The Mystery Surrounding The Dreyfus Affair Essay — страница 2

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opposite of flamboyant, seemed to be the perfect cover for a spy. The 1890’s was a period of widespread and hostile anti-Semitism in France. Hatred toward the Jews was financed by Royalists, Nationalists, Jesuits, and Catholic officials running deep into the most respectable districts. France was still suffering from her defeat by the Germans in 1870, in which Alsace and Lorraine was lost. In 1892, the Panama Canal Scandal broke which revealed that 104 deputies were involved in the taking of illegal bribes, causing the company to go bankrupt. Several of the leading players involved in the scandal were Jewish bankers, and French resentment towards the Jews increased when many French investors lost their money. Because of Dreyfus’s religion, the French people and officers found

it easier to accept his guilt as the scapegoat. For two months, Dreyfus was held in prison, without visitational rights, while the army built it’s case. Dreyfus was so committed to the honor of France and it’s officers, he was sure they would not fabricate evidence and would soon realize the mistake and release him. Meanwhile, the Dreyfus home was searched and Major Du Paty questioned his wife, and warned her not to speak to anyone concerning Alfred. The army did not find anymore incriminating evidence and lacked a motive. Gen. Mercier realized that the case against Dreyfus was circumstantial at best. Mercier knew that Dreyfus would not normally have access to some of the sensitive material mentioned in the bordereau. He also knew that Dreyfus was not scheduled for any army

maneuvers at that time, as it was said it the bordereau. The only piece of hard, truthful evidence was the unsigned bordereau, and the expert handwriting commission was divided as to who the real author was. General Mercier understood a conviction would be based upon one of two things: a confession or indisputable handwriting identification. For Dreyfus, the next set of unfortunate circumstances occurred when General Mercier, drastically changed the whole perspective of the case. Colonel Henry became fearful that his friend, Esterhazy would be named as the true culprit, so Henry leaked the story to a anti-Semitic newspaper, La Libre Parole. Due to the lack of evidence and motive, the War Department planned on releasing Dreyfus. This was all changed on November 1, 1894 when La

Libre Parole accused Mercier of being a Jewish sympathizer, and that he was being paid off by the syndicate of international Jewry. Suddenly Mercier realized that if Dreyfus was freed, his position as Minister of War, would be in danger and worse, possibly, the government itself. In response to La Libre Parole’s accusation, Mercier summoned the military editor from the newspaper Figaro. Here he stated he had “proofs that cried aloud the treason of Dreyfus” and he reiterated Dreyfus’s “guilt with absolute certain.” The power and meaning of Mercier’s words were instantly recognized, for it changed the whole affair. Even before the trial, Mercier tied the army to Dreyfus’s guilt, and secured the army’s stand on the case. Mercier’s words were interpreted even

further by the many influential and biased newspapers of turn of the century France. Cassagnac, the royalist editor, wrote in L Autorite , ” If Dreyfus is acquitted, Mercier goes”and since Mercier works for the government, “If Dreyfus is not guilty then the government is.” The first trial of Captain Alfred Dreyfus started on December 19, 1894 in Paris. It can be said that Dreyfus’s fate was sealed in the first Court session, when the court voted to have the sessions in camera, with all public and press restricted. Such abnormal proceedings, which have long been held in disregard in France and other Western countries, were allowed due to the nature and dealings, of top secret military information which were entirely unsubstantiated,. This becomes the first, but not last

controversial courtroom ruling. The second day of court found Lt. Col. Henry testifying that in March, a respectable officer told him that another officer was committing treason. Henry then said, that in June the same person named the traitor as Alfred Dreyfus. Dreyfus became emotional and demanded to know who his accuser was. Henry responded with a smile, ” There are secrets in an officer’s head that even his cap must not know.” The second irregular courtroom decision was to uphold Lieutenant Colonel Henry’s vail of secrecy. He would not have to disclose the name of the officer, but merely to swear on his honor he told the truth. On the third day, the expert hand writers testified, but they were not very convincing, and sentiment seemed to lay with the accused. Mercier,