The Colorado statesman., 1906-07-21
HONOR RESTORED
FRENCH CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES
REINsTATE DREYFus.
BY AN Overwhelming VOTE

Rage of Anti-DreyfusItes Leads to Duel
Under Secretary of State Sarraut
Dangerously Wounded : Picquart
Made Rrigadier General.
Paris.-The scene of tumultuous dis
order which marked the enactment
Friday of the law restoring Alfred
Dreyfus to the army was followed by
bloody duel, in which Under Secre-
tary of State Sarraut was dangerously
wounded by the sword of M. Pugliesi-
Cont. The duel assumed the aspect
of veritable combat between the gov
ernment and the opposition, as NJ. Sar-
raut's seconds were Ministers Clemen-
ceau and Thompson, while M. Pugliesi-
Conti's were M. Millevoye and General
Jacquet. drawn from the elements
which bitterly resist the governments
rehabilitation of Dreyfus
The meeting followed a fight on the
floor of the Chamber of Deputies, in
which NJ. Sarraut sprang from beside
Minister Clemenceau, sitting on the
ministerial benches on M. Pugliesi-
Cont. who had been heaping denuncia-
ition on the members of the govern
ment as scoundrels. Sarraut struck
Pugliesi-Conti a stunning blow in the
face.
A scene of the widest uproad en-
sued, compelling the suspension of the
session. 1t was after the close of the
session that the duel occurred. The
late reports show that M. Sarraut Is
suffering from deep wound In the
right breast, penetrating the lung.
While the wound is considered to be
serious, 1t is not dangerous.
Despite this sanguinary conflict,
laws were finally enacted by the
Chamber of Deputies reinstating Drey-
fus, who obtains the rank OF chief
of squadron of artilley and Picquart,
who is made brigadier general
Both houses were overwhelmingly
favorable to Dreyfus and Picquart-
Throughout the day feeling was
stirred intensely between the Dreyfus
and anti-Dreyfus elements. This was
heightened by fierce attacks by Drey
fusists against General Mercier and
other officers who were responsible
for Dreyfus' condemnation.
Early in the day Minister of War
Etienne presented the government
bills restoring Dreyfus and Picquart to
the army. Minister Etienne's explain
atory preamble to the Dreyfus bill
said
"A decision has judicially and defin-
itely established the innocence Of the
accused, involving ipse facto his rein
statement in the army and expunging
his condemnation. The government,
powerless to repay the immense mate.
rial and moral injury sustained by the
victim of a deplorable judicial error.
desires to place Dreyfus In the situa-
ton he would have occupied II his nor
| NAL career had not been interrupted"
The preamble to the Picquart bill
said: --~-
Proclamation of the innocence of
| Dreyfus demonstrates the legitimacy
OF Picquart's loyal and courageous eff
| forts for the triumph of truth at the
| risk of definitely breaking his career.
We demand that Parliamen. expunge
the effects OF his action by the con-
ferment of the rank of brigadier with
priority over other brigadiers."
The army committee quickly and
unanimously reported the bill and the
vote in the chamber was decisive,
preyfus securing 473 votes against AZ,
and Picquart 467 votes against 27.
The chamber also voted to transfer
the body of Emils Zola to the Pan
theon.
The Senate also had an exciting ses-
sion IN connection with the Dreyfus
rehabilitation bill, which was passed
by 1873 votes against 30 The result
was greeted with enthusiastic ap-
plause. The Picquart bill was passed
by the Senate by 1856 to 26.