The St. Louis Republic., 1902-10-05
France Stunned by Tragic Death
Of Great Novelist, Thinker and
Apostle of Truth.
HIS ENEMIES UNRELENTlNe.
They Rain Insults on Him Dead
Just as They Rained Them on
Him Living-His Funeral
Takes Place To-Day.
nv coRNEIy

SPECIAL BY CABLE TO THE NEW YORK
HERALD AND THE ST. LOUIS REPURI.Ic
Paris. Oct. 4.-(Copyright. lso2)-The
death OF Zola. which occurred during he
night Of Monday. was a national event
which efIaces-which smothers-ail the Oc-
currences OF the week
This event Is national fnom two points Of
view. First OF ALL because Zola was our
most noted writer. and because his fame
formed part Of the present patrimony OF
France. notwithstanding that II was Ques-
toned. and that the naturslistic. naterialis-
tic and Impossible tendencies OF the master
oroused numerous protests
Next this death IS a national event be-
cause Zola had taken an important place
in the politics OF the age by his courageous
ana ardent defense Of Captain Dreyfus.
whose innocence is to-day recognized by the
whole OF the civilized world with the ex-
ception Of an insignificant minority, almost
all of whom, are TO be found IN France,
and whose sole political and religious creed
for the time being Is the guilt Of Dreyfus.
The tragic death OF the writer. asphyxi-
ehed By fumes OF carbon monoxide from
stuffed chimney, has not diszrmed his po-
utiesi adverssries. and their insults have
ralned upon his CONN as they rsined upon
his existence
II is not without grief that one sees =
certain number OF Frenchmen holding out
IA opposition to the sentiment OF the civ
ilized peoples. who, by the yoife OF the
press OF both hsmispheres, have testified to
their emotion and regret, and have hon
ored IN zola. not only powerful novelist
and a profound thinker. but above al. the
defender OF justice and the apostle OF
truth.
FUNERAL TAKES PLACE TO-DAY.
This strange divergence Of view between
the French Nationalist party and the rest
of the human race has given rise to q very
plquant incident.
The Municipal Councils Of several foreign
cities teiegraphed condolences to the hu-
nicipal Council Of Paris the majority OF
whose members are SationaIlsts. hostile to
Zola and Il devolved upon n Escudier. the
President elected by that majority, and
himself Nationalist, TO return thanks N
behalf OF Paris.
Originally fixed for Friday. zola's funeral
win take place tomorrow Sunday. No
disorder is 10 be feared, because the Gov
eFument itself viii be represented IN the
person OK the Minister OF Public Instruc-
ton and because a strong body Of police
WI be On hand Moreover. the army Will
Z be represented by a detachment wh.ch will
render military honors 10 Zola. who was an
osicer Of the Legion Of Honor.
In comparison with this bereavement as
have already said. the occurrences Of the
week seem small
OTHER EVENTS OF WEEK.
Need Il be recorded that court-martial,
sitting at Nantes. has cashiered a Major
OF Infantry named Leroy Ladurle, who had
refused to execute order from his
Colonel and TO act against the Breton Con-
grsgaticnists; that General Frater has been
removed from active service for having
besn content 20 transmit TO his subordinate,
Colonel de Saint-Remy, the acquisitions
Of the Prefect OF the Department without
emphasizing them by formal order; that
the mining population OF France is in efrer-
vescence; that general strike has
faT F,.-a he min HaIa hat I
partial strikes have already begun IN the
Nord Department; that for the moment let 1
tiers are being exchanged between the Gov
ern1nent and the leaders of the movement,
who demand minimum salary and a pen
sion Of francs a day, beginning at
20 years OF age: that economic con-
<sltions generally do not appear to permit
Of such sacrifices: that q general strike
would undoubtedly be DISASTROUS for every
body and particularly for the miners them
selves; that the Cabinet has decided 20 con-
woke the Chambers for october II. and to
open the session with the interpretations on
the Congregatfonist schools question; that
the Ministers likewise determined to intro
duce bill strengthening the Wsldeck
Rousseau law and putting more effca-
oIous weapon in the hands OF the Executive
against the -CongregRtionists; that the
budget presented by the Minister OF Fl
nance VIII Il is hoped Be buttressed UP hy
the savings resulting from q conversion
and by fiscal measures repressing dtstrling
frauds; that the Government has resolved
TO prosecute energetically the authors OF
the campaign against the savings banks
which campaign has caused a large num-
Der OF Withdrawals OF deposits and affect
ed the market 20 such an extent that S-per-
cent rentes fell below par; that. laaily. on
the eve OF the meeting OF Parliament, the
Republicans seem determined upon ensrEtIc
defence and their opponents upon keen at
tack. which promises US some lively bat
fler7