The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-09-20
DREYFUS PARDONED.
The Council of Ministers Acted ON His
Case Yesterday.

The Council of Ministers Acted On His
Case Yesterday.
Paris, September lathe council of
ministers decided today to pardon Drey-
fus In principle.
The pardon will take effect In few
days.
Dreyfus has relinquished his appeal
for reversal of the judgment of the
court martial.
Il is said Dreyfus will be sent abroad
before che PRONUNCIATION of the pardon.
In order to avoid demonstrations.
The ann ouncement that Dreyfus was to
be pardoned had already been discounted
by predictions and there was no excite
ment displayed anywhere along the
boulevsrds when the newsboys ran along
at about S.15 p. M, with the first edi-
tions containing the statement that the
cabinet had decided to pardon Dreyfus.
The newspapers sold quickly. but there
was no rush for them upon the part of the
bouleyarders.
The Droits de L. Homme (Rights Of
Mani Socialist organ. said:
"Our task remains the same after as
before the liberation of Dreyfus, to CON-
tlnue the campaign against all those who
are responsible for the lamentable affair. "
There Is much comment here ON the
strange coincidence of the death of HI.
Sch surer- Kestner, the first champion of
DreJ fus. and to whom Drsyfus will Writ
ually owe his freedom on the very day the
cabinet decides to pardon him. NJ.
Soheurer- X estner's death was suddsn.
He had been III during the last few days,
but Ii was not thought his illness would
prove fatal.
RENNES WAS EXCITED.
Rennoe, eeptemuer TO- - Tho nsxs that
the council of ministers had decided to
pardon Dreyfus was received here with
intense excitement Dreyfus is still a
prisoner.
DEATH OF HEURER-KESTNER.
Paris. September 19.-M. Soheurer-
Kestner, the former vice-president of the
Senate and champion of Dreyfus, is dead.
He was born February IL, 1880, at Null
house, Alsaoe. from which place the Drey-
fus family also hall He was president
of the Chemical Society of Paris and was
prominent director of the Republic
Franchise from 1879 to 1854, and was a
Republican in politics.
He took a great interest in the improve
ment of the working GLASSES and in 1864
founded a cooperative society for thei +
benefit.
His Republican ideas in 1867 caused
him to be sentenced to four months i'm
prisOnment and 1900 francs. fine. He WAS
elected to the national assembly in 1871
and in 1875 he was first eleoted to the
Senate Of which he afterwards became
one of the secretaries and eventually one
of the ice-presidents. He was defeated
for reelection as vioe-president In 1898.
He has written extensively on chemistry.
The newspapers now publish the first
semi-official announcement of the cabi-
net decision without comment.
The Journale des Dsbats, however,
says:
= "We are assured that the family will re.
ceive an order for Dreyfus to leave
Rennes, unperceiyed, very shortly, during
the night time. The government does
not know or in any case, does not say
where Dreyfus Is going.''s
The Journal des Dsbats, however, fol.
lows the foregoing with the report that
Nine. Dreyfus has taken a villa at Folke
stone, near Dover, England. This report
has been denied. but many believe Drey
fus will 90 to England on his relea Sc
which may take place even tonight.
A telephone inquiry at Rennes this
afternoon showed that Dreyfus had not
acquired his liberty. So, -
AN APPEAL FOR FAIR.
Paris, September l9.-President Loube
visited the site of the exposition of 1901
today and urged the directors of tbs
works to exert themselves to the utmost
in order to show to the world in 1906
That France is still "StrCn g, laboFious
united nation whose generous soul ii
filled with the sense of her mission Of
progress and peace and that she had moi
been affected by tleetlng quarrels."