Omaha daily bee., 1899-09-10

DhhlFCD
Justice has suffered another defeat in
France. Again has the military power
t%rlumphed over law and right and what
all falr-minded men believe TO be a
most foul conspiracy Is again victorious.
The rcconviction of Drcyfus is an in
delible stain upon the French nation
and II permitted to stand, as most
likely will be the case. will subject
France to the just contempt of the
civilized world.
The Rennes court-martial, which
stood . to . for conviction, from the
beginning manifested marked Partially
for the prosecution. 1t admitted what
ever alleged evidence the general stan
wished to Introduce and excluded much
that the defense sought to introduce
which was at least as relevant as the
other. AS Labori said a few days ago,
whenever the defense endeavored to
probe to the root Of n matter 1t was
not permitted by the court to do so. On
the other hand, various generals, whose
proper standing In court was that of
witnesses only, were allowed to usurp
the functions of counsel, deliver
harangues, browbeat and even insult
other witnesses and make appeals to
passion and prejudice. But no one who
gave testimony favorable to the de-
Tense was permitted to express opin-
ions or talk beyond mere testimony.
Thus from first to last the court IN.
spicuously manifested its partially for
the prosecution and made a shameless
~travesty of the proceedings. There was
no evidence presented by the prosecu-
ton to Justify conviction, none, In
deed, that would have been regarded
by an impartial tribunal as worthy Of
of cessation set before the court-mar-
tial the specific issue, did Drefus com
municate to a foreign agent or govern
ment the document mentioned in the
bordereau? 1t was not shown that he
did, but on the contrary there was very
conclusive evidence that he could not
have done so. But the prejudiced court,
predisposed against the accused, cav
no weight to this evidence. The as
sertions, opinions and appeals Of the
generals directly or indirectly in
volved in the conspiracy were all
that the court attached any i'm
portance to and it is now obvious
that even had the military attaches Of
Germany and Italy given testimony ia
to Dreyfus it would not have
affected the verdict Forgery, perjury
and intrigue were clearly established,
but this had nc influence with the court
martial, or those members Of it who
were predisposed against the accused,
and If such evidence had no effect on
them 1t is not probable that they could
have been influenced by any foreign
testimony favorable to Dreyfus.
The military power has achieved its
purpose. The conspirators of the gen.
eral staff are now, perhaps, secure.
But there Is no vindication in the YER
dict, nor does it conserve the "honor"
Of the army. MERCER, Gonse, Boisdef-
fire., Roget and their c%oadjutors in this
outrage upon justice are regarded by
fair-minded men throughout the civil
lized world as criminals and the army
must share in the infamy of Its chiefs.
What will be the consequences of this
If allowed to stand? VIII the
people Of France who desire that JUS
tice be done submit to this outrage upon
or will they demand of the gov
eminent that the victim of race hatred
shall be given at least one more oppor-
tunity to prove his innocence? We
shall soon know and it seems safe to
that the justice-respecting peo-
pie of France will make a very earnest
and vigorous protest against this mon
strous wrong.