settlement. "And all, gentlemen, to save through scapegoatism that favorite of the minister of war — Monsieur Esterhazy." After grouping all the " infamies " of the councils of war, he thus closed (and it is a fair specimen of average bar oratory in Paris). "Well, all this, gentlemen, was calculated to fill sincere men with indignation, and the letter of M. Emile Zola was nothing but the cry of the public conscience. He has ral lied around him the grandest and most illustrious men in France. Do not be em barrassed, gentlemen, by the sophism with which they try to blind you, in telling you that the honor of the army is at stake. It is not at stake. It does not follow that the entire army is involved, because some have shown too much zeal and haste, and others too much credulity; or because there has been a serious forgetfulness of right, on the part of one or of several. What is really of interest to the French army, gentlemen, is that it should not be burdened in history by an irreparable iniquity. "Gentlemen of the jury, by your verdict of acquittal set an example of firmness. You feel unmistakably that this man is the honor of France. Zola struck, France strikes her self. And in conclusion I have but to say : let your verdict signify several things; First, ' Long live the army! ' I too cry ' Long live the army! ' but also ' Long live the republic! ' and ' Long live France! ' That is, gentlemen, ' Long live the right! Long live the eternal ideal! '" The attorney general next spoke for several minutes and clearly insulted Labori. Then the latter arose, amid shouts and a babel from the audience of " Enough! Enough! A bas Labori," and said : — "This last incident was necessary, in order to show the two parties to this debate,— those, on the one hand, who plead for justice and right, and those who shout ' Enough! ' when, in the name of the accused, the counsel takes the floor, as is his right."
Then, turning to the attorney general, he continued : " You call me an insulter of the army; for it was at me that your words were aimed, since it was I who spoke for two days. I am not of those who are accus tomed to such attacks, and I am not of those who are disposed to submit to them. I do not accept this insult that rises to me from your seat, Monsieur Attorney General, however high your position. From the standpoint of talent you and I are equals. You have no lesson to give me. I refuse you the right, and I say that you rose to utter these brief words because you knew that they would let loose a manifestation which you had a right to expect from a hall packed against us." Then, turning to the jury, he concluded : " There are two ways of understanding right, gentlemen of the jury. The question before you is this : Is Zola guilty? Let these clamors dictate to you, gentlemen, the duty of firmness that is incumbent upon you. You are the sovereign arbiters. You are higher than the army, higher than the judicial power. You are the justice of the people, which only the judgment of history will judge. If you have the courage, declare Zola guilty of having struggled against all hatreds in behalf of right, justice and liberty." The session was then suspended, and the jury retired for deliberation. After thirtyfive minutes it returned. The court came in again. Then the foreman of the jury rose and said : " On my honor and my conscience the declaration of the jury is: As concerns Zola, yes, by a majority vote." Then the air was filled with cries of " Long live the army? Long live France! Down with the insulters! To the door with Jews! Death to Zola! " amid which Zola sadly cried : " These people are cannibals." The court then retired to deliberate upon the sentence. Returning a few minutes later it condemned M. Lmile Zola to the maxi mum penalty of one year's imprisonment and a fine of three thousand francs.
