New-York tribune., 1902-09-07
CALL DECISION A VICTORY
SOCIALISTS ACCLAIM DE SAINT KEM1
AS HERO.
NANTES COURT MARTIAL A I"o HN'i-D
SWORD THAT NAY HARM MILL
TARy DISCIPLINE.

tsnso,si 70 rh, Sem-York Tribune by French Capie1
Copyright: 1902; BY The Tribune A1s0''a'i0h''
Par,s Sent 6-The Judgment Of the Nantes
oourt martial sentencing Lieutenant CooHei
De Saint Rerny to days cohIheiiiSh' Ior
refusing. because of his conscientious roman
Catholic convictions. TO obey rhe suihiioiis oI
the Civil Prefect of Morbihan. forhlaliS rams
rnitted to him command py MS iiiihieol''e
military superior, and requiring MIN 10 oeIach
SQUADRON Of his regiment to act against 'he
religious rioters in Brittany, seems hKeiy 10
bring about q renewal of the connlct between
the civil and military authority which it was
Waldeck- -Rousseau's task to suppress three
years ago, This judgment. which has the rare
,+ -, o.,,st,,, satisfaction to the Clerical reac-
4,onsres as well as to the Socialists establishes
a rrecedent in the military jurisprudence OF
tba Wrench Republic capable or acting as a
soubIe edged sword, and cutting both ways.
The Catholic reactionaries, voiced by the
"Gaulois" the "Soleir' and the "Autorite," re-
gard the Judgment as even more forclple
yindication than acquittal could have been
Of the humanitarian supremacy Of conscience
o-a ra1is,ors creed" On the other hand Social
ist organs such as the 'Rappel Petite the
s.Republioue" and the "Lanterne"; Radical jour
nails such as lie Steele" LIE Radicap and even
the Republican "Matin," point out that the same
anplies not only to an aristocratc cavalry Off
Ger but also to the plebeian soldier, and that
benceforth when a regiment is ordered to Quell
disturbances arising from workmens strikes. all
enlisted men Of socialist convictions may invoke
their conscientious scruples and lawfully refuse
to obey the orders of their superiors.
The Socialist leaders in Paris and throughout
France hail the Judgment of the Nantes court
martial with enthusiastic delight and, in the
words of LIE Rappel," proclaim as a grand
Socialist victory the newly established principle
of the subordination Of military discipline ana
obedience to Individual conscience, and are max
ing triumphant theory of thinking bayonets.'
lean Jaures the Socialist leader considers Sep
tember D. appropriately following the historic
date of the birth of the Third Republic, will be
known as q great red letter day for peace
loving humanity. Other prominent Socialists
point out that conscrpts who share the Toll
stoian faith, one tenet OF which is that it is
wrong to learn the manual OF arms for purposes
of war are now provided with a legal means Of
avoiding military service.
Colonel De Saint Remy, whose portraits
abound In the daily papers, is acclaimed by the
reactionary press national hero. For com
memoration OF his act OF conscience contrfbu-
tions being taken up for the presentation to
him Of a sword of honor. The coonels hand
some wife and their Van Dyke looking chill
dren made a touching group IN the courtroom
and received ovation The scenes at the
trial intensely picturesque. There were
sobs tears and murmurs OF approval espe-
ciaIly when Maftre Graudeau, counsel for the
defence, uttered the following per oration:
1T is historical fact that during the Ger
man invasion of 1870 a Prussian officer ordered
Cease firingr when he noticed a Sister Of Mercy
the battlefield supporting IN her a
wounded soldier. and French officers.
here in our country are liable to be COM
manded to 1raw their swords and lead their
men. rifle in hand to fire on these same Sisters"
The Nantes court martial has become MEM
orable in the annals of the Third Republic and
the principle established by its Judgment may
some day be evoked with startling consequences.
C r.