The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1899-10-17

tions and for the unexpected hostility
OF so many comrades,
How suffered when they came OF
their own fSee will 70 say things that
had no relation to the case, but which
they thought would injure me, Mark
that do not think that they were ac-
tuated by il-will towards me- No,
they only wanted to please their chiefs,
There are some people who have curl
Gus notions of duty; instead OF under
standing by disoiplin, obedience on the
! field OF battle, or in the barrack, they
| eNterd u to the AMUSEMENT OF reason
and moral liberty, | was never able
TO submit to disciplin thus understood,
and had l not been in the army
could not have believed It existed"
This brought the conversation to the
animoslty " which the captain was the
object in the bureau Of the general
star, He was asked what reason there
was for It. The causes, he said, We're
complex: first OF all, they thought him
guilty. Who can imagine that the
chief acted with such levity in pushing
on the case to trial. Next. there was
anu-Semitism; and lastly, the captains
own deposition. '---''
Yes" said DreyfUs, II was short
and crusty (cassantl with my super
iors. I kept company with no one, on
entering the general stan paid no
visits to any one, but merely sent Wis
iting cards by my orderly. He took
cards to the chief and the deputy chief
OF the general stan and the chief and
deputy chief Of my section.
II took the liberty OF saying what I
thought. and was of independent be-
havior each time was In relation with
my superiors. II plan or paper they
had adopted did not seem TO me what
they thought, gave my opinion out
right. l know they do not like such
free speech.
Colonel Bertni said a deep-meanlng
thing az the Rennes trial In speaking
Of that hero, Picquart: They felt he
was an officer who did not march be-
hind his chiefs This would be all right
in war or at manoeuvering. but when
honor and duty are in play, should one
march behind any one? Has one not a
conscience?"
And Esterhazy. what do you think
q him." asked :he correspondent.
Dreyfus slowly and deliberately said:
HE is Just swindler and adventurer,
who has swindled his country as he
swindled his cousin and his trades
men. but without thinking himself a
rascal He wanted money. that was
ALL"
No crime is committed without
motive. What motive could have
had? l never touched a card They
said was debauched, but debauch does
not 20 with hard work, and had the
ninth place on leaving the higher mill
tary school. To pass good examinations
one must work like a slave; this is
incompatible with debauchery. Cen
eral Mercier said the motive should be
sought for in the sphere Of psychology,
and that at Rennes they were in the
juridical sphere. What did that mean?
The motive should have been shown.
Were a judge 1 should, in the name
of good sense insist on that.
ITS like that theory OF the court
martial; extenuating circumstances.
Treason against ones country is the
greatest crime that a human being can
commit. One can in a degree excuse
a robber or murderer, they only in
Jure ones person, but treason is a crime
against a multitude Of persons. There
are 10 extenuating circumstances. To
say there are is monstrous."
How did the verdict affect your
The voice suddenly fell. and he said:
AT first I felt the deepest pain. then
I was stuplfied. then there was d soft,
sweet consOling feeling on learning that
two officers had had the courage to de-
clare me innocent"
Did you ever hear at DEVILS Island
what was being done for you in
, France?"
mot a single word. From time to
time severity grew rigorous but that
now 1 know coincided with the decla-
ration Of war ministers. Each time a
war minister declared in hte Tribune
that was legally and justly judged
the gaolers grew more harsh. They
first cut off my private supply Of food,
took away my books, or stopped my
work or my walk. or shut out the view
Of the sea. and lastly clapped on the
irons"
NJ. Matthew Dreyfus looked at his
brother quite upset: WAS it not fright
ful?" he exclaimed. Happily we
knew nothing Of 1t here, otherwise we
should have been afraid to move. What
could we have done had we learned
that we rendered him liable to harsher
treatment"
But what excuse had the jailors?"
mo excuse. Besides, did not ask
them. l would not be under a compll-
ment to the fellows. AS l did not ac-
cept any condemnation, whether Of
transportation for life, or Of the lock-
up for single day did not want to
discuss with them about any penalty
they inflicted to do so would have
been to admit they had right that 1
was determined not to recognize.