The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-08-29

nv
ed nm Woman, MR.. susrat,
20 Death; that Retired Gen. Eagan
on Full Pay, and shat II Apparently
TRYING to SHIELD an Embexxier of
More than sI.00O,O0O Cannos he.
proach France
CThe Baltimore SUM-
The French government has been
sharply criticised for permitting the
conviction OF Captain Dreyfus upon
such fiimsy evidence as vas brought
out at his first trial by court-martial.
In the main this criticism Is sound. but
il loses force when It is sought 10 ar
raign the whole French nation for the
sins OF the army officers and govern
ment officials who conspired 10 punish
an innocent man While there are many
persons in France holding high posi-
ton who sustained the government in
its cruel and unjustiiable treatment OF
Dreyfus, il should not be forgotten that
there are also many eminent French
men who protested against the punish
ment OF the unfortunate officer and de-
bounced the crime at great peril TO
themselves. 1t IS unjust. therefore, TO
attempt to make an entire nation bear
the odium which attaches only to the
pCIsOAS 04IeClIy aaNDANtu IA Tic IOA-
spiracy and those who upheld the in
fanny on political or racial grounds. Nor
should the fact be overlooked that the
case against Dreyfus was very adroiuy
prepared by the co~nspirators, although
IL collapsed as soon as ii was subjected
to a critical examination. The great
body OF the French people, however,
heard only one side Of the case. Thew
were told that the evidence was con
VfnninO and @ho- onU afnrF ~ rat-arSA
the judgment of the court-martial was
an attack upon the army in the inter-
est of a traitorous Jewish officer. II is
not astonishing, with their imperfect
knowledge OF the facts and their devo-
ton for the army, that they were led
aStray.
One striking feature OF American crit
icism of France is the complacent as
sumption OF the critics that the "Drey-
fus affair could not have happen.
the United States. 1t is asserted that
our national sense OF justice and great
er elaboration in considering charges
against accused persons would have
prevented such a shocking miscarriage
of justice. 1t is flattering TO our ma
tional pride TO indulge in such assump-
tons, and perhaps there may be some
foundation for them. A a time when
there is no excitement and no pressure
brought to bear upon those intrusted
with the execution of the law, Ameri-
can administration Of justice may be as
near perfection as it is possible to at
tain. But when the passions of men
are aroused a military co~urt-martial in
the United States, judging by the fate
Of Mrs. Surratt, is not always TO be
trusted. This unfortunate woman was
convicted n hanged upon testimony
which never to more than
suspicion, and manufactured suspicion,
at that. She was bounded to death by
those who clamored for blood, and were
Indifferent abou such trifing consider
atoms as proof of guilt.
Moreover, recent occurrences have
demonstrated that when court-martials
in the United States render verdicts in
accordance with the law and testimony
the administration cannot always be
trusted to enforce them. One OF the
greatest scandals of the present ad-
ministration is the leniency which has
been shown by the president and the
attorney general toward an army Off
Ger convicted of embeZZling 81, 700, 00C
of government money The military
court sentenced him more than a year
6 10 dismissal from the army, fine
and Imprisonment. Political influence
has protected him and he is still an
officer OF the army, enjoying all the
privileges of his rank. Another army
VA III OAAAaS
ing an officer and a gentleman" was
not caShiered from the service but re-
tired on full pay, although he is alleged
to possess a snug fortune. These are
some of the blotS on our escutcheon
We may be, as some ssume infinitely
superior to our French brethren, bul
before We crow too loud we should be
sure hat our own record is not open t.
attack.
OUR OWN CARTER
(The Washington Times.)
Nothing reminds US so forcibly of the
DreyfuS case as hat of our own Ear
ter, because the two are so different
There is one point of identity-each OF
the prisoners is a captain, but at thai
point the affairs diverge and become
antipoda1.
In france the united forces Of the
government, the army, the mob, anti.
Semitic fanaticism, perjury. forgery
and General official rascality have beer
invoked n used to fasten an awful
crime upon the head of a VIGOROUSLY
innocent man!
In the United States the whole power
of the administration, it's department o.
justice, its financial its hired
ffaw-pickers, its bosses, followers, heel.
ers, n howlers, have been and are
being utilized in an effort to preven
the punishment of a man convicted o.
embezzling much more than a million
dollars Of the peoples money!
Comparisons may be odious, Mr.. Nc