New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-09-08
PRESIDENT CARNOT.
THE PERSONAL QUALITIES THAT MAKE HIM
A FORCE IN FRANCE.
,.o,, AZ OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT or THE TRIBUNEl
. 4

nCT
Paris, August &c.
The stranger lingering before the portals OF the
p,Iooo of the Elvsee can observe almost any
dov in the week modest gentleman, Just IN
niddle life emerging TO mount the finely groomed
hay horse that awaits him. He is dressed with
notable care Good taste as well as good tailoring
characterizes his shapely figure. The short coat
encloses n slim but compact figure Inc legs
as he strides the spirteu ANIMAL are those OF
man of quick and easy Digestion; there Is 10
,a,root;on If oout in the calves. His face is
study in black and white. The skin is pale, al
,ooet TRANSPARENT The beard and mustache, both
carefully trimmed, are ebon. The nose slightly
aoujline would be Roman but for u decided JEWISH
cast which marks the entire countenance Inc
horse is pulled instantly into canter, ana OH
they 20 the few attendants in undress military
qarb following at n respectful distance. As the
little party turn into the most magnlhcent avenue
i'm the world, a more striking hgure, IN rather
common dresS-velveteen jacket ana ridlng-boo'S'
= o,rizzIcd face and straight, stiff gray hair. cut
in an old-fashioned way round his neck-gallops
nm The dark. pale man, but for the homage paid
him. would pass for doctor or engineer. Inc
newcomer undoubtedly would be taken for man of
motto pcrbops powerful politician. The first is
NJ SadiCarnot, President of the Republic OF
France The second is NJ. Tirard his First Min
ister
If Nine. Carnot, as 1 ventured TO assume in
nrevious letter be fine type of the woman of the
transition in France from style under monarchy TO
STYLE in the Republic, NJ. Carnot may rightly be
taken as an eptome in his own character of the
ovolution of conservatism in French democracy.
When he was proposed for President one Of the
sneering English diplomats said to French
journalist: who is this obscurty? Theirs was
statesman; MacNlahon was soldier; Greyy
was business man-but who is Carnot"
"IIe has the blood of all three in his veins"
was the reply "and what you are not he is, a
gentleman
All omens to the contrary. France will never
return to monarchy. All denials 10 the contrary,
France continues TO love all trees, trees whose
roots have been long and deep in the earth; and
if the hoary stocks be stout enough TO have with
stood great commissions, the branches are precious
in her eyes The CarnOts are "anciens.' They
were scholars they were engineers, they were
soldiers, they were judges, they were pubhclSts'
They were famous families in Burgundy; and tho
| traveller who knows how to pass in n leisurely
way from Paris with it's artificial glitter, TO the
simplicity of the Alps will hear many legends of
| the ancestors of the President of the Republic.
! | picked up in Dion an old volume about Count
! Carnot, the wearer of the Cross of SAINT Louis,
who after he became one of the paramount figures
in the Revolution, when asked to do something for
private friendship inimical 10 France replied
am the friend of my friend; but l am the
enemy Of every man who turns his arms against
nv conntry' some of his poraries,
proceeds tile quaint commentary, judged the man
with blind hatred; Others with hippant concert.
But he was a true Frenchman and a gentleman
SO is it with the President of the Republic OF
France lie never set squadron in the field.
lie never conducted delicate negotiations, secur-
ing brilliant success by base chicanery. lie is
not an orator. Some of his contemporaries judge
him with blind hatred. Others affect laughter a.
everything lac does and WEAKNESS over all he says
But he is true Frcnchman and gentleman; and
the Republic proceeds her way, peaceful
cultvating the arts, increasing her industries,
| adding TO her Colonial possessions without in
fringng the rights of other nations, all her busi-
| ness prospering as never before in her history
and the President is neither great Statesman, q
Scared soldier nor diplomat. lie is only q
capable upright composed, astute and reSolut'
man of affairs.
II is precisely man of his education that
France requires. His training peculiarly quail
feS him for discreet and efficient performance Of
his duties. soldier at the head OF the Govern
ment could not deal with the vast problem of max
ing the impetuous children of the dead who fel
for the Republic prefer TO commemorate valol
in war by penetrating peace. willy and eX
perienced intrgucr at the head of the Government
would have temptations TO embroil France il
foreign acknowledgements during transition wher
simplicity, straightforwardness and selfrespec
are indispensable for her progress. France needs
| thinker who can concentrate the reflection o
the country upon industry; Whose own skill
guides even expert ministers and administrator
in the development of her soil, the increase II
her mining activity, the improvement Of he
railway systems, her aids TO commerce, interna
and seagoing; and whose comprehension of tn
other problems Of her tranSitiOn-the problems o
morality, education, labor and the placement o
traditional caste-is large, sympathetic and ju
dicial.
Born in the busy and picturesque town o
Limoges, NJ. Carnot shared in his youth the school
ing which has rendered its potterics famOu
throughout the world He is TO this hour
quick and accurate draughtsman, lover Of every
thing in nature that is beautiful or useful. Whei
be entered the Ecolc Polytechnique he was in doub
whether he should be artist, architect or engineer
His turn for mathematics determined his classi
fcation. lie passed in time into the School o
Roads and Bridges; and in both these he &C
quired that practical and enduring skin Of hea'
and hand which made him, during the Franco
Prussian war, an admirable aid TO the army. Iii
study Of ways and means was greatly helped b.
the inestimabe requirements of scientific industry
II war should come 10 France during hi, admin
istration, he will be head of the army in true
sense than any man who has been head of Frame
during hundred years. lie may not draw
sword but he Will know better than many VIII
will how armies should be made, where they ca
best procure supplies and by what means an
modes they shall be speedily and effectively moved
He is well read in all practical science, and IS a
home in the laboratory of the chemist or In III
quarry with the mincralogist. lie personally eN
amined every detail of the plans Tor the building
of the Universal Exposition, and would have bee