PATRIOTISM
By GUSTAVE HERVE
GENTLEMEN OF THE JURY:—
This trial nearly came to an end yesterday, after the speech of Urbain Gohier.[1] We were overjoyed to recognize in that speech the genuine Gohier of the Dreyfus ease, who was a tower of strength to all of us in that trying time; our own Gohier, who has not gone over, as some for a moment feared, to anti-semitism—that stupid and sanguinary anti-semitism which has just dishonored Russia.
Our lawyers told us, and we have no doubt about the matter ourselves, that after Gohier's formidable indictment of militarism, after so much spirit, such good humor, such an array of facts, and such logic, acquittal was certain for all of us. And, in fact, if we had come here with the sole object of getting acquitted, then, after Gohier's speech, the interests of all of us would have been best served by silence.
I must tell you the reason why we decided to prolong these proceedings, at the risk of prolonging your fatigue and of keeping you here some days longer, at the time of your monthly settlement of accounts for the end of December and the family festivities of New Year's Eve.
It is certain that our friend Gohier—I can say it without offending him—by his origin, his education, and by his language, is the one among us who is the least removed from yourselves; he is the only one among us in whom there still remains, perhaps, a grain of patriotism.
- ↑ One of the twenty-six accused, whose speech in defense delivered the day before Herve spoke.
