The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1899-08-23
The Situation at Rennes.

The New York SUMS correspondent
at Rennes thus states the present situa-
ton of the case against Dreyfus:
Most of the correspondents of for
eign newspapers came to Rennes with
the impression that after full hearing
of the evidence the acquittal of Dreyfus
of the charge of treason would be the
inevitable verdict. The trial has now
proceeded fortnight, and absolutely
nothing worthy of the name of evidence
has been adduced against the accused,
yet scarcely anyone is now confident of
the result. This charge does not i'm
ply, as it would at first appear, that the
prisoners judges are dishonest or cor
lupt. They are the victims of undue
pressure and illegitimate influences
which require moral heroism beyond
that of ordinary men to successfully re-
sist.
Foreigners at Rennes realize the in
tensity of the passions which are blind
ing reason and destroying the sense of
fair play in France. They are no longer
confident of the vindication of the inno-
cent man before the Rennes court mar
tal. 1t is now clear what policy the ene-
mics of Dreyfus have relied on chiefly
for thwarting justice once more. 1t is
reasons of State, based upon the civil
war which the acquital OF the prisoner
would precipitate, according to the
anti-Dreyfus declarations. They plot
ted to demonstrate by uprisings at
Rennes and elsewhere that it is the pa
triotic duty of the court martial to save
the country by again sacrificing the in
dividual before them. The Paris gov
eminent became cognizaDt OF the plot
and it remains to be seen if they will
further succeed in forestalling it. The
defence is terribly handicapped in two
ways. First, they are precluded, or
have voluntarily refrained, from i'm
pugning the honesty of the chief wit
nesses for the prosecution.
1--WE know, of course, that such men
as MERCER and Roget were wilfully ly-
ing in their testimony" said gentle
man connected with Dreyfus' lawyers
to the correspondent of the Sun, shut
we consider that it would be fatal to
the defendants chances to impute per-
jury to the highest officers of the
French army before jury of their SUBJ
ordinates. Hence we limit ourselves
to imputing to them only honest err
rors." This, he added, explains the APP
parent inadequacy of M. Demange's
cross-examination.
1t is open to serious question wheth-
er the defence was right in adopting
this policy. There is excellent reason
for believing that with M. Labori at his
best Dreyfus' chief enemies would have
left the box one by one, convicted out
| of their own mouths of conspiracy and
lying, and openly admitting that they
knew there was not scrap of genuine
evidence of his guilt. But Labori is
hOrS de combat and in this second re-
spect the defence is handicapped.
Many believe that the verdict will be
an unsatisfactory compromise, namely,
to 3 against the prisoner, which would
result in his discharge, but not in his
restoration to rank.
There remain eighty-three witnesses
on the list, and this number will I'M
doubtedly be augmented, inasmuch as
any witness can be recalled for con-
frontation, which is favorite feature
of French trials, if anybody subse-
quently contradicts him. 1t is impos-
sible 10 estimate the time required to
complete the evidence. The next wit
nesses TO be called are not prominent
personages and may therefore, be ex-
pected to contribute facts instead of
haranguing the court with their views
as to the guilt or innocence of the pris-
oner, based entirely upon hearsay.
The chief interest at Rennes Sunday
was the news from Paris. 1t is deeply
regretted by Dreyfus' defenders that
the pecu.ia. situation should have led