The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-09-06

word has not been SAID on that eXIraof-
binary transaction which convulsed
close Of the nineteenth century, under
the name of the Dreyfus case.
It is true that no effort has been
spared by the government of the re-
public to put an end to an agitation
which threatened to develop into
civil war. A general amnesty has been
proclaimed; the courts Of law have been
forbidden to entertain any proceedings
Involving the guilt or innocence of
partizans, and the French press has
been appealed to, in the name of patri-
otism, to close its columns to all fur
ther discussion of the dangerous topic.
Such an attitude, adopted in order to
save France from disruption, is not
without certain dignity; but it
is at the same time terribly un-
Just. 1t is as if France had repeated
TO the victim of the Devils Isle
that one man should die for the peo-
pie"
The one person in Europe who is COM
pletely ignorant of the true motives
underlying this grim tragedy is with
out doubt Dreyfus himself. That tact
turn. commonplace figure, suddenly ele-
tyr, and hero, was merely the shuttle
cock driven thru the air by unseen
hands. Even if he was guilty Of writ
ing the celebrated bordereau-a ques-
tion which the court of Rennes decided
! in the affrmative-he must have done
!. it by the order of others, given for rea-
sons which he did not comprehend.
It will be remembered that before
J and during the second trial Of Dreyfus,
the strongest efforts were put forth
i, on his behalf by three foreign powers
=, those composing the triple alliance. The
! German, Austrian and Italian mill
tary attaches. breaking thru. the. Ell
! quette Of their position, disclaimed,
! dealings with the alleged spy.
. Not only so, but I myself sent for
3 the Paris correspondent Of London
= newspaper Of high standing, and author
. lied him to inform his readers that the
i German emperor himself was prepared
personally to exeulpate the. accused
n to Germany.
This offer, made privately to the
+ French president, was declined for the
5 same reasons which prompted the gov
:. eminent to hush up the whole affair.
81 But every thoughtful man will realize
4 that it would not have been made I'M
i less there had been more at, stake. than
Sc the freedom Of an obscure captain.
II
i Dreyfus dates from the time Of the first
! trial and sentence, when the theatrical
c spectacle Of the degradation Of the un,
fortunate officer was the theme Of uni.
versal comment. At this juncture ]
sh received a visit from Colonel --, an
p officer high in the emperor 8 confidence
81 and at that time attached to the Ger.
I'd man embassy in Paris.
- 'I have come to you,' he announced
- as soon as we found ourselves alone
nj 'by command of his imperial majesty
q the kaiser.''
o I bowed respectfully as I replied:
~ IT am deeply honored by this fresh
fe proof of his majesty's CONFIDENCE
ez The colonel regarded me for mo
Il ment with some curiosity.
Al HYou are sort OF spy, are yor
al not9' he inquired
10 [ refused to take offense at this blunt
m question, 50 natural on the part Of {
e soldier.
nj play,,' I explained suavely. "The sol
M der fights with the enemy il
Il the open field; the man Of my .profes
u sion has to encounter the foes who bur
AZ row underground.
eeFfnel kaiser trusts ycn s that
q CROUCH for me,' he declared. "Yo1
will not dare to betray this conf
Wdence9"
This time I rose to my feet, stern ant
#contemptuous.
"You have not come here to insul
me, suppose, colonel? If you are tn
tlbearer Of instructions from the kaiser
g1be good enough to deliver them with
" out comment; If not, I will attend t.
timy other business
81 The Germans face betrayed hi
atastonishment at this rebuke. He has
tened to mutter an apology, which I re
osceived in silence.
g His majesty wishes you to invest
lcgate this affaire Dreyfus, on his behalf
leThere is some secret motive for the no
.!hthis unlucky spy"-the colonel CAV
,shounced this word-EFand the kaiser j
iydetermined to find out what 1t is. I
eappears that we are being made sor
!Iasbf stalking-horse In the business; 1t
of ours, which is utterly untrue.' TIL
herman smiled sardonicallly as he add
ysd: tour information Is supplied t
luas from higher sources than simpl
Captain Of artillery, and we can get a
much as we choose to pay for:
7 nIs it not likely that Dreyfus ma:
rpe the. scapegoat Of others-perhap
.k epSs nlSD'' S0N'''' W "Al'A ''N ~
4 The colonel shook his head:
UThat does not explain the persist
;snce with which they are trying to cor
the affair with Germany. I hav
information that the heads Of tn
french army are representing tina
France is in actual danger. The bit
Terress with which Dreyfus is assaile
IS due, they pretend, to a sense Of tn
national PERIL
HAnd all that is quite untrue, I III
terstand9'
$50 untrue that I have reason t
bsnow that Wilhelm II has a particula
tIesire to conciliate the French" TIL
(olonel stopped abruptly as if he ha
.een on the point of saying too much.
avery good. Then am to find on
his affair, and particularly why it
ought to represent Dreyfus as an agen
de Germany"
BColonel -- nodded.
i It was not an easy task to set me
Nevertheless, I had some hope, of SUI
less. It SO happened that I had 70,
ature with General GARNER, one Of tn
bremost;; if not the foremost, fgu1
mong the: prosecutors of Dreyfus.,
sneral as a friend, and :,
- hight be willing to open his mouth f
sufficient consideration.
NShortly after Colonel is departul
therefore,, I strolled round to the gene
HIS private residence, off the Aven,
ktichy. GARNER was not at home, b1
left message with the concierge tn;
II - L L. e