The evening times., 1899-08-21
MONDAY. AUGUST p, 1899.
The Reign of Terror Begins.

One OF the most unhappy complications
in the DreyfuS case f:cT the start has
arisen from the unsoueht for, injurious,
and wholly insincere sympathy of the
French Anarchists. These relentless ene-
mics OF government, society, and civili-
zation espoused the cause of the prisoner
of DEVILS Island, not because they cared
two pins what might be done to him, or
how the French nation might suffer
through the infamy of its official course in
the affair, but because the Monarchists.
Bonapartists, and upper classes disliked by
them, happened to be -Dreyfusards.
Intrinsically speaking, the Anarchists
hate the Jews quite as fiercely as they
hate the Jesuits, and if they could have
their viii, the latter would no sooner be
expelled from the country than the former
would be turned upon with equal rancor.
Unfortunately, it suits the purposes Of the
= Anarchist leaders TO pose as Dreyfusards.
This in itself would be bad enough. Il
becomes intoleracie when sympathy is ex-
pressed, after the characteristic manner
Of the cult by cutting churches, destroy
ing things held sacred by a maior,y Of
the French people, and killing police Of
fcers.
That is what happened in Paris yester-
day, under circumstances of. peculiar
atrocity, and We are bitterly sorry 10 say
that the outbreak and the outrages at
tending il undoubtedly viii be charged
up to the account of Dreyfus and his CO.
religionists, Notwithstanding the fact that
both would have done or sacrificed almost
anything to prevent such disastrous as
sault an the dark upon their interests.
hopes, and position in the community.
The british insanity Of the Anarchists.
in tearing down crucifXes, images of the
Virgin, an5 burning them, and in tramp
ling the consecrated waters from the altar
of St. Joseph's Church under their feet,
although justly chargeable to no one out
side OF the mob itself. viii be accepted by
the ignorant peasantry everywhere as evi-
dence that all Jews and ali Dreyfusards
intend TO destroy their religion. 1t is also
highly probable that the section of the
French clergy actively engaged in at
tempts to restore the monarchy, will re-
gard this sentiment at least with com
placency
II anyone has thought it possible that
the hellish situation throughout the
republic might be composed and civil
war averted, he must have aban-
doned any such idea after reading our
press dispatches this morning. The
evidently paltering spirit in which the gov
ernment met the riots yesterday, and its
paralysis in the face of the defiance of
Guefin and his companions, are but 100
conclusive that the reins of power in The
hands of Loubet and Gallifet are broken,
and that, no matter what the court-mar-
tial may do at Rennes. any decision 1t
shall announce will be the signal for a
bloody struggle of factions which may not
end short of an Intervention of the great
Continental powers in the interests of civ
ilization.
Never since the days Immediately pre-
ceding the French Revolution have condi-
tons in France appeared as alarming to
friends of justice, liberty, and order as
they do at this hour. The sacking of the
Catholic churches on Sunday was but the
beginning of the end Murders, emeutes
massacres, and reign of terror may be-
feared as natural consequences, and, in
deed. with sad reason. expected