Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1899-09-16


maximum penalty was death, the
verdict of the court, backed by its
recommendation, is really victory
for the accused, since he is found
only technically guilty--a victim of
circumstances, his own indiscretion
and carelessness in the discharge of
important secret duty, the scapegoat
of the really guilty-an acquittal in
civil court, where criminal intent
and overt act must be proven to es-
tablish guilt.
To ignorance or a disregard of
these facts connected with the Drey-
fus case is due the violent denuncia-
ton of the French Government and
people, and the ridiculous resolu-
tons and petitions favoring the
severing of friendly relations with
France, withdrawing exhibits from
and boycotting the Paris Worlds
exposition next year.
Nothing of this kind is likely to
occur, since the French Govern
ment and people are no more de-
serving of rebuke for the wrong
done by the Dreyfus courtmartial
than are the English people for the
unjust sentences of their courts in
numerous well-known cases, or Ger
many for the Won Arnim court
martial finding, or the United States
for the Fitzjohn Porter case and the
hanging of Mrs. Surratt by court
martial-besides the French Gov
ment has not yet approved the
Dreyfus verdict. Undoubtedly when
Congress meets members, with
view to lettering their chances or
embarrassing the administration in
the election next year, will seek to
insult the French Government by
proposing some such motion, but it
is incredible that Congress, regard
less of the ideas of the members on
the Dreyfus case, will be guilty of
such action, since it would not in
jure France, and only bring re-
proach on the United States, who
would likewise be'the only loser by
not participating in the worlds ex-
position. The American people who
intended to go to the exposition
will go, and those who are unable
to get there will now have a con-
venient excuse for staying at home.
While the expressions of sympa-
thy for Dreyfus and criticisms of
the court and his accusers are un-
doubtedly sincere, it is worthy of
note, however, that too many of
those who favor "rebukipg France"
in "behalf of humanity and justice"
regardless of nationality and re-
ligion," etc., are the same who in
variably bob up into public notice on
every occasion to get their names in
print, get off their speech and sub
side till next time; that, despite
their earnest protests in the Drey-
fus matter, they are reputed to hate
the Irish, dislike the French, have
no love for the Jews, and are patriot
ically striving to ostracise and pro-
scribe their fellow-citizens for no
other reason than nationality and
religion-which probably accounts
for the fact that at all such red
hot" meetings the Jews were con-
spicuous by their absence.
Then the notoriety seeker takes
advantage of all such opportunities,
even though in rebuking injustice
he resort to it, like the crank in
Chicago who, to show his disap-
prevail of the Dreyfus verdict, dis
charged all Frenchmen in his en-
ploy; or the Indianapolis patriot
who burned a French flag in the
street; or the Kansas City Captain |
who challenges Esterhazy to a duel |
to the death, and the enthusiasts
who are trying to raise a purse to