The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-05-01
THE DREYFUS CASE.

7 has been frequently announced in the press that
the decision OF the Court of Cessation in the
Dreyus case will be promulgated to-day. Wheth-
or this statement is authoritative remains to
be All civilized nations await the final decision
OF the tribunal that represents the ultimate judg-
ment of France with the deepest interest. The real
question seems to be whether, under government
nominaly republican, the law can be gagged by
military influence
An enormous mass of evidence has been taken and
most of it has been published That the conviction
OF Dreyfus by a court-martial improper is the
very least that be claimed under the additional
proof The bordereau, containing reasonable in
formation for the benefit of Germany upon which
the prosecution was based, must certainly be
discarded Three out OF FIVE experts at the trial
pressed the opinion that it was in the handwriting
Of Dreyfus, but OF these three NJ Charavay,
upon further consideration has retraced his original
views and the majority, therefore, favor the &c
cused If in other respects the trial had not been
grossly unfair this fact alone ought to insure either
the release OF Dreyfus new hearing.
Under the French method OF reinvestigation it has
been insisted that there other evidences Of guilt
not introduced before the court-martal or the in
PRODUCTION OF which was studously concealed the
time, by which the alleged crime was or might have
been sustained The widest latitude for the pre-
sentatiOn OF this testimony has been allowed by the
Court of Cassation which has considered unlim-
tied number OF documents and many oral statements,
chiefly hearsay matter OF opinion and vague con-
lecture.
The result is that the case against Dreyfus has
been materially weakened, and, in the opinion Of
sound lawyers in France and elsewhere, his innocence
has been at least presumptively shown His alleged
confession has not been proved The secret dossier
upon which so much reliance was placed almost
certainly an ingenious aerthought The trial and
acquitta OF Esterhazy, upon charge OF having
written the bOrdereau transparency concocted
scheme to check the development of public opinion
in favor of Dreyfus The confinement of Colonel
Pcquart who chivarously assailed the proceedings
that had brought reproach upon France, is obvi-
persecution. The arbitrary punishment OF lola
attack upon free speech and upon the right
to express honest opinions, for which the only re-
parallel to be found is the legislative onslaught
upon the California press at the instigaton OF the
railroad
The law governing the Supreme Tribunal of
France has been amended during the present year
As it now stands the revision proceedings must re-
suit in one Of three judgments 1t may be held that
the conviction was legal and Just but this can hardly
be anticipated 1t is likely that one of the re-
naming alternatives will be adopted. The Court
may annul the sentence, declare Dreyfus innocent
and award him indemnify it may determine that
crime was perpetrated with which he not
legally connected and direct retria before another
tribunal The last form of decision would simply
recognize the evident fact that some having &C
cess to the records OF the Staff Department OF the
French Army had committed heinous ofense, but
would not imply judicial belief in the guilt OF
Dreyfus
1t is earnestly to be hoped that the outcome of
Investigation NAV France from the
putaons OF injustice and cruelty that have impaired
her national standing, and measurably remedy
apparent atrocity, against which than three mil
lion Frenchmen have at last protested.