The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-09-13
THE WORLDS SENSE OF JUSTICE.

While the Dreyfus case In its main
features is blot on civilization, there is a
lesson In it that is creditable to mankind
If ii had occurred during the dark ages or
century or two ago II would have at
tracted little attention outside of the imme-
date circle of actors, and none whatever
outside of France. In former times acts
of tyranny and persecution like this, per-
petrated from the most ignoble motives, at
tracted scarcely any attention. They were
regarded as a part of the system by which
despotisms were prolonged, tyrants made
secure upon their thrones or private grudges
worked out by court favorites against their
enemies. In reigns of terror the conviction
of innocent men on false charges and fraud
ulent evidence and their subsection to cruel
torture or lifelong punishment was a COM
mon occurrence. THE man with the iron
mask was only one Of thousands of vic
Tins of government persecution or royal in
justice towards individuals, but none of
these cases presented the feature that is
conspicuous I'm the Dreyfus case. Never be-
fore was there. such a universal expression
of horror at the injustice of public act as
there is at the second conviction of Drey-
fus. From the United States and from
Canada, from military Germany and
despotic Russia, from Great Britain and her
colonies In short, from every part Of the
civilized world there comes a unanimous
protest against the renaissance of mediae-
valism in France by which the power of a
great government and its army is used to
crush an individual. This protest is not
made because Dreyfus is Jew. but be-
cause he is a man; ii Is not because the
world thinks he has been sufficiently pun
ished for crime actually committed, but
because it believes he is absolutely inno-
cent of the charge against him and has
been convicted by the most infamous pros
titution of judicial methods recorded in
modern history. The protest is not per-
functory or superficial; 1T is sincere and a
spontaneous expression Of honest feeling.
The lesson of this is that the world has
progressed, and that whatever may have
been true in past ages the sense of justice
now dominates all other sentiments. Men
will not condone act of fragrant injus-
tice when they clearly understand the facts.
The common impulse of mankind is to re-
sent an outrage upon outrage
upon all. Personally, Dreyfus is nothing to
the world, but as the representative of a
principle he is of immense Importance. One
Jew more or less or one gentle more or
less is nothing to the world, but it will not
allow its sense of justice to be outraged
in the person of any man without pro-
test. This Is the lesson of the Dreyfus
case-that in the close of the nineteenth
century the sense of mankind is in favor
of justice. And this sentiment will make
itself felt in way that will compel the
French government to right the great wrong
that has been done. As Emile lola said
in his letter, printed yesterday, THE truth
is on the march,, and it will not stop until
Justice has been done or at least until the
truth is indicated. When John Browns
soul commenced marching on few real
lied how completely the right would be vim
Dictated before it stopped. 1t has not even
stopped yet. There is nothing so certain
in human affairs the ultimate triumph
Of justice and right. France will be made
to feel the indignation of the civilized
world until, in very self-defense, she will
be compelled to right the great wrong that
has been done to Dreyfus and apologize for
the outrage done 10 the worlds sense of
justice in his person.