Daily Kennebec journal., 1899-08-14
TO THE BITTER END.
The Dreyfus Case Rapidly Be-
coming a Gigantic Fight.
0reTus Faces Mercier---Casimir-
Perer Testifes for Dreyfus.
DerouIde and 23 Friends Arrested. CHARGED
With conspiring Asains: Republic.

Copyright, 1899 The Associated Press)
Eennes, Aug. 13.-The battle has be-
gun IN earnest Its political bearings
are SHOWN IN the arrest Of Paul Der
Guide, the deputy ana poet. and 23 Of
his numerous Royalists and Bonapart-
lists allies who have pooled with him
| against the republic. AS in the Bou-
| lanSlst conspiracy, the pool would be OF
little consequence but for the military
caste which has found representative
men in Gen. Negrier and some other
generals having great commands
1t is strange how the fight thickened
| around the shadowy and emaciated
red-h haired Jew whose uniform of an
artillery captain 50 ill-fts and befits
his figure ana physiogomy. Last Mon
days sitting Of the courtmartial and
the subsequent non-public sittings
We're the first skirmishing operations.
but yesterday was q field day in which
| the two hostile forces into which
France is divided and has been since
the revolution set themselves in array
of battle and drew the first blood Each
! side stands committed to a certain
course and has burned its ships. The
actual Dreyfus trial is trial of
/ strength. | cannot see a possibility of
its ending in a drawn game. 1t is now
a neck or nothing combat a desper-
ate fight in which neither side will give
in unless utterly routed
! The moral situation Of the forces en-
gagged reminds one fthat Of the armies
| in the French revolution and though
/ they had to fight. the Dreyfusites have
brains, the forward impulse. the dash
and the flexibility. AT the same time
theY are raw recruits, gathered spon-
| taneously from the four parts of the
compass. Hatred of the military caste.
and. ii may be. the secret hope of re-
wards have made them homogeneous.
The Nationalists have social and
other prestige, numbers and organiza-
ton. Their center is composed of the
majority Of French men and French
women; their left wing is formed of
22oU0 officers; and their right wing
consists cf the church. All profess re-
spect for legality, but only from the
| lips out.
One side is just as INSCRIPTIONS as
the other but the most active and less
numerous side does really fight for
the cause of humanity justice and
truth. The Dreyfusites have, at any
rate, won bclligerent rights and they
are sure of the friendly neutrality of
the government.
Their adVersaries cannot longer
make use Of the rope that hung Le-
mercier Picard or the razor that cut
Henry'S throat The minister of war
could not. if he wanted to- read a
forged document in Parliament. 1t is
impossible now to stuff the dosser
with fables fit for Mother Goose's tale.
But organization, numbers prestige
and wealth mean staying power.
Doubtless the Dreyfusites are sup
piled with Jewish funds without ac-
cepting NJ. De Freycinet's estimate of
80 900 900 francs. The sums subscribed
by English and German Jews must be
enormous; but like wealthy Gentiles.
rich Jews are fond of the pomp and
vanities of life, the titles of aristo-
cratic society. Many of them are
frightened at the onward pace of the
Dreyfusites.
Gen. Mercier's deposition was maud
ible unless to the judge. secretaries and
reporters. 1t fell flat. his voice and de-
livery being bad. But we have it now
in print.
give it credit during delivery. They
are easy, flowing statements, plausbil-
lty and the art of luling suspicion.
As the deposition appears in full in the
reports ii will be everywhere be read
with delight by those already persuad-
ed that Dreyfus is a traitor. They
Will not see what was pecknffian,
which was Of feline perfidy.
Figuratively speaking the deposition,
which was really a speech of the pros
ecution, shows MERCER to be a flautiSt
Of the highest order. He never loses
his way in the most intricate varia-
tions and keeps in view the motif.
that Dreyfus is a cool, calcu-
lating, well-informed traitor.
The immediate issue of the fight is the
freedom of Dreyfus; but yesterdays in
cdents and episodes are the beginning of
a struggle of far-reaching consequence.
] must give the Nationalists credit for
having, from the very beginning, foreseen
what revision would lead to. They in
many things showed blindness. They ac.
cepted the madman Quesney de Beaure-
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