The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-08-15
THE LATEST FRENCH SENSATION.

1t is not easy to assign a reason for
the attempt to assassinate M. Labor,
the eminent lawyer engaged in present
ing the defense of Dreyfus. If it was
Intended to cripple the case Of the de-
PENDANT by depriving him of the ad-
vice and guidance Of his attorney and
friend, the effort was idiotic, since the
effect will be to send to Dreyfus the
best legal talent of France if he needs
it. Besides. Labor was not alone in
the case. The senior counsel is an
able man and has had charge since the
time of the first trial. If the intention
was to dispirit Dreyfus and occasion
him anguish it will so result. He
could not lose such an advocate and
friend and not be greatly shaken and
disturbed. He may feel that the fate
of Labori foreshadows his own.
When they sent a warship to the
Devils Island to bring Dreyfus back
to France for new trial they sent out
also a coffin in which to bring his body
II he died en- route, or was found dead.
That coffin is now at Brest and it may
yet contain the corpse Of the unhappy
victim Of clerical and army hatred. For
We have small hope of Dreyfus being
given a long lease Of life if he is &C
quilted. His enemies will not spare
him because he will be too important
a figure in their path as a free man. He
would be constant thorn in the flesh,
a reminder Of their own infamy; living
he would be an example before the peo-
pie Of that would stir them to new
thinking upon the rights of men, and
to studying justice in the abstract and
the concrete.
Unless after his quittance Dreyfus is
closely guarded until he can leave the
country, he will surely be slain by the
hand of the assassin. The bullet buried
in the body of his lawyer was intended
to serve as a warning to the prisoner.
The crack of the pistol was not for
Labori, since it is asserted that he was
not man having bitter personal enc
mics. AS a lawyer he made the de-
lenses for his clients, permitted by their
guaranteed rights. To kill him should
not have the effect of cowing the men,
bers of the Military Court.
These who prompted the assassin to
shoot down Labori must have known
that the act would augment sympa thy
for the prisoner. rather than tell
against his cause. There is, therefore
no conceivable reason-short of treat
ing the crime as the work of a crank
for the dastardly shooting of the lawyer,
except to indicate the fate of the prin-
cipal. The power that babe the speed
ing of the bullet into the body of the
advocate, meant to say thereby to
France, IF Dreyfus is freed it shall
avail him nothing, for he shall die You
who stand for him boldly may share
his fate. We propose to dominate. We
represent the army, the church, the
aristocracy, the enemies Of free Govern
ment, and to maintain our cause We
will provoke revolution if need be. This
shot Is to warn you.P
However looked at then, the attempt
to kill the lawyer of Dreyfus unless
the assassin prove to be a mailman, is
the first step in the line of an upturn-
ing that can be throttled only by the
strong hand of resolute administra-
ton. That France has now, but can it
depend upon the army? Without phys
ical force behind it it will be but as a
reed before the wind. If the army
as now controlled fails it, will it be pos
sible to recruit a force to resist it? The
idea is absurd. If there is a revolt
against the Government led by the
army, and that large force refuses to
obey the commands Of the Government,
there will be no help for the republic
in France; monarchy or anarchy will
result.