The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-08-11
FRIDAY. AUGUST Il. 1890.
wuAr or THE FRENCH people,

Arc tho French people rolapsing 20 bar
barism? This question is not so strained
as it would appear when some of the i'm
cidents connected with the Dreyfus case
are CONSIDERED We pass by the question
of the guilt or innocence Of Drcyfus-
though the whole world IS now convinced
that ne is an innocent man. We consider
the case upon the hypothesis that he IS
guilty. But OF what is hn guilty?
VI Rochcfort IN q telegram TO the New
York Journal of Wednesday last says
his crime was selling 10 the Germans the
secret Of the French shrapnal shells and
the secret Of their mobilization Of army
corps This was. Of course "a very high
crime-or at least. It would have been If
France had been at war with Germany.
But IT IS 90 be remembered that France
was IN profound peace with Germany
and no very great injury would have i'm
urod 20 her II Droyfus had done If. II he
did II. The reasonable view of the case
would have been that ne had showed
himself unworthy OF commission I'm the
French army and a httng punishment
would have been his degradation as they
degraded him and a years ordinary inn
prisoumont.
But a section OF the French people
and Rochefort claims fl IS the ovcrwhelm-
ing majority Of them-conslder the offence
one that can be cxpiated by the death
of the victim only. produced by slow tor
ture, lasting through ten years. of ma
ture and character that makes every hu-
man being who has a heart I'm his bosom
turn from 20 in sickenlng despair when
he considers its cruelty. its inhumaulty
its absolute bcstiality.
Rochefort makes no concoalmcnt about
the matter with brutal frankuess ne
comedies that Droyus was tortured while
on DEVILS Island, even conccding The
case Of the gives ana the running sores
produced by them ON his legs But he
gloats over 1t. and with tho fcrocity Of a
Wild beast, he rcioices that Fronchmen
have had ana opportunity TO show how
they love 90 torture "a man who has In
CURED their displcasme
Here. then. is the testimony OF one Of
the lealirs Fronclmcn OF the day 20 the
qualities and characteristics OF the French
people Of the day. and we ask amy man |
who has the most ordinary scns.bniuos |
and sympaihics Of man Sc it does not |
Justify the question. Are the French Pco- |
pie Relapslus 90 Blrbarismo
There are myrIags Of pitable incidents
connected with This Dreyus case. but we
think chat the one which testiaos mrtely /
but most powerfully of an against the
French people IS the one sent out from
Heunes on Tuesday last that his physl-
clans were compelled 20 condne Drcyfus |
10 a DIET OF milk and eggs. as ague had
so weakened hts renal functions that 81
they gave him anything more nourishng
& would at once produce Brghrs dis
ease. Could there be anything more p.1a-
bic or more horrible than this? The poor
creature has been deliberately held down
and exposed % The most malignant mala-
rial fever until it has worn hls consttu-
ton down 20 a point that must have
ended his existence ga torture and agony
II he had remained another six months
upon that pestridden islandl
Surely this case cries aloud 20 the God
of pity Tor some sort Of interference fla
behalf OF the humanity of our race.