Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-09-20
DREYFUS PARDONED.
French Cabinet Decides That
Is the Best Course.
No Time Set But Release Will Be at
An Early Date.
Reported in London. This Morning. That He
Has Already Been Released.

Paris. Sept. 19-The council Of min
listers decided, today, to pardon Drcy-
fus on principle. Tho pardon will take
effect in Il few days. Dreyfus has re-
linQuishcd his appeal for a reversal of
the judgment of the courtmartial.
The announcement that Dreyfus was
TO be pardoned has already been dis
counted by predictions ana there was
no excitement displayed anywhere
along the bUuIevards when the news
boys ran along, at about 3.15 p. NJ.
with the first editions containing the
statement that the cabinet had decid-
ed TO pardon Dreyfus The newspapers
sold quickly. but there was no rush
for them upon the part OF the boule-
vardiers.
The Droits de L'IIomme CRights Of
Nam the Socialist organ, said. our
task remains the same after as before
the liberation Of Dreyfus. 10 continue
thc campaign against all those who are
responsible for the lamentable affair."
ton principle" is an idiom some
times used in seini-oncial announce
mcnts cf forthcoming action. II seems
ID have but slight bearing On the mat
ter except. perhaps, that il implies the
fulhIlment of various farmalities before
the PARDON.
1t IS said Dreyfus will be sent abroad
before the PRONUNCIATION " his pardon
in order To avoid demonstrations.
The decision Of the cabinet t. par
don Dreyfus created less interest in
Paris than would the result Of big
horse race. In fact. it may BE- said
that il caused No excitement Whatever.
There was no rioting Oh the boulevard.
IN front Of offices If the Lihre Parole,
where crowd usually ASSEMBLIES in
the evening to sac upon the huge col
ored transparencies outside the win
dows Of tile leading Aati-Scmite organ.
there was not the slightest gathering
or tho faintest sign " 4 demonstration
either for or against Dreyfus. one
would think that the fire of the Drey-
fus agitation had burned itself out.
The Anti Drcyfusard evening papers
tried To infuse interest into the govern
ment's action hy q rabid attack upon
President Loubet; but their efforts
were futile. The peaceful crowds that
filled the tables in front of the cafes
slipping their after-dinncr coffee and
coguac. looked at the nrwshoys who
displayed the front pages Of these
sheets with their violent headlines. but
utterly refused to be excited. Tho
majority did not even discuss the mat
TER or only made the passing remark
that the decision was just what had
been expected and predicted by every
Partisan newspaper since the Rennes
courtmartial delivered its verdict.
Tho Anti-Dreyfusard newspaper Soir
had the most sensational caption, two
lines of enormous letters extending
across the entire front pages. announc-
ing: The Traitor Dreyfus Pardoned.
Outrage in the Army Then in the
course of an article violently attack
ing President Loubet it said: 'Loubct
has given himself coup de grace in
pardoninG Dreyfus. He should be
prosecuted for committing an outrage
upon the army; for this decision
amounts to this. BY stroke of the
pen he has destroyed the effect of the
sentence of two courtmartials and has
declared that two military courts have
lied"
The Sor adds: THE affair has be
come grave when the chief Of state as
SuiIlt' tiit I'siRti sup VI ti4t h1ibi-iiitii-
tary. movement and pardons confess
cd traitor under the pretcxt that he
has been condemned twice instead OF
once"
President Loubet visited the site Of
the Exposition of 1909, today. and urged
the directors of the works to exert
themselves to the utmost in order to
show to the world in 1900 that Franco
is still a strong. laborious, united ma
ton whose generous soul is filled With
the sense Of her mission of progress
and peace and that she had not been
affected by fleeting quarrels.