The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1904-03-09

seem infinitely silly in the perspective of recollection,
France was worked up to pitch of intense excite.
ment over the Dreyfus case few years ago, Over
there the presumption is that if man is accused
of crime he is certainly guilty. and unless he can es-
tablish his innocence by preponderence of evidence
there is no chance for him. 1t had been discovered
that some traitor connected with the French army
was selling military secrets to the German and ltal-
ian governments In France it does not pay Cor a
stranger to be nquisitve about Notifications means
of defense military maneuves or matters of that
kind Questions ON such subjects bring the inquirer
under suspicion and he is apt to be reported to the
police authorities and watched To understand the
popular feeling that was aroused against Dreyfus
in France it is necessary to bear in mind number of
differences between their system and ours French
men trained to regard military secrets as invol.
able, and that stranger or foreigner is warned not
to ask about Frenchman would be despised for re-
vealing especially for money, to foreign power,
The crime with which Dreyfus was charged was
hideous, there was legal presumption of guilt, and
to make matters worse, the young officer was Jew.
Probably the infamous scoundrels who charged
Captain Dreyfus with treason selected him as their
victim because they knew popular feeling would be
more easily aroused against member of race that
has never been popular in France. The anti-Semi-
tic aggtaton has been one of the most disgraceful
and indefensible movements that has arisen in
France 1t was easy to work up feeling and preju-
dice against Dreyfus, but it seems ineredable that
he should have been convicted without the slightest
shoU of nrovinO his inpnnanne Clna of tho naculnr
and dscreditahle features of his first court-martia
was that Dreyfus was not allowed to hear the ev
dence offered against him, and the court took the
declaration of Colonel Henry that Dreyfus was Ger
tainly guilty as evidence Of the fact Dreyfus was
publically degraded and sent to Devil island, and
France goated over his downfall He was absolutely
innocent of the charge against him.
There were some brave men who were convinced of
Dreyfus innocence and sought to secure justice for
him. They were prosecuted without mercy The sac
rifces of lola and Colonel Piequard and Matre La
bori and others in Dreyfus behalf will go down in
history as truly heroic But it has taken years for
the first impression that Dreyfus must be guilty to
wear off. The court of cessation annulled the first
conviction ordered Dreyfus brought back to France
and retired, and again he was convicted, though
there was no evidence that would justify convic-
ton at common law. Now the court Of cessation has
granted an application in Dreyfus' behalf for re-
view of that second conviction and the final decision
Iof that tribunal may be awaited with confidence The
best news from France in connection with the Drey-
fus case is the change in public feeling regarding him.
Time has softened prejudices and restored sight to
the blind There were few Frenchmen who could be-
ieve that Dreyfus by any possibility could be nno-
cent long after the rest Of the world was convinced
Of it. 1t is fortunate that Deyfus lives to see justice
in sight