The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-05-12

4 Ia u j.
death TO the traitor" What of this
traitor whom events have rehabili
tated? What were his emotions when
the material emblems of his honor
fell at his feet? They are. and, indeed,
always have been of chiefeSt, interests
What did he suffer? What depth o.
despair did he sound? What was his
attitude toward this great and unac-
countable injustice? What sustained
him through the horrible torture :
How did he regard the mob which spat
upon h.m2 What came to him when
he passed from public view to the soli--
tary confinement OF the Senate Prison?
Of all this, we have continued in ignorY
ance, though, it may be, we have craved
to be enlightened. Now, for the hrst
time. after the lapse of six years, which
have contributed to the importance OF
the event, in aFive Years or My Life.
by Alfred Dreyfus GMcC lure, Phillips &
Co, New York;. we aae put in posses
sion, by the man himself of that which
was lacking. 1t is q simple, soldierly
story a calm record of experience, not
obscured by complaints and affection.
highly dramatic, affecting, complete,
revealing as much between the lines as
in the printed words. There are no
questions left to ask. The situation IS
disclosed. The revelation, satisfies every
dramatic requirement. The heart of
the man who, upon that day, rose to
heights that are sublime. is laid bare.
The ceremony of degradation-the
degradation of an innocent man-hoW
did Captain Dreyfus bear it2 Could
anyone-even an Anti Dreyfusards-
for a fairer account of the ceremony
than this? And what tremendous
scene it was!
OF underwent the horrible torture
without weakness he begins simply,
as, indeed, the newspaper reports at
test. Before the ceremony waited
an hour in the hall of the garrison adj
jntant During these long minutes
/ gathered up all the forces of my be-
ing After this j was marched to
the centre of the square under guard
Of four men and a corporal Nine
o'clock struck. General Darras, eom-
handing the parade, gave the order 20
carry arms suffered agonizingiy, but
held myself erect with all my strength.
TO sustain me called up the memory
of my wife and children. AS soon as
the sentence had been read, cried
aloud, addressing myself to the troops;
Soldiers. they are degrading an inno-
cent man. Soldiers, they are dishonor-
ing an innocent man. Viye la France,
yfve i'armee!' a Sergeant OF the Re-
publican Guard came up to me: He
tore off rapidly buttons, trouser stripes,
the signs OF my rank from cap and
sleeves. and then broke my sword
across his knee. saw all these ma
terial emblems OF my honor fall at my
feet. Then, my whole being racked by
fearful paroxysrn, but with body
erect and head high, / shouted again
and again to the soldiers and to the
assembled crowd the cry OF my soul:
Lam innocent.'-''a 81
What were the emotions OF the inno-
cent when the mob heaved forward In
murderous surge, crying, Death st3
the traitor! Kill him! Coward, Judas.
Dirty Jew!"? EE eas
IT heard the bowls of the deluded
mob" he writes, Il felt the thrill which
knew must be running through those
people, since they believed that before
them was convicted traitor to France.
and / struggled to transmit to then
hearts another thrill--belief in my In.
time when we are reunited / will tell
you what i have suffered today as !
went through one after another, those
ignominious, stations of my degradation.
Again and again 4 wondered to myself.
Why are you here? What are you
doing here r. / seemed to myself 20 be
the victim of an hallucination- Then.
my torn, dishonored garments would
bring me brutality back to reality. The
looks Of hate and scOrn told me, only
too plainly, why 4 was there. Oh. why
could not my heart have been laid open
so that ali. might have read it-so, that
all those poor people along my route
would have cried out This j. q man
of honor.' -. How well ] under
stand them, In their place could not
have restrained my contempt for an
officer branded i traitor 10 his eoun-