Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-04

sorting that the Jews were only what the
Christians had made them. he began in
directly to move toward the support. OF
DreyfuS.
At the time of Zola's first article I'm lie
Figaro in 1896 on the anti-Semite feeling
in France the whole country was intensely
excited over Dreyfus. The case had not
yet come to the point where the ationaf
homo: was involved. az it was later. how
ever. 1t was more a contest between the
anti-Semites and their opponents than a
matter of really world interest,", lola s
article only added fuel to he flames.
The trial proceeded. On the forged evil
dence presented DreyfuS WAS condemned.
lola wrote another letter To lie Figaro.
This was November - 1897. lie took
occasion to eulogize the unpopular course
Of Vice President Schevrer kestner al the
French senate. who had tried I" prove
that Dreyfus had not been treated fairly
at his trial and that in Oeality he had
been the victim of circumstances.
The antiDreyf,Isar,1S rttaliatei by
charging that here wholesale
conspiracy to suppress the facts Of the
alleged guilt of Dreyfus by bribery. BY
impGt ton and otherwise they declared
! that -Zola was one Of the cohspira"ors.
"J'Accuse' Letter.
lola. on December !. 1897. answered his
critics and made the first of his memo
tn BILE declar,tio Il have substantial
proofs of the innocence of Drevfus. He
shall not remain in exile have made
his liberation my affair" Six weeks later
he published his famous "JAcc.se' '.t :
ter to President Faure of the republic in
l. .Aurore.
The letter was full of impaSsiOned rhet-
Oric. OF which lola was "A master Taking
them one by one he accused nearly every
one OF the officers connected with the
prosecution of Dreyfus. and charged them
with having made scapesoat of Drey-
fuS.
The ex,itemen. in Paris over the pub
LEGATION Of this letter was tremendous.
Minor riots were in progress all during
the day when partisans of the convicted
officer or Of his enemies met on the
streets to cry 'Vive Zola," or. more
often. "Conspuez Zola.' In the chamber
Of deputies with a dozen members clam
oring for the floor. the government was
assailed on all sides with demands Tor
Zolas prosecution. An Interpolation was
presented and the government. promised
to take immediate action.
Zola's trial was set for February 4.
With him was arraigned the publisher of
tina. a petition for a rahearing of Dreyfus
became public. meantime. signed ny many
Of the most prominent persons I'm France
Unfairness of Trial.
When the trial came its unfairness was
the Drevfus case We're ruled out or ex-
plunged from the record. The cross-ex-
animation OF witnesses was limited be-
yond all reason. The courtroom was in
turmoil at times. Witnesses were in
Inundated The streets were filed with
soldiers and gendarmes stood in all cor
ners Of the court
But in spite of obstacles lola anaged
tn establish the existence of a secret
"dossier" document used against Drey-
fus which neither the officer nor his
counsel had been allowed to see. The
jury nevertheless. found Zola guilty and
he was sentenced to years imprison-
nent and fine of 3,HN francs \ few
months later OF appeal. the court OF
cessation reversed the verdict, but left
II open to the cOurt-martiai to try lola
again He was again convicted.
/ He left France while his appeal was
pending and went to England. There he
! learned of Esterhazys confession, that
the bordereau used against Dreyfus was
, forged and returned TO France under the
general amnesty granted with the pardon
Of Dreyfus.