New-York tribune., 1899-05-28
JUSTICE FOR DREYFUS.

The Civil Section or tne COurl VI O"o'"'o
has reported, through its President, to the wnoie
Court IN favor of the revision of the Dreytus
case by sending the prisoner again pefore
court martial That Is the agreeable news thls
morning. upon which many congratulations are
due.
First of ALL let us say, to NJ. Quesnay oe
Beaurepaire though such CONGRATULATIONS may
not he welcome We fancy the Justice-loving
world is better satisfied with the results OF that
eminent jurlst's work than he is himself. de
vos formerly president Of the Criminal Section
os the Court of Cessation. He was strongly
onnosed to revision Of the Dreyfus case, and he
created a sensation by suddenly resigning MS
place because, as he said, some OF his colleagues
were corruptly Influenced in favor OF Dreyrus.
Because Of that action Of his the consideration
ot the case was withdrawn from that secuon
and turned over to the whole court, which IN
turn referred II to the Civil Section. And now
the latter takes upon II precisely the action
which NJ. Quesnay de Beaurepaire feared the
Criminal Section would take! That jurist did a
better work for justice than he was aware or
Had the case remained before only the Criminal
Section. It would have been dealt with timor-
ously in mortal fear of the General Star, and
the decision would always have been regarded
with suspicion by both sides. But now, thanks
to NJ. Quesnay de Beaurepaire the case has
been dealt with bravely and the decision Is
above all challenge or cavil.
Next. we may congratulate France and the
French Government. Revision means much to
them. 1t means a vindication of French JUS
t,ce It Is infinitely to be preferred to declar-
alton OF Dreyfus's innocence. Had the Court
tott h0,a axx,nn
have been prodiglous splashing Of whitewash
all around. The army ring would have claimed
credit for having acted in good faith in con-
demnlng Dreyfus originally, and for line sense
OF honor in now discovering It's error and doing
all it could 10 repair 1t. And there would nave
been a hushing up OF all matters connected with
It. But in ordering retrial the Court WIZ not
declare Dreyfus innocent. 1t will put the army
ring to the task Of indicating its former action
| II will cause a thorough looking into, ana, we
NAV expect, n reformation OF the astounding
system under which man could be condemned
of an infamous crime without knowing wha'
were the charges against him, and without hear
ing the testimony on which he was convicted
1t means justice for the army ring as well as
for Dreyfus and therefore vndcation OF the
| Government and Of France.
As for Captain Dreyfus and his devoted
friends, who have so valiantly fought this fight
II is to be hoped that they will be found entitled
TO CONGRATULATIONS Of the heartiest character
That is yet to be seen. For, OF course, revision
does not necessarily mean acquittal 1t is toe
soon TO pass final judgment upon Dreyfus Tha
must be done by court-martial, at the end Of 0
new trial. That trial will, however, have to bt
conducted far differently from the former one
There will be no "veiled ladies'" no ultra secre
dosser" which neither the accused nor his
counsel may see. All will have to be done
fairly openly, above board, in that full light Of
day which NJ. Zola so eloquently demanded
The friends of Dreyfus have all along said tina
such trial was all they wanted; that with !
his acquittal would be certain. At the SAM
time the army ring has resisted II with Nigh
and main evidently regarding fair and opel
retrial as the one thing OF all most to be feare'
by them. From these circumstances we ma.
draw what conclusions we see fit concerning tn
probable result Of new trial 1t may be as
sumed as certain that some stronger evdenc
, against Dreyfus will have TO be presented thai
was presented before And In all this wrangl
, over the case. and IN oil the judicial investiga
, ton there has been not the slightest hint tina
; any such evidence exists. We shall not be SUI
, prlsed, therefore, II 1t shall presently appea
that Dreyfus and his friends are TO be congratr
, lated on the final triumph Of their cause.
We cannot dismiss the topic without one NOR
word of commendation and congratulation 70
. the French newspaper which for weeks ha
been waglng an unprecedented campaign 70
this very result which is announced to-day
It quite true that judges ought not to be inht
, enced by newspaper publications, and 1t nigh
I therefore, be technically improper to sugges
that the "Tigaro's" revelations have brougf
, about the Courts decision. In a higher an
broader sense than the technical one. however
It may he both true and proper to say so A
. any rate, the Figaro" has powerfully affecte