The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-08-05
THE COURT MARTIAL AT RENNES.

T } all odds the most extraordinary feature OF the
n Dreyfus case is the convolution OF mystery
- within mystery that surrounds it. There have
been mistakes OF justice before There is not land
on earth where innocent man has not been UNI
justly convicted OF crime either by the Vaccinations
OF enemies the mistakes Of uries or the mlschance OF
circumsantia evidence. In the OF Dreyfus, how
ever have had all sorts of attendant sensations
involving the central wrong. There have been false
witness, orgeres, suicides, and suggestions OF
murder done in military prisons.
This characteristic OF the continues to mark
with mystery the approaching court-martlal at
Rennes. The submitted to that court by the
Court of Cessation is very simple one being limited
to the question of the authenticity OF the famous Dor
derau and the delivery to foreign power of the docu-
ments therein specified If the court-martal confne
itself to those issues the proceedings need not be
complex nor long Evidence submitted to the Court
OF Cessation convinced that august body of$Judges
that Dreyfus did not write the and therefore could
not have delivered the documents The court-martal
has, therefore, an opportunity to close the matter
promptly DO justice Dreyfus and hush the scandal.
For some mysterious reason, however, it seems
probable the court-martial will not take the easy way
out provided for it by the Court of Cessation Re-
ports from Paris imply the military judges will push
the Investigations to the limit and reopen the whole
case II TINS were done IN an open trial, the course
would be commendabe but appears likely the court
will be and the results OF the examinations will
be known only to the judges. Is it any wonder that
under such circumstances the should continue to
be not only Partisan sensation, but matter of pro-
found interest to the whole civilized world?
General Mercier is quoted as having said recently;
Certainly Dreyfus will be convicted again. Either
he is guilty or l am; and shall prove him to be a
traitor" From that statement it is argued Mercier
will claim have confidential information Of the guilt
of Dreyfus and will demand secret investigation.
1t is said he will involve the German Govern
ment in the affair and thus force the ourt-martia to
secrecy for the purpose of avoiding international
controversy. Such reported to be the tactics OF
the military ring and the delay in holding the court
at Rennes goes far to confirm the report.
1t is to be noted, however, there is strong ele-
ment in France that is DESTROYS of setting the issue
by the simplest and promptest method The Paris
Herald says:
II the Court of Cassation as it was entitled to do
by statute had returned verdict of annulaton sans
renvo, the Dreyfus affair would by this time have
been simply matter of ancient history and in like
manner if the Rennes court-marta avoiding danger
ambitions, confines its Investigations within the
limits prescribed by the Court of Cessation the ap-
peasement, which to recede the more the matter
is investigated, may shortly become an accomplished
fact. There be no doubt that the Waldeck-Rous-
Ministry desires nothing so much as 'appease-
ment and reconciliation, and if, in carrying out its
views it emancpates the country from the tyr
amy of certain press it will have deserved we'll of
the nation and the republic