The San Francisco call., 1899-08-16

u Y the assault upon NJ. Labor another black
X mystery has been added to the number that
- round the Dreyfus case. The assault was as
cowardly it murderous, and was committed
under circumstances that justify the conclusion it
the result OF conspiracy and not the OF the
rage OF some irresponsible and frantic antS Semitic.
Had the act been committed by some wretched
cal like Guitcau the blow would have been struck in
the OPEN as was that which killed Garfield, that
which but a short time ago struck down the Empress
of Austria The scoundrel would have been insane
enough to glory in the act and would have accom-
paniedit with something OF bravado and boodthirsty
! display =.
+ The men who assaulted Labor acted like ordinary
f1fderotlS criminals, committing or attempting to
commit murder for money. He was cunhingy way
laid and all arrangements for flight and escape pre-
pared He Was:rot: confronted boldly, but was shot
Fin the back by assassirls who slipped UP behind him
ald:whonr he never saw: Moreover after I-abori had
fallen and his ASSISTANTS had Aed certain other per
%sons; evidently acting in concert with the assassns
snatGhed t1p:the papers of the lawyer and made off
with: some Of the more Important of them -
L. The world viii not willingly hold the higher officers
of the%arny OF France responsible for such cowardly
crime as this: Despite the silly assertions OF such
writer's as Nordati the French are not degenerate
people any more than those OF other civilized coun
1 tries Civilization has indeed bred many forms
Of seoundrelisr France, but has bred just about
las many elsewhere and il this Dreyfs case, with its
revelations has brought to light in the French ARMY
lf-confessed forger like Colonel Henry it has also
made known the existence OF Colonel Picquart man
ofthe highest type OF honor known to human ideals
IT, however, the generals and other high officers i+
volyed IN the scandal be'not guilty who can be guilty?
Though a thousand explanations have been attempted
of the whole mystery, satisfactory solution has yet
been put forward, The Esterhazy confessions may Be
true but who can believe man who confesses to so
many forms of scoundrelsm? The officers OF the gen
eral staff may have been the verge of exposure in
the crime OF selling for coin to pay their debts
and for conceament may have conspired to make
Dreyfus scapcgoat but if that be true why should
so many cabinet officers and other officials having no
connection with the army be equally eager with them
10 convict the accused man?
1t is believed to be the desire of the present Minis
try and of President Loubet to have Dreyfus acquitted
of the charge of writing the famous bordereau re-
stored to his rank and the scandal closed There was
at one time fair prospect Of such termination Of
the case. The assault upon Labor changes the whole
situation Whether guilty or not the army, and the
higher officers of it especially will be under suspicion
of prompting the crime unless the criminals be
promptly caught and another motive for their action
be clearly shown
As the situation stands France must be on the
verge Of civil disturbance revolution despite the
frmness OF Loubet and the courage of General Gal
4 lifet If Dreyfus be convicted now it would seem
nothing can prevent outbreak. The chain of for
geres suicides, murders and assassinatons which link
the successive steps OF the has become at last
endurable