The Traitor: Degradation of Alfred Dreyfus After being arrested and convicted in a secret court martial for treason, Captain Dreyfus bravely stood at attention during a public degradation ceremony. While the officer on duty tore off his stripes, ripped off his honors, and broke his sword in two, Dreyfus shouted out, “You are degrading an innocent man! Long live France! Long live the army!” (Le Petit Journal, 13 January 1895/engraving by Henri Meyer [1844–