Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-09-17
WILL HE BE PARDONEDf


Dispatches from Paris continue to pre-
diet that Captain Dreyfus will be par
doned. If he will Withdraw his applica-
ton for a revision of the judgment pro-
nounced by the Rennes court-martal.
To what extent these rumors are to
be relied upon we do not know, but we
believe the French Government is seek
ing way out of it's difficulty.
The court not only outraged justice in
finding Dreyfus guilty but 1t treated con-
iemptGously the assurances given it by
the governments of Germany. Italy. and
Austria-Hungary. Sober-headed French
mcn-and there must be some such
Frenchmen-must know that the position
Of their country is intolerable in the eyes
of the world. This consideration, taken
in connection with the evident unrest
Of some classes, and the threatened boy
cotting, 10y individuals, of the Paris EX-
position. must have its influence. SO we
think the French Government would be
glad enough to drop the case, If it could
SEQ its way clear to do 50. No doubt
it would like Dreyfus to go into utter
obscurity. hoping that then agitation
would cease.
If Dreyfus should be called upon TO
say whether he would accept pardon
upon .he terms referred to, he would be
face to sace with a distressing difficulty.
To accept mercy for crime he never
committed would be nnheroic. TO say the
least. He would be rid OF the impending
punishment, but the record ever would
be against him and blacken his name.
Yet think of his sufferingsl Would It
be strange IL he should wish 10 bring
them to an end, as far as possible?
Few men ever have been called upon to
endure so much. His degradation before
the army was a torture, which none but
the stoutest-hearted man could have sur
vived On that day and for long after
wards. he suffered more than death.
And then came the prolonged agony Of
confinement on Devils Island, with the
eyes Of a sentinel always glazing at him.
Next there was ray OF hope, when the
order for a new trial was given. Then
he had 90 90 through the sweat Of the
new trial, so-called. Along with IT came
the excitement OF meeting his wife and
OF hearing that his chief counsel had
been shot. There must have been alter
nate days of hope and fear-times when
the prospect was fair; times when de-
spair fastened upon him. AT last came
the crushing announcement that he was
found guilty again.
Can there be any doubt that he wishes
TO escape from such torment? Think
what must be his mental and physical
condition, and how he must long for
rest and peace.
Through all Of his trials Captain Drey-
fus has shown high purpose. For the
sake of his wife and children he refrained
from seif-murder. though that tempta-
ton was deliberately placed in his way
by his keepers. lie has never ceased to
cry out that he is innocent and that
fact he has established In the eyes Of
the world. and out Of the mouths of the
witnesses for the prosecution.
But what would he do now IL he were
offered pardon upon condition of with
drawing his demand for revision?
The dramatic hero would Indignantly
spurn the offer and continue 70 plead for
justice; but pelted with misfortune, as
Dreyfus has been. wrecked in body and
mind. tortured by doubt as TO the future
and weary Of vain contest, he may yield
We who have never been struck by
whitening blasts Of undegerved fortune
may think that he ought TO hold out TO
the end; but We have healthy minds In
hesithy bodies and do not know what
u Is 20 have been stabbed and strained as
This poor captain OF artillery has been.
All that We can say now is. that II ne
refuses chance TO free himself from
'hs clutches OF his understandable tor
n'F"'ofs' ne would do what few other
men similarly circomstanced would do,
We 40 not believe complete justice win
= done prsyfns yet. but we trust that