New-York tribune., 1903-04-23
DREYFUS ASKS INQUIRY.
WRITES TO WAR MINISTER.
A Plea That His Case Be Reopened
-Rennes Trial Unjust, He Saus.

Paris, April 22.-Alfred Dreyfus has submitted
20 Minister OF War Andre a long letter I'm which
he earnestly asks for reopening of his case by
means Of an investigation by the Minister, as the
suprerne head Of military justice The letter
which is dated Paris. April 21. confirms the re-
ports that Dreyfus has been living quietly here
for some time past. II promises to cause
tremendous agitation among the various ele-
Inents Of the political groups for and against
Dreyfus. The first part Of the letter is a calm
earnest plea that the court which condemned
him at Rennes was improperly influenced, first
hy the annotated document ascribed to Emperor
William snd second 10y the false testimony Of
one OF the witnesses. Czernusld
kfer arguing on the extent TO which these
contributed to his condemnation. Dreyfus recalls
IN graphic terms the long series OF horrors to
which ne had been subjected. The letter
throughout is couched in a highly dramatic
style which is likely TO make it one of the
notable papers of the case. 1t refers to Ester
hazy as ''one who stands before the entire world
as the culprit." One Of the leading passages
showing the rhetorical style, is as follows:
I VIII not recall. Ny. Minister. what have
endured since 1924. Picture TO yourself the hor-
rors Of q soldier whose whole life was devoted
20 duty, TO work, TO loyalty and 10 profound de-
voti0n for his country, and who in an instant is
stripped OF his good name and despoiled OF the
honor OF himself and his children. For five
wears this soldier is subjected to horrible suffer-
irgs They seek to crush him physically, TO an
initiate him morally He is absolutely innocent
OF all crime, and struggles in vain to penetrate
The mystery. pToclaiming his innocence, and
struggling with all the forces OF his mind and
body for that supreme pleasure OF Vlnolcatlng
his good name and character. Days, months.
years pass thus in most cruel agony amid the
t0rrures Of a murderous climate. At last he Is
brought back to France, the guilty one is dis
covered and the soldier hears himself proclaimed
innocent by those who before reViled him as a
traitor Il was thus, Mr.. Minister, that I hoped
70 see nay nlaTtyrGOm end But, alas! II / re-
-r7--ed TO find the devotion of friends who had
battled for the truth, it was TO find also that
dea dly hatreds had been unloosed-
In the processes of 1894 I was stabbed in the
back I caanot imagine how such conditions
can prevail through falsehood and deception
But so II was. and my second condemnation was
17rr an aggravated reafTlrmatiOn Of what oc-
r-,--a5 ir 1904 When the guilty one was known
and unmasked and Esterhazy was recognized as
ne author of the treason, the same men VINO
had cheated Justice in 1874 again sought IN 1888
70 cheat justice for the second time by the same
criminal maneuvres. Conscious Of these meth
o5s the government Of the republic VIII not
permit itself 10 keep in prison one who Is known
10 be innocent.
IN the constant thought of ultimate legal re-
vision 7 have reassembled, little by little. all
the divergent elements ef- testimony CONTRIB
uting TO my conviction l nave scorneo cdiuH-
MES and falsehoo0s. 1 have renamed silent
with the firm conviction that justice would
surely have its day Of triumph. Ihe Vlcuh Oh
criminal tactics and violation Of the law twice
committed against me, ! now address myself TO
the supreme chief Of military justice, and, sup
porting myself by new facts Whlch nave Issa Dse9
elected and by the existence or the pIeteLiueu
bordereau annotated by Emperor WllllaIl, L Deg
20 ask that you institute an inquiry, hrst, upon
the 11ses made Of this false document at Rennes
and the consequences 1t produced on those rem
derine Judgment: second. upon the< iaIse ana
fraudulent testimony Of Czernush at Rennes-
After a deferential salutation. the letter is
signed alfred Dreyfus."