New-York tribune., 1906-07-15
coon FROm EVIL.


1t Is part of that which we call the irony
of fate-though in fact it involves neither irony
nor fate-that good is brought out of evil, even
the very good which the evil was meant to
prevent or TO destroy. OF this a noteworthy
example is to be perceived I'm the Dreyfus case,
as is quite fitting. For that case comprised
some of the wickedest doings of our time, and
vet has resulted In some OF the greatest good
in the modern history of France.
The monstrous crime against Dreyfus and
against justice was planned, performed and per-
sisted in primarily TO provide a pretext for
exalting the military above the civil power. and
thus to transform the French Republic into a
military despotism. under which Presidents and
ministries would be as subject to the viii Of
an army clique as ever emperors of decadent
Rome were TO the viii of the Praetorian Guard.
Auxiliary to this scheme, the power Of clerical
ism was TO be greatly exalted and fastened
upon the schools. Yet two of the most en-
phatic and conspicuous results Of the case
have been the definite and complete subordina-
ton of the military to the civil power and the
similarly definite and complete overthrow Of
clericalism through the expulsion of the con-
gregations, the abrogation of the COncordat
and the subjection OF all ecclesiastical estab-
lishments to the ordinary civil laws Of the re-
public.
These achievements alone so completely baf-
fling and reversing the designs Of the con-
spiratOrs, would in themselves be noteworthy
But there have been others Not only was the
army subordinated to the civil government but
It was so reorganized as TO be far more eff
cient than before. Not cnly was clericalism
crushed, but the whole monstrous business of
Jew-baiting received a check from which it is
not likely ever to recover in France, and the
salutary effects of which are felt in every
country nf E971rona moro was directly
because OF the agitation over this case that
Waldeck- Rousseau formed his epOchmaking
Ministry Of Republican Defence, which for the
first time in its history gave France a stable
government backed by substantial and trust
worthy bloc in Parliament, which stable gov
ernment in turn made possible the inestimable
Improvement in Frances foreign relations which
has been effected and the republics restora-
ton TO a place Of unsurpassed prestige and
authority in Continental councils. Practically
there is to-day a new, better, greater, nobler
France because Of the Dreyfus case.
All that does not Of course, make the con-
spiracy less wicked. When God makes the
wrath of man to praise Him and brings good
out of evil, the evil remains evil still. In the
overwhelming defeat which has befallen them
the wicked designs of the cOnspiratOrs remain
just as wicked and as infamous as though they
had won success. Yet we may believe that in
the inspiring spectacle of the land which he so
greatly loved, magnifed, elevated and ennObled
because of his sufferings Alfred Dreyfus finds
a large measure of consolation for all that he
has endured. He would have esteemed it an
honor to give his life in battle for such an end.
1t has been his lot to attain that end for France
without losing his life and without attainder
Of his honor. Not many men in all her history
have so strangely rendered her so great a SER
vice