The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-25
Is the Dreyfus Incident Closed Z?

In general order, said to have been is
sued without consultation with his col
leagues in the Cabinet, the French Minister
OF War, General the Marquis DE GALLIFFEr
makes certain assertions regarding the
Dreyfus affair which are likely to provoke
dissent on the part OF clear-headed and
right-feeling men, and which have been
already repudiatedb by DREYFUs himself and
by lola, his principal literary champion.
The statements to which exceptions may
be taken are the following: THE incident
Is closed. The military judges, who en-
joyed the respect OF all, pronounced the
sentence in perfect independence All OF
us, without harboring an afterthouRht
bowed to the decision. We shall equally
accept the act which feeling OF deep pity
dictated to the President. There can no
longer exist the idea of reprisals OF any
kind; hence. I repeat. the incident is
closed" Now it may be true that the
seven officers composing the Rennes court
martial enjoyed general respect when they
took their seats upon tho bench. There is
no doubt, however, that the respect was
forfeited by five Of them when they rem
dered a decision against an overwhelming
weight OF evidence, and especially by the
presiding officer who, when the foreign
offices of France, Germany and Italy were
willing to let the evidence OF Col PANIZ-
zARD1 and Col. SCHwART2KoPPEN be taken
by deposition refused to sanction the pro-
ceedings, although, against the protest OF
the prisoners counsel, he had allowed the
testimony Of Col DU Patty DE CLAM to be
taken in that way.
1t is impossible to reconcile that act of
Col. JoUAUsT with a desire to ascertain the
true author OF the bordereau. He and the
four other members OF the Court who up-
held him in his refusal to secure the only
absolutely conclusive evidence broke the
oaths which bound them to seek the truth
and to render justice, and from that mo-
ment, they lost all title to the respect of
honorable men. 1t Is also impossible to
accept the assertion that "all Of u.s. without
harboring an afterthought, bowed to the
decision" This Is not true even Of DE
GALLlFFETs colleagues in the Cabinet,
at least three OF whom are known to
have regarded the decision with indigna-
ton and disgust, Itsnot true of the French
people, for the considerable minority,
who believed DREYFUs to be guiltless,
before the second trial began, have since
had their opinions confirmed, and dcnounce
the second sentence as iniquitous. 1t Is
not true even OF the French army as
whole; it would be repealed as libelous by
the few upright and dauntless officers who
did not hesitate to confront, on the witness
stand, the arrogant spokesman Of the GEN
eral Staff, and to proclaim their conviction
OF DREYFUss innocence.
From an unwarranted assumption OF uni
versal acquiescence in the judgment OF the
second court-martal, Gen. DE GALLIFFEr
passes to an assertion 50 illogical that it
can only be derided as absurd. It is impos-
siblc that those who regard the sentence
passed at Rennes as just should equally
accept the act 1.-THE pardon of DREYFUsl
which feeling OF deep pity dictated to the
President" II DREYFUs, in his capacity OF
officer employed in the Intelligence Bureau
at Headquarters, was guilty OF betraying
the military secrets OF his country to a
national enemy. the death penalty would
be tho only adequate punishment OF the
offence. In the case of such q criminal,
there would be no room for pity In the
heart Of any loyal soldier or OF any patri-
otto statesman. II DREYFUs was guilty, as
DE GALLIFFEr declares that, in view OF the
judgment rendered at Rennes, he must bs