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PARTISAN REVIEW
Yes, Zola is not Voltaire, nor are any of us Voltaires, but life
sometimes sets up such a concurrence of circumstances that reproach–
ing us for not being Voltaires becomes extremely out of place. Think
of Korolenko, who defended the Multan pagans and saved them from
penal servitude. Nor was Doctor Haas a Voltaire, yet his wonderful
life ran along to a very happy ending.
I am acquainted with the affair from the stenographic report
and it certainly
is
not what you read in the newspapers. I can see
Zola plain. The important point is that he is sincere, i.e., he builds
his judgments solely on what he sees, and not on specters, as others
do. Sincere people can certainly make mistakes-no doubt about
that-but such mistakes cause less harm than well-advised insincerity,
prejudices or political considerations. Suppose Dreyfus is guilty: Zola
is right anyway, because it is the writer's business not to accuse and
not to persecute, but to champion the guilty, once they are con–
demned and suffer punishment. People will say, what about politics
and the interests of the government? But great writers and artists
should engage in politics only to the extent necessary to defend them–
selves against politics. Even without political considerations there are
plenty of accusers, prosecutors and policemen, and in any case the
role- of Paul suits them better than that of Saul. And no matter what
the verdict may be, Zola nonetheless will experience a vibrant joy
after the trial is over, his old age will be a good old age and when
he dies it will be with a serene, or at any rate eased, conscience.
The French people have sickened and they grasp at every word
of comfort and at every well-intended reproach coming from with–
out; that is why Bjornstern's letter was so popular here, along with
our Zakrevski's article (which people read in the
N ews ),
and why
the abuse of Zola was so obnoxious, i.e., the stuff the yellow press,
which the French despise, dishes up for them every day. No matter
how neurotic Zola may be, in court he still represents French com–
mon sense, and so the French love him and are proud of him, al–
though they applaud the generals who, simple-minded as they are,
frighten them first with the honor of the army and then with the
threat of war.
See what a long letter this is. It is spring here and the mood
is that of a Little Russian Easter: warmth, sunshine, the peal of
