served
70 spread the wider the knowledge OF the
reprehensible system of prosecution and
persecution that obtains in the French
courts. whether military or civil-a sys-
TEN, il may be remarked that has done
more than anything else to COW the
French masses and sap the stamina of
the French character. Dreyfus stood I'M
iiinchingly the ordeal of the examination
upon the papers listed in the bordereau.
and came out Of IL unscathed, his man
ner. II is stated, even making a good i'm
preston upon the reporters and the spec
tators not in sympathy with him. In a
word. the situation up to the time the
court went into secret session to con-
slider the secret dossier" was that not
a scintiila Of evidence had been adduced
against Dreyfus. In lieu OF the damnable
mass Of discredited perjury and forgery
that had been used to convict him at his
first trial
Nor is there any reason TO believe that
the secret dossier'-thc d, mment that
was TOO sacred 10 be shown 10 Dreyfus's
former Judses-can in anywise be twisted
or manipulated so as 10 injure the prls-
oner. Indeed, there is good ground for
assuming that It's consideration is only
another case of matter CT form, so far
as there IL any expectation OF its damag-
Ing the cause of the accused Already
II Is known that this Convincing evil
dence" is tainted with forgery and ac- |
cording TO The reports Of Figaro Of the |
sessions OF The Court Of Cessation. IL
was riddled before that body. and shown
10 be little more than gigantic mares
nest"
amer the secret dOssier has been dis |
posed OF the next move OF the prosecu-
uoh VIII. II ID supposed, be the prcrenta-