The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-08-17
THE TESTIMONY AGAINST DRET-
FIS

FTS.
Ii cannot De possible. that in the civil
courts ot France witnesses are allowed
the same latitude in giving their tesu-
mory as th, witnesses in the Dreyfus case
have. If they are 81 is difficult to see
how the end OF a trial is ever reached
or the truth ever discovered In the Drsy-
fus case for instance. half dozen eX-
ministers Of war have been on the Wit
ness stand. As far as We have been able
% observe not one OF them has given tes-
umouy that tends TO convict Dreyfus OF
treason. the crime with which he is chars-
ed These sx-minlsters. one after another,
went on the witness stand aud made long
speeches 10 the court martial They
didn't pretend 20 contine themselves to
the issue before the court, and the pres
ilent Of the court martial didn't attempt
TO oonaue them to that issue. Not one of
them knew a thing against the accused.
All OF them We're fun of suspicious. and
several Of them made speeches against
Dreyfus. just as if they were summing
up the case for the state.
such ridiculous proceedings ought to be
disreputc. Even Gen MERCER, the star
witness of the prosecution, was not able
to state a single fact that tended to show
that Dreyfus was guilty The things
which we're thought 10 be the most i'm
portant in his testimony were contradicted
by ex-Prcsident Casimir-Perier. One OF
the things he said was that just before
Dreyfus was convicted, and while his trial
was going on. France was on the eve
of war with Germany on account Of the
Dreyfus affair. He said that Germany
was all ready to attack France. NJ. Cast
mir Perier, who was President at the time
Of the trial-Gen MERCER being minis
ter of war-declared that there was no
truth in the statement respecting the
danger Of war between Germany and
France and the German newspapers, in
commenting on the testimony of Gen.
MERCER, practically characterized it as
idiotic.
But Notwithstanding the fact that no
evidence has been produced against Drey-
fus. and the certainty almost that none
will be, there are many who think that
the judgment of the court martial will
be against him. They base this opinion
on the intense feeling of hostility 10
him which prevails in the army. A de-
cisIon in Dreyfus' favor would amount
to a condemnation of very many of
the leading officers of the army. Have
the officers of the court that is trying
Dreyfus the courage to practically con-
denim their fellow officers? Is it not prob
able that they share with them the ha-
tired of Dreyfus? That being the case,
will not the temptation be strong TO sac
rifice the prisoner rather than the lead
ing officers of the army? But it may be
said that the court wouldn't dare to rem
der decision contrary TO the evidence.
But didn't the court that originally tried
Dreyfus render a decision that wasn't
supported by evidence? And that court
was composed of some of the most prom
inent officers of the army.
There is one thing that may insure Drey-
fus an acquittal, and that is that there
would be a revolution in short order if
Dreyfus were convicted on INSULT
| cient evidence. The conscience of the ma
ton is awakened now, which wasn't the
case on the occasion of the first trial
Justice must be done now or there will
be trouble. Although Gen. MERCER de-
clares that he would find Dreyfus guilty,
notwithstanding the lack of evidence
against him, it is almost incOnceivable
that the members of the court martial are
so prejudiced as not to be able to do
| justice to Dreyfus. The fact that the peo-
pie will not permit any decision to stand
that is not supported by evidence may
help them 10 reach a correct decision.