The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-09-09
Friends of Dreyfus Have Given
Up ALI Hope of a Favor
able Verdict.
HIS LAST, CHANCE GONE
Labori Expects Condemnation, but VIII
Not Throw Up the Sponge-The Fight
Will Be Kept Up-Excitefnent Is at a
Fever Heat-Rigorous Precautions
Have Been Taken to Prevent an Up
rising-No Danger Of Riot.

Rennes, Sept. s.-That Captain Drey-
fus will be condemned is the almost
universal opinion heard in Rennes to-
| night. Hitherto there had always been
| divergence, but now both camps, the
Dreyfusards and the eanti-Dreyfusards,
seem unanimous in the conviction that
| the verdict will go against him.
Upon just what this is based, and the
precise reasons for the conclusion are
| mystery, but there is no Disgusting
the fact that from NJ. Labori down to
the numerous Dreyfusards who crowd
the hotels and cafes and who last night
were still hopeful that Dreyfus would
be saved, all seem now to agree that his
last chance is gone.
The once source of hope is NJ. Labori
himself, who said this evening to the
correspondent of the associated press:
I'VE fear that Captain Dreyfus will
be condemned, but we do not intend to
throw up the sponge We shall go on
fighting for him."
M. Jaures, the socialist leader, and
other prominent Dreyfusards expressed
similar opinion. Excitement is at
fever heat and nothing is discussed but
the verdict of tomorrow.
The military precautions are of the
most elaborate character and no at
tempt at disorder is likely to have the
slightest success. Orders have been is
sued to repress the first symptoms of
trouble with an iron hand.
small anti-Semitic meeting was
held here this evening and the COM
plete calm that attended it is an indi-
cation OF quiet day tomorrow. A
strong force of gendarmes guard the
approaches to the building where the
meeting was held and their orders are
to arrest the first man who raised
seditious cry. Nothing, however, oc-
cured
Indeed the inhabitants of the town
seem Indifferent and the neighborhood
of the Lycee and the prison Is deserted
save for a few gendarmes.
The news of the publication of Count
Won Buelow's speech in the reichstag
reached Rennes to-day and is consid-
cred very important on the eve of a
verdict which, in some quarters, is
thought will be regarded as a slight by
Germany, If it be condemnation. as
being tantamount to public refusal to
take the word of Emperor William, as
his minister is merely mouthpiece.
According to the latest report. the
verdict may be delivered between and
4 o'clock tomorrow afternoon. The
court adjourned after M. Demange's
speech until o'clock.
There is some criticism of M. Labori's
decision not to speak, the friends Of
M. Demange thinking 1t his object to
escape his share of the responsibility in
the event of a verdict of condemnation
NJ. Demange, having once seen Dreyfus
condemned under his advocacy, would
naturally like NJ. Labori to share the
criticism this time, especially as NJ
Labori has assumed such prominent
part in the proceedings
A detailed report of the proceedings
follow:
Amid intense silence and holding the
keenest attention Of the audience NJ.
Demange, shortly after the opening of
the proceedings of the court to-day,
rose to make the speech for the de-
fense.
However solemn the occasion may
be-" he declared, Il must at the outset
protest with all my soul against the al
legation which one of the witnesses did
not shrink from uttering. This witness
did not hesitate to declare that whoever
advocates the revision of this case
that is to say, whoever believed in the
against the army and against the coun-
try. l here declare that he does not
know me and that he does not know
NJ. Labori. Neither M. Labori nor my
self would be here if these statements
were true. Let me tell you simply this:
The day on which, amid the shock of
furious political passions saw let
loose over our country this tempest of
madness, when I saw everything | had
learned to revere and love since child
hood imperied, l, a Frenchman, the
son of a soldier. endured every tor
ture. When / turn my eyes towards
DEVILS island, where was buried alive
one who from the bottom of my heart
l believed to be martyr, | began to
wonder If divine justice had not aband-
oned him. Since then ! have recovered.
| have hardened to the voices of my
conscience and have pursued an un-
deviating course, free from anger and
passion, not needing hatred or preju-
dice. | have done my duty. You will
do yours, which is to mete out justice"
Continuing. NJ. Demange said he
wished to clearly define the prisoners
position, saying:
when the case of the revision be-
gan, Dreyfus was a convict and seri-
Gus presumptions of his innocence were
necessary before the case could be
taken up by the court of cessation.
To-day it is for the public prosecutor
to prove his guilt. Let no one blame
us, therefore, If we have not proved
the innocence of our client. The task
was not incumbent upon us. 1t is for
the government commissioner to show
he is guilty of the crime imputed to
him.
NJ. Demange then protested against
the suggestion that 1t had been at
tempted to put Esterhazy on trial, ex-
planning that all the defense desired
was that the innocence of Dreyfus