Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 16.pdf/141

 98

PRESENT STATUS OF THE DREYFUS CASE. BY RICHARD WALDEN HALE, Of the Boston Bar.

case in the course of which the Socialist IT may interest our readers to have before them a statement oí the more recent facts leader pointed out that there were irregulari about the Dreyfus case so far as they can be ties in the Rennes trial, General André de voted himself to a personal investigation given from the despatches and newspapers which made it clear to him that out of the which reach this country. In a general way after the Rennes trial one hundred and seventy-two documents in the secret dossier, there were at least two and the pardon of Dreyfus in- September, forgeries. That point once established, the 1899, the Dreyfus party divided into two fac Minister of War turned over the dossier of tions. On the one side were many who felt the Dreyfus case to the Chancellor, M. Vallé that they had been fighting for the great and the latter immediately passed it on to principle of justice to the individual, that the the president of the Commission in the de particular case had reached a point where it partment of justice which has the duty of could no longer be used in the vindication pronouncing upon the receivability of de of that principle, and that the sooner the mands for revision. Whatever they may say heat and troubles caused by the incident or do, this action means the certain revision should subside the better it would be for of the Dreyfus case, for granting even that France and for all concerned. Others still the Revision Commission should express thought the particular case of much import the opinion that the demand of M. Alfred ance and continued to agitate. But they Dreyfus for revision is not receivable, (which were little listened to, and the Dreyfus case is impossible, considering that new facts as a great public matter, soon became a have been brought out) the chancellor will thing of the past. The legitimate desire for go over their heads, as he has the right to vindication survived this oblivion, and Drey do and get the Court of Cassation to take fus and his immediate party have continued jurisdiction in the matter. to seek a revision of the verdict. As I pointed out in the third edition of my little "This court can send the affair again to book The Dreyfus Story, even after the dis another court martial, or it can simply quash graceful travesty of justice at the Rennes the decree of the Rennes court without trial "one substantial credit to the French further proceedings. law still remains. If Dreyfus can get a prop "One must, indeed, thank that generous er 'new fact' the French law, notwithstanding France, where justice does triumph in the his pardon and his two convictions, still end, for the good lesson which she is teach leaves a vindication open to him. Our Amer ing the world by proclaiming that with the ican Law does not do as well." French there is no error which can maintain The recent movement for revision is well itself permanently, and that France can only described in the Indépendance Belge of De find peace when light has been cast upon the whole Truth." cember fourth, 1903, from which I translate and adapt the following statement: Since the above was written by the Paris "Immediately after the interpellation of i correspondent of the Indépendance Belge, the Commission within the Department of Jus M. James a propos of the Syveton election