The Final Acquittal of Alfred Dreyfus – A central article in The Literary Digest. July, 1906

The Final Acquittal of Alfred Dreyfus – A central article in The Literary Digest. July, 1906

The Literary Digest, July 21, 1906 – New York – reporting in its main article on the final acquittal of Alfred Dreyfus, documenting the affair from its inception to its conclusion, including its severe implications for the phenomenon of antisemitism.

On July 12, 1906, after twelve years of legal and political struggle that shook France and all of Europe, the court annulled the previous verdict which had convicted Dreyfus of treason under extenuating circumstances, ruling that there had been no grounds for a retrial at all, and that he was entirely innocent. Following the final acquittal, an important article appeared in this issue of The Literary Digest, with a portrait of Dreyfus chosen to appear on the magazine’s cover.

The article opens by describing the dramatic moment in which the Supreme Court of France annulled the guilty verdict previously issued against Dreyfus“ one of the most amazing dramas of modern history” - and declared his full innocence. The writer views this acquittal not merely as the correction of a personal injustice, but as a “sweeping vindication of Captain Dreyfus as a martyr” and a “righting of an infamous wrong.” The article recounts the historical development of the affair: how in 1894 a letter was allegedly discovered, supposedly written by Dreyfus, containing classified information sent to the Germans; how Dreyfus was accused based on fabricated evidence; his deportation to Devil’s Island and imprisonment there under appalling conditions; and how a persistent struggle by his family, his lawyers, and prominent intellectuals - including Émile Zola, who leveled his accusations in the famous article “J’Accuse!” - led to the reopening of the case. (Interestingly, the writer quotes the New York American in this context, which referred to Zola’s death from inhaling fumes from a faulty coal stove, stating: “There is no doubt that the strain of the trial cost him his life.”). The magazine details the prevailing public sentiment in France over the years and the military establishment’s stubborn refusal to acknowledge its error. Only after a prolonged struggle, including the second Rennes trial in 1899 and a further partial acquittal, did Dreyfus finally receive a retrial and full acquittal in 1906.

Regarding the broader implications of the affair, the article states:

“Twelve years is a long time to await their grist of justice in a modern republic.” This important article also addresses the social and antisemitic dimension of the affair: how the fact that Dreyfus was Jewish played a decisive role in his conviction, and how a “syndicate of treason” emerged within the French establishment, spreading hatred and fabricating accusations against an innocent man. A sharp analysis further describes the affair as an “opera bouffe”, a ridiculous opera of intrigues, lies, and nationalist fears. The magazine also extensively quotes American and French press sources that harshly criticize the military establishment for its refusal to apologize, and for the inordinate delay in reinstating Dreyfus to the army.

“No court can ever erase the scars left by long years of persecution and suffering, ” it states.

In the accompanying photograph, Dreyfus appears with his wife and children, and he is quoted from the early days of the affair as saying:

“My heart will never be satisfied, ” Dreyfus once said, “while there is a single Frenchman who imputes to me the abominable crime which another committed.” The article concludes with reflections on the broader significance of the affair and the lessons that France, and the entire world ought to draw from it: the danger of antisemitism, the perils of an unchecked establishment, and the essential role of a free press in the pursuit of justice.

The writer concludes: “The Dreyfus Affair, ” despite its positive resolution, has left behind an indelible stain of disgrace on the shield of France and on the honor of its army. This is due primarily to the fact that the persecution of the young officer stemmed from the same fanatical hatred of Jews that prevailed among army officers in France as in other countries. Had Dreyfus not been an Israelite, he would never have become the victim of the scoundrel Esterhazy. It was the Jew, not the officer, who was the target of the persecution... Now, however, through his rehabilitation, the French Republic has done all it could to restore its standing in the eyes of the world.”

The Literary Digest – an American periodical published between 1890 and 1938. It gained prominence for its comprehensive surveys of American and international press, presenting a wide range of perspectives on topics such as politics, science, religion, culture, literature, and society.

[2] pp. 69–98 – Complete issue. Very good condition.