M. DtSroulede on Sunday delivered another speech in which he
propounded the monstrous doctrine that the burden of proof against Dreyfus did not lie with his accusers. He must prove, and prove completely, his innocence, not they his guilt. The reason is that it is not be only who is now upon trial, but France herself, who " must bear the penalty of the crime committed by her Generals and Ministers." "Her bands," if the accused is innocent, " must be bound with the cord of infamy, and she must follow barefoot, with the halter about her neck, the caparisoned horse of Captain Dreyfas." "Demon- strate to us that he is worthy to remount it, or else let him return to the devil from whom he comes." All this reads to Englishmen like raving, but the speech was enthusiastically applauded, and may gravely impress the officers who are to sic in judgment at Rennes. M. D4roulecle, in fact, expects to make them believe that if they pass a verdict of acquittal on the prisoner they pass a verdict of guilty upon France, and thus to rouse against the accused the passion of their patriot- ism. It is a shameful device, but until the trial is over there will always remain a doubt whether it may not succeed. A good deal, in truth, is asked of the officers at Rennes, who will have to decide straight in the teeth of their own superiors, of the French Catholic world, and of two-thirds of the whole population. But that General de Galliffet is Minister of War they would not do it.
