The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1871-03-02
President Theirs.

President Theirs.
Louis Adolphe Theirs, who has
just boon made temporary President
Of France, was born in Marseillcs,
April 10th, 1897. His father was . \
locksmith and poor man. Adolphe
made remarkable progress in the
public high school Of his native town;
and made geometrya speciality, as
he intended TO follow the military
profession. But his family decided
that he must study law, and sent
him to the school at AK. His slim
success at the bar turned his atten-
ton to literature. Hc obtained an
introduction to the manager Of the
Constitutional and secured an on.
gagement to write political articles
for that paper. A year or two later,
when he was about twenty five years
old, he published volume Of art
criticism and one Of travels in the
Pyrenees. At the age Of twenty.
six he brought out the first two vol
umes Of his History Of the French
Revolution" This work proved
very popular and Quickly passed
through three editions. 1t is a. its
author that he is best known in
America. 1t at once brought him
celebrity and aff1uencs. The tenth.
and last edition was published a few.
years later.
The politics of the Constitutional
were too moderate for ihimj and In
1929 be started q journal of his own,
the National, which is credited with
having done moro than any other to
bring about the revolution OF 1880.
In November 1880, he was made
Assistant Secretary Of Finance, and
at tho eauaa tin,o was elected repre-.
sentative from AK in the Charlie
of Deputies. Since then he has held
numerous high political Offices and
has seldom been ont OF public life.
On his first appearance in the Cham
ber he was subject to much ridicule
for his awkward manners, his mat
tractive person, his shrill voice and
his bombastic oratory. But he wise.
ly altered his style and was soon rec.
ognised rs an able debater of intri.
cate questions. During the next
five years he held various places in
the Cabinet, and in 1886 he rose to
the Premiership.
When the Republic was proclaimed
in l848, he was carrying . musket in
tho National Guard. He was elected
first 10 the Constituent and then tc
the National Assembly. Louis Napo
leon, on the occasion Of his abortivt
attompt at Bologne, in 1s4O, had
proclaimed Theirs ~ his minister
but the morning after the coup deta
OF 1851, Theirs was banished b.
order of tho usurper, and went K
Switzerland. A few months later
he received permission to return
and he then devoted himself entirely
to literary pursuits. His "HistorJ
of the Consulate and tho Empire,
which was begun in 1s45, was com
pleted Tin twenty volumes) in 1860
1t is an exhaustive and elaborate &C
count OF affairs in Europe from 1901
to 1915.
When the prosont war with Prus
STA was proposed, ho protested vehe
mently against it and warned Franc,
OF the consequences. But his voic,
was drowned in the popular clamol
and he became butt ofridicule alik,
for the banquets of the Empress ant
the rabblo of the faubourgs. Til,
event has vindicatod his wisdom ,ane
he is now called to the head Of tn,
nation at perhaps the most critica
period of its existence. He has form
ed his cabinet, apparently, from tho
best men of all parties; and If such /
ministry can ever succeed, his ad
ministration will undonbted be q sue
cess.
M. Theirs, though q great man, i.
not without his Inconsistencies and
his narrowness. A journalist him
self, IN 1885 he advocated laws which
severely restricted the freedom of the
press. A sternly just historian of the
affairs of his own country, fearless oil
offending alike republican and royal
list, he rests under the charge of uu.
fairness toward other nations. In
1881 he advocated u hereditary peer.
ago; and since 1868 he has been the
foremost champion of an extension oil
1 the liberties of the French neonle -
But his physical and his moral oour.
ago are equally great, and his intcg.
rity is unquestioned.-Ne,o Hamp,
shire Statesman.