The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1882-02-03
President Grew.

x06f0 are some men WHO WIN tu0 &SACos
prizes not because of their greatness, but
because of their fitness. M. Jules Gerry,
the President of the French Republic, |
owes much of his success in life to the |
fact that circumstances have served him
admirably for the exercise of his peculiar |
talents. When, after McMahon's blum
ders and treacheries, it was found neces-
sary to nominate president the sound |
ness of whose Republican principles was
placed beyond the shadow of doubt, and
vet whose radicalism was of that mode
rate tone which should be guarantee
against any extreme policy, no other
man in France was found uniting these
needed qualities in so marked degrees
as NJ. Jules Grevy. In this role, how
ever, the role of moderation, NJ. Grevy
had made his appearance before. To fill
difficult situations, and to be the man
called upon to act in critical issues. is to
sum up the history of his political life.
M. Jules Grevy's most conspicuous
virtue-we prefer to give preference to
his virtues rather than his talents. as he
presents the rare instance Of apublic man
who has made his talents serve his viz
tues rather than the other more common
place rule-M. Grevy's most prominent
virtue, then, has been his purity OF mo-
tive, He is one of those men who have
found character an excellent substitute
for genius.
As q politician, NJ. Grevy has been
conspicuous in all the great events which
have agitated France since 1880. During
that revolution he left his law-books to
storm barricades-an act of patriotism
that eighteen years later, in 1S4S, brought
its reward. Ledra Rollin, one of CREWS
most intimate personal friends, sent him
into the Jura as Commissioner, from
which section of country Grevy was aft
er returned to the National Assembly by
an immense majority. 1t was in this
Assembly that Grevy proposed his ia
NOUS amendment, which won Tor him
an enduring celebrity. That amendment
attempted to do away with the office OF
a nominal head of the republic. NJ. Grevy
even then foresaw the danger to be
dreaded in the person of Louis Napoleon,
and the game he could play were the
power vested in the hands OF the peo-
Die. The amendment provided a guar
antee against both these dangers by sug-
pesting that the President should be
elected bv the Chambers, and that his
title should be simply that of dresden,
of the Council of Minister'S" to be re.
moved at the will of the Deputies. Had
the bill been passed it would have saved
France twenty years OF despotlsm. Nat
urally, under the Empire, NJ. Grevy
!, political career was under an eclipse
But he was elected by large majority
as Republican candidate to the Corp:
Legislatif in 1868, where ne distln
guished himself by his courage and en-
; ergv in heading the war waged asalns
I Napoleon's misrule.
With the establishment OF the hepuD
lie, NJ. Grevy's position became an I'm
:, uortant one. He was elected Presiden
! of the Assembly at Versailles, filling tina
= arduous role with marked tirmness an
r impartiality.
In person NJ. Grevy is formed to be
). marvel of vigor and strength for a ma
!. i'm his seventy-fifth year. To look upo
7 his fresh complexion, and to note nj
firm step, his erect carriage and his re
- bust physique, one would believe him t
:, be in the mature vigor of the tifties. Ill
70 physiognomy is striking from its dign
W ty and the repose of its expression.
is dress he is scrupulously neat, ana n
q ideal of official di gnity is revealed in tn
=, :, fact that at seven in the morning ne WI
Is e he found arrayed in his frock-coat. II
~ solriety of NJ. CREWS character may
y gagged by his having been model
g, fustration of the French proverb, ~
% Ernnche- Cornpte ne rit janaais." He n;
10 never been heard to laugh in public +
ne allows himself, however, the luxury
* one indulgence. He has passion +
On. the hunt. To follow the hounds, and
to hear ringing in his ear the music OF Il
.st huntsman's horn, is his one permltt'
% relaxation. In his dispensing of the
cial gayeties of the Elysee, NJ. Grevy
aided by his gracious wife and
charming daughter, the latter OF who
so has been educated upon much more Il
on 'eral principles than the usual cloist1
by French custom permits.-A. B. BIa'
to in HARPER Magazine.