The record-union., 1894-06-28
THE NEW PRESIDENT OF FRANCE.

THE NEW PRESIDENT OF FRANCE.
Casimir Perier has been elected to the
Presidency Of France. In listing the
candidates yesterday the REooRD-UNIoN
placed Perier first among those most
likely to be chosen by the National AS
sembly, but not first among those the
choice of anyone of whom would be bet
ter for France.
Perier comes of house of distinguished
men. His grandfather, Casimir Perier,
was a famous Minister of State in 1881,
and went with an army to the aid of the
revolted Belgians. He was in 1900 a
banker and manufacturer. He was
elected to the Chamber in 1877. sup
ported the popular cause in the
revolution of 1880, and succeeded
Lafitte as Prime Minister, as already
stated. He died of cholera in 1882.
Auguste Perier, the son of the Casimir
last above referred to and father Of the
newly elected President, was born in 1911,
A-A was q AASAAAE 0AoAO4
He entered the diplomatic service at 20,
and was Secretary of Legation at London,
Brussels and The Hague, and Charge
d'Affaires at Naples and st. Petersburg
and Minister to Hanover. He entered
the Chamber in 1916 and again in 1849,
and was one of the revisors of the Con-
stitution. He protested against the coup
d'etat, was arrested and soon discharged.
He was in the Council-General of Aube
from 1915 to 1851, ard was reelected in
1861. He was made Grand Officer of the
Legion of Honor in 1916, and in 1867
member of the Academy of Sciences. In
1871 he was Minister of the Interior under
Theirs; resigned in 1872; was reappointed
in 1873, and went out with the Theirs
Government. He was a distinguished
writer, mainly on finance. He died in
1876. Il is his son who is now elected to
the Presidency.
Perier is aristocratic by instinct and
education, man of great wealth, and one
who has not the full sympathy of the in
dustrial classes of the cities and large
towns. On the other hand, he has thrice
presided over the Deputies and with ju-
dicial impartiality, winning the respect Of
all sidea for the justice of his rulings and
the composure of his bearing.
President Perier has had Ministerial
experience and is a devoted Re-
publican, as republicanism goes in
France. He is man of great frmness
and courage, and when in the Cabinet
more successfully than any other Premier
had done or has done since, he grappled
with anarchists and the lawless elements,
put them under and made the law tri-
umphant He is hated and feared by
anarchists, radical socialists, Bonapart-
lists and malcontents. But he has the
confidence of the business and profess
sional classes, and the agrieulturists stand
for him generally, because they desire
strength 10 the Executive, decision of
character and capacity to deal with the
anarchistic and disturbing elements of
the centers of population.
Ability of the new President to dis
charge the functions of his Office is
not questioned by any; his bitterest op-
ponents concede that intellectually and
mentally he is qualified, and by educa-
ton, knowledge of the law and of state
craft eminently equipped.
That he is the safest man for the times
we cannot believe. A man with more of
negative than positive qualities; one who
has been in fewer antagonisms with party
in France would be the safer President at
this juncture. Perier is flint sudden
contact with which is liable to produce
the spark that may start a political con-
flagration in France. He is the man of
all others to test the strength of the
State in time of menace or assault, rather
than by adroit means to outwit assaiIants
and preserve the peace despite their de-
sire for tunult. In other words, Perier
we Judge to be man who will fight,
when cunning might be better employed
and conflict thereby avoided.
However, investment with weighty re-
sponsibility very often works wondrous
change in man. Perier, with the obi-
cations of Chief Executive resting upon
him. nay prove to be greatly more adroit