New-York tribune., 1899-06-14
WHY II. DUPUY FELL.

The Dupuy Ministry fell over the Dreyfus
case. OF that there seems to he no DOUBT.
But fell because Of general principles. ana not
because of any specific point or Incident Ihere
was really nothing in the petty brawls OF Sun
dav or In the conduct of the police 10 warrant
q Ministerial crisis The few extreme Social
lists who are opposed TO the very existence OF
the Dolice are not enough to produce such
result II is evident that, In addition to both
the Red Caps and the Muscadlns many sound
Republlcans voted against the Ministry, and
that their votes turned the scale. Now, there
is no reason TO suppose they had lost conn
dence in NJ. Dupuy and his colleagues on gen
eral principles of government Neither did
they disapprove the conduct Of the Ministry
in the incidents of the last two Sundays-at
Auteuil and Longchamps What seems by far
most likely is that they remember NJ. Dupuy
was Prime Minister when Dreyfus was first
tried and condemned. and that they think
greater confidence and more complete acqui-
escence In the result Of his second trial would
be assured If at that time some other man
were at the head of the Cabinet That Is en-
tirely logical and it makes no unpleasant re-
fiection upon NJ. Dupuy. Indeed, 1t is quite
supposable that he takes the same view OF the
case and is glad to get out of office.
Perhaps TO this we may add that NJ Dupuy
is thought, whether justly or not we cannot
say, to be reluctant to bring to trial those who
are supposed to be chiefly responsible for the
Dreyfus conspiracy. If so, that Is parucu-
larly urgent reason for his retirement. For II
Is perfectly clear that nothing will satisfy the
French sense of justice short Of thorough
sitting of the Dreyfus case and bringing 10
book of every scoundrel connected with it, no
matter what his military rank, political infiu-
ence or social standing. The names OF Gen
eral Mercier and General de Bosdeffre are
| much in evidence at the present time There
is no desire to PREJUDICE their cases. Neverthe-
! less II Is not forgotten that General MERCER
not long ago said: "On my word a soldier,
''Dreyfus was traitor who was justly and
legally condemned; and that General de Bos-
deffre said: THE guilt of Captain DreyfuS has
! always been to me thing absolutely certain y
And now the highest court in France declares
that Dreyfus was not legally or justly con-
demned. and that his guilt was and Is by no
means certain. There Is a difference of opinion
between these two distinguished officers and
the court. which they surely ought to have an
opportunity to explain especially since they
were conspicuously concerned in the condemna-
ton of Dreyfus which never would have been
effected had 1t not been for their extraordinary
efforts.
The saying has been so often repeated on
occasions similar TO this that it has become
trlte: yet II is nevertheless entirely true and
pertinent that there are plenty of other good
men in France TO form new Ministry. There
is no need for anxiety on that score The Min
istry will be a good one. 1t will be soundly
Republican. trust NJ. Loubet for that. And il
will take no step backward in the Dreyfus
case. trust him also for that-and, indeed, FOL
both these things trust the Chamber. which
contains an ample Republican and justice
| loving majority