National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-03-26

The Paris correspondent Of the London Time8
writes as follows Of the French politician who was
q few days ago intrusted with the task OF forming
q new ministry:
Raised to the Presidency for the purpose Of
outstanding the republican schemes Of NJ, TbIerI
q calm and almost disinterested spectator OF the
mOnarchical attempt, NJ. Buffet presided at the
time Of the vote which created the Septennate,
mOderating the Right, by whom he was elected
and REFRESHING the Lett, Of whom he was the for
midable adversary. When the Septennate was
created under his auspices, he became as It were
the viglant guardian OF the conditions stipulated
by this new treaty, which included a pledge TO
pass the Constitutional Laws. Since the 10Th Of
November, 1873, his trm and serious determine
tion, his mature judgment, the rectitude OF his
character and his energetic attitude made him
one OF the best obeyed Presidents ever placed at
the head Of the French Assembly.
1t has long been known that he had adopted
Liberal ideas, and he has shown himself as in
against the Vagaries Of the Len. Long before the
time Of the last debates had arrived the parti-
sans, as well as the enemies Of the new order Of
things, knew that he would be summoned to es-
tablish it; and while the former prepared to obey
him, the latter energetically armedthemselTes
to oppose him. His physical frame itself seemed
TO designate him as one fitted to speak with au-
thority to an assembly so adverse to discipline.
OF lofty stature and Imposing carriage, the
shoulders slightly STOPPING, he walks with the
slow and firm gait of those inhabitants Of the
Yosges whose struggles against the invaders OF
France are preserved in the annals of the First
Empire. His face, palld and clean shaver, with
of his character, is overshadoWed by broad and
commanding forehead, while his hair is thick,
dark, and apparently intractable.
His eyes, kindling with resolution and intelli-
gence, are set beneath thick eyebrows, and his
nose straight firm, and with sharply-cut nostrils,
give vigorous finish to his head, which harmo-
Mics with the idea Of command, which seems his
instructive quality. His voice, slightly mOdulated,
pTOnOUnces words with an accent which imposes
silence and admirably agrees with his short and
well-balaneed sentences, which never cease TO
flow It'll they have expressed the entire idea Of
his mind. This ensemble, in short, severe, per-
haps somewhat naughty and almost imperious,
marks a man above the common run, and one not
likely to command by gentle means.
This is the third time III. Buffet has been sum
mOned 10 power. The son Of an officer of the
First Empire, he was born in ISIS, and gained
his first successes in chemistry, to which his ana
English language at an early age, and while
during prolonged stay IN England, following
the debates Of the House Of Commons, acquired
his first notions of parliamentary science. He
BrOglie, among the tavorte pupils of the cele-
brRted NJ. De ROssi, and he was practieing at the
bar at Nancy when the revolution of Is4s broke
out. Benefited rather by his fathers poDu-
Iarity than by his own reputation, he was elected
by s. 600 votes for the Vosges to the Constituent
Assembly.
A partisan Of Gen. Uavignac, he nevertheless
twice figured in the Ministry between 1913 and
for the sake OF defending the idea OF ministerial
responsibility, OF which be had always been an
upholder. On the 30th Of October, ls49, he was
succeeded by NJ. Rouher, whose place he was to
take twenty years afterwards a member Of the
Olivier Cabinet. Reelected to the Legislative
Assembly, he sat with NJ. Baroche on the com
mission which framed the famous electoral law Of
the S1st Of May, 1851, and on the 14th Of October
and Rouber, for the purpose Of defending that