ZOLA ON THE DREYFUS TRIAL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 83, 7 April 1900, Page 13 (Supplement)

ZOLA ON THE DREYFUS TRIAL.

M. Zola, interviewed W Blgftdt Siglieie for the "Ilmstfazione Italians," iS represented in that journal as saying:—

"France believes, Or feigns td be!ieve> 4 that with the liberation of DreyfuS the affair was ended. It is aft error*1 fWe actual Minister has hot been other than an able ruler, who has known, how, by His hypnotic power, to put ' the lion—the people—to sleep for a moment. And he has succeeded in doing this, not so ihuch by any merit of his own, but because it wa^ in the general interest* felt Confusedly and unconsciously by ail, that a species bf' truce of God should be obtained for the epoch Of the exhibition. Material iriter-est--7n6iiey— has once again been of Hiore account than the highest httxhaii sdeal3« France wanted, first) to flo more Honour to her" signature ac a rich and eom'mer* cial natiort than as a free and just natidn; and has put back to a uncertain date the payment of the false bill of ex^ change by which her staff deprived her &t creflit and honour. I am always more 60Svinsed that it would be bettfer for rnjr country to totally liquidate the affair be» fore the exhibition. But the Goverrinient -^so mefliocte—has only known how ia inaugurate a mediocre policy—that is, the policy of expedients. The expedient was the sentence at Renftes: another, the pardon of Dreyfus; a third, the adjournment of my process, and that of Picquart Ah! Picquart!" and Zola's voice here, says Signer Sighele, trembled with emotion, "he is1 a true hero! Because i f after all, risked and risk little or nothing^ while he risked and lost all! Another expedient—perhaps the last, and it ais(o In view of the good success of. the einibition—will be the amnesty.My friend and I are resolutely against the amnesty/ We' want light and justice, not darkness and easy accommodation intended to sfyiit the mouths of the fjmid and content the lovers of a quiet life.'' /

Signo? Sighele having aske.d M. Zoi* whether Dreyfus would ever be able to obtain his official rehabilitation, 2ola replied:. .. , "Without cloubt. Not oiily bedause, M I haver said, the struggle -will recomniencd after the truce of God more violently than ever—and to us struggle means vtc* torj-—but also because all the Cotinciilors of Cassation (even those not favourable to Dreyfus) ore extremely irritated against the court-martial of iletines, tvhich showed that jts members' took nS account of their sentence". We thereffcf'e have the spirit of caste as our ally; the niagiPtrature cannot pardon the military .iudcres the affront piit upon it, and will use all its power to compass a revenge."— "'London Daily News."