The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-06-28
ghe aulitta 1ap gaD ddlednesdau 1Orn0 9uue Is 1899

happened Behold. the Unforeseen event
did not wait for October. but the end Of
August brought the confession and sui
eide OF CoAonel Henry. wished to return
on the next day. In my opinion revision
would became imperative and innocence
OF Dreyfus would be at once recognized.
had never wished anything else than revi-
sion. and my part would neceesarily come
to an end. end was ready to drop into
the background Ny trial was. in my
opinion. only Formally. as the document
produced by Generals de PeYieux. Gonse
and De Boisdenre, on which the ccnspira-
tors had condemned me. was . forgery,
whose author had taken fight In death.
I prepared myself to return, when my
friends in Paris, my counsel and all those
who had been In the fight wrote me
that the situation remained grave. RevI-
sion, far from being decided, appeared still
uncertain. The Prime Minister. NJ. Brts-
son, struck against endless obstacles, was
betrayed by everybody and could not
count on a single commassaTy OF police.
Therefore it appeared that my return I'M
der these infapeds conditions would be
only an Indictment TO new disorders and
Instructions. danger to the cause and
further diflculty TO the Ministry In its
severe task. Inspired by the wish not to
aggrayate the situation. I was forced to
bow and wait still longer.
When the court was finally occupied
with the sDreyfus case I again wished TO
return. I repeat that never desired any,
thing but revision, and that my role
would have come 20 an end the moment
saw the case brought before the highest
egal tribunal. But new letters reached
me imploring me not to return and not to
disturb things. The situation which ap-
peared to me so simple was, they assured
me, doubtful and dangerous. Ny name
and person could only be torch to ignite
passions. Therefore my friends appealed
to me as a good citizen, impresstng on me
the necessity of silence ana explaining TO
me that I must await the sure revusion of
public opinion in order not to drive our
unhappy land back into a state of peril
GUS tumult
The "affaire' was now in the right path,
but was not yet ended, and what remorse
should suffer IL any inlpatiene on my
part retarded the triumph of the truth!
resigned myself again to Punishment and
silence.
When the court decided that the petit
ton for revision should be heard and or
dered long inquiry I again wished to re-
turn. This time I confess my patience
was at an end; l saw that the inquiry
would last for many months. Had not
sufficient light been thrown on the case,
I, - ri ka
motions of Procureur-GeneralM anau. the
explanations Of Advocate Mornard sufl-
ciently established the truth TO enable me
to return with forehead raised? All the
accusations which / made in my letter to
the President OF the Republic were con-
hrned. My role was at an end. 1t was
then for me a genuine sorrow when my
friends still opposed my return on the
same grounds
They wrote to me that they were still in
the thick of the fight, that could not
Judge the situation as they could, and that |
il would be dangerous error to recon- |
mence my trial contemporaneously with |
the inquiry of the court. The new Minis |
try, hostile 70 revision, would perhaps find |
in my trial wished for diversion. an OPP |
portunity for new confusion. The Court |
Of Cessation needed above all things to be |
left absolutely undisturbed.
1 struggled against these counsels; I |
even thought one evening to return to
Paris without notifying anybody. Only
the truth persuaded me. again submit
ted myself to misery for long months.
Therefore did not return for eleven
months. When 1 remained absent / acted
only as Mad done on the day when 1
stepped forward as a soldier of truth and
Justice. I was only good citizen who
sacrificed himself. even to Punishment,
sven to the incomplete eelf-efEacement,
and who wished thereby only to call at
ention to great miscarriage of justice.
must confess that / regarded the certainty
IF my winning my trial as the last resort.
he little sacred lamp by which we should
spread the light, If the powers OF evil sue
,eeded in putting out the sur carried
ny self-denial to the most complete sill
nee. 1 would not only be D dead man,
,ut a dead man who Is silent On that
ide Of the frontier / could be silent. One
mould only speak when one Il on the spot.
n order to meet the retort 90 what one
ays. No one discovered me, no one saw
ne. repeat. was In the grave. in an
nviolabIe retreat which no stranger could
earn TIE few journalists who said they
listed me lie
I have received no one: have lived IN
he Wilds unknown TO al. Now I ask
Fhat my country, which has treated me
o hardly, has to reproach me after eleven
months OF voluntary Punishment, which
injured IN order TO give back peace 20
er?
It Is at an end and return home as the
ruth appears. as justice 70 being done.
rish to return silently home, in the cheer
illness of victory. without giving occa-
lon for the least disturbance, for the
asst street row. It would be unworthy Of
ne that ths people should consider me for
moment in the days news. Just as l
new how to keep my peace abroad. so
hail know how to return TO my place at
ONE as a peace loving citizen who will
LSturb no one and will return 10 his form
r work without having anybody bother
bout him.
Now that the good work e completed /
-lsh no applause and no rewards, even Il
icy assure me that have been one %
le useful workers. ! have made no profit
hereby, but the cause was so beautiful.
] humani The truth has conquered. and
could not be otherwise From the be-
inning had this certainty and l went
onward convinced Of IL, which makes my
Durage appear less remarkable ! shall
E content IL people will recognize that