New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-02
DOSSIERS.
A KIND OF COLOSSAL RoGUEs' GALLERY
IN CONTINENTAL COUNTRIES.

POLICE AND DETECTIVE RECORDS OF PROM
INENT PEOPLE THAT ARE SOURCE OF
PowER-THEIR USE FOR TERROR
ISM AND BLACKMAIL.
In the United States and in Great Britain no
man figures in what is popularity known as the
"Rogues' Gallery" unless he has been duly con-
victed OF some felony or misdemeanor. In Con-
tinental Europe especially in France. Belgium.
Italy Germany and Russia, there is no person
Of any degree OF social eminenCe. and OF political
and professional or administrative prominence,
whose record is not file at the police quar-
ters either Of the metropolis Of his native lana
Or else at those OF the chief city of the province
In which his residence is situated. There is
hardly any one who is regarded TO be OF too
small importance TO thus figure In this species
Of colossal "Rogues' Gallery" In fact, 1t Is only
the laboring classes and the small fry VINO are
fortunate enough TO escape this disagreeaple
form OF attention on the part OF the police. I'M
less they happen to have been convicted of some
offence no matter how trifling. against the laws
of the land.
These police records are known by the name
Of "doesiers"-a word for which there is no ade-
ouate equivalent in the English language, but
which has become exceedingly familiar to every
one in this country in connection with the Drey-
fus case For the entire controversy on the
subject Of the prisoner OF Devils Island may
be said TO depend upon the mysterious contents
OF the Dreyfus dossier, which alone can deter
mine the question Of his guilt or innocence
The word "dossier" in a general sense means
a bundle of documents relating to either ons par
ticular subject or individual. But II is more
especially used to describe the documentary evil
dence good and bad. in connection with per-
sons record, and on the Continent Of Europe
considerable part OF the detective force is en-
ployed exclusively in securing material FOR DOS
sers. the very mention Of which is sufficient TO
cause a cold shIdder TO pass down ones back
For there are comparatively few in this world
whose lives have been entirely blameless that
there is not some episode other in their exist
ence which they would prefer 10 keep secret and
the publication OF which might subject them TO
criticism. ridicue disgrace. Even taking il
for granted that there are people who are them
selves entirely beyond reproach OF any kind they
have usually some near relative or intimate
friend who has been less circumspect and TO
preserve whom from exposure they are ready to
make concessions.
SECRETS A SOURCE OF POWER.
The possession OF such secrets as these affect
ing the honor and the prestige Of both men and
women Of position constitutes a source Of power
and OF influence The Continental Governments
OF Europe take the ground that 1t is TO the In
terest OF the commonwealth that they should
enjoy this power, and accordingly they devote.
stated above. much trouble and money TO
secure the secrets Of prominent people-secrets
that so 10 constitute a dossier. The resources
Of the detective police are at the disposal Of the
Government for the purpose. and it will there
fore surprise few to learn that wellnigh every
yuhl liz nd of ial
eminence is Swallowed by police spies who not
only take note of everything that he or she may
do or say but likewise put the worst interpreta-
tion upon matters that are entirely innocent Of
all HARM frequently inventing incidents and cpl
sodes which entirely devoid OF foundation.
For 1t must be borne in mind that the ndvid
uals employed for this species of detective work
are as a general rule men and women utterly
devoid Of sCrupe. the value OF whose services is
gagged and remunerated by the seeming i'm
portance OF the information which they furnish
concerning their victim The reports which they
make all go to make up the dossiers and from
this II will be seen that there literally none
who hope to have dossier that is entirely
and wholly clean, since clean dossier would
imply not only that the person to whom it re-
lated had never said or done a questionable or
ridiculous thing in his life. and that his intimate
friends and near relatives had been equally dis
Greet. but also that he had refraned from doing
anything that could have furnished even the
smallest pretext for Injurious misinterpretation
AS / have said. every of any position has
both his dossier and TO great extent his
shadow. and in the diplomatic service It is no
torious that the moment envoy, a secretary
or even an attache is appointed to any new
post in one or another Of the capitals Of Cont
mental Europe he is shadowed at any rate for
III.
ALL his weaknesses are ascertained and placed
on record IN his dossier for eventual use Now
and then the police spies assigned to this service
fail to discover any information, and are either
conscientious enough to SO report or too devoid
OF initiative TO invent charges against the OBJ
ject Of their investigation.
AMBASSADORS BLAMELESs AND GUILTY
always remember the case OF foreign Am
bassador accredited to the French Government
whose dossier was entirely clean and whom the
police authorities ceased after about twelve
months TO shadow. owing to the detectives in
variaby reporting that His Exceency had not
even de petits vices chat is was devoid even
OF small vices. But in COnstantinople for In
stance, it was few years ago notorious that
at least two OF the foreign Ambassadors were
entirely at the mercy of the Sultan. owing 10
the latter having been placed by his clever
police spies in possession Of secrets affecting the
official and personal honor Of their exceen-
cies. the exposure Of which would have re-
suited in their disgrace and ruin There was
likewise until not very long ago the Am
bassador OF a great Power at Paris the contents
OF whose dosser the Prefecture Of Police were
such 10 place him altogether at the mercy Of
the French Government and 10 render him more
less useless to his own sovereign. Even an
ipnac info ~
value TO the Power 10 which his chief is &C
credited, and may be forced by judlcious threats
Of the disclosure Of some one or another Of his