New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-07-23
PARIS.
EINISTER FEATURES OF THE DREYFUS
CASE REVEALED DAILY.
COURT MARTIAL AND COURT OF CESSATION
FRENCH FARMERS OPPOSE RECIPRoC-
ITY; WINE GROWERS FAVOR IT
NOTES OF SOCIETY.
TBr CABLE TO THE TRIBUNE.l

fBY CABLE THE TRIBUNEJ
Paris July 22-Scarcely a day passes but
that the Dreyfus affair, like some sombre Greek
tragedy. unfolds new dramatic features, nfam-
Ing the public mind, while choruses composed OF
Dreyfusards and anti Dreyfusards chant their
smpassioned comments. Yesterday the latent
hatred Of the Socialists for the clerical reaction
and for Mene, Lebon and MERCER, who were
members OF the Cabinet during the most rigor-
Gus period Of Dreyfuss imprisonment on DeviIs
Island, was reused by the narrative of an afro
cious plot to cause the assassination of Dreyfus
by means of a simulated attempt at mid
night rescue. when the prisoner awoke con-
fronted by jaiier holding a loaded revolver
within half an inch of his temple This MARIA
tive. which is confirmed by Matthew Dreyfus
coupled with revelation Of refined torture in
fcted by forged dispatches presented TO Drey-
fus. falsely accusing his wife of dishonOr has
stirred the passion of the masses To such
pitch that the Socialist and Radical organs to-
day insist upon relentless reprisas and retalia-
tion.
Cemenceau, Yves Guyot Jean Jaures and
Gerault- Richard now demand that the decree
OF March 80. 1880 providing for the dssolu-
ton Of the order Of Jesuits and their expulsion
from French territory, be enforced The Royalist
Catholic reaction meanwhile, is up In arms
Yves Guyot calls General Gonse Pontius
plate. epithets and invective have again
broken loose and the public mind once more Is
in the throes Of religious animosity worthy or
the Middle Ages.
General de Gallifet's instructions to Major
Carriere Commissioner of the Government at
the Rennes court martial. prescribing the
courts jurisdiction and defining the admss-
bility OF evidence at the coming trial. Is vio-
lently denounced by such frebrands as Mile
voye, Deroulede and FRANCOIS Coppee, as "a
dictatorial usurpation Of authority and sitting
OF justice" Opinion in legal circles. however,
is that General de Gallifet's instructions were
not only authorized, but were actually required
in accordance with the principles Of French
jurisprudence. The Minister Of War, in regard
10 the court martial. stands in the same posi-
ton as the Minister of Justice in regard to the
ordinary tribunals. 1t is his duty, especially in
the presence Of the notorious attempts of the
Nationalist TO induce members OF the court
martial Of Rennes to exceed the limits Of legal
propriety. 20 prevent that court martial from
Infringing the absolute authority Of the Court of
Cessation on any points Of jurisdiction, pro-
cedure or evidence which would vitiate what
ever verdict the Rennes court martial may pro-
nounce and make it liable to be annuled for
quested the Minister of War TO furnish him with
instructions for the guidance of the court, in
order TO avoid the possibility OF a conflict with
the Court of Cessation.
The public already appreciates this, and all
except the fanatical irreconcilables approve the
action taken by General de Gallifet. His in
structions greatly simplify matters. The
Rennes court martial can consider only points
defined by the Court of Cessation, namely. the
authorship of the bordereau and whether the
documents enumerated in the bordereau were
handed over by Dreyfus Only evidence bear
ing upon those points is admissible. 1t is,
nevertheless. believed that the Rennes trial.
which will begin on August II. may last three
weeks, for the list OF witnesses already con-
tains 154 names. One hundred and ninety places
are reserved for the French and foreign press, by
no means too many. when 1t is considered that