Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1894-06-29

NJ. Sadi-CarnOt was born at Limoges. Aug
IL, 1897, was the grandson of the great Car
not, the celebrated war minister OF the French
revolution who organized the armies OF the
republic. He was we'll educated. He stood
1t the head in his claSs in the EcOle des
Points ct ChanSsees. He was general
secretary af the Conseil General des
! Points It Chaussees and engineer at
Annery from 1864 to 1870. France ia In
! dcbtcd to him for studies on and the con-
structlon of bridges, railways, etc, he hav-
| ing, among other great works, constructed
the great Collonge bridge ON the Rhone, near
the Swiss frontier. when he naugurated n
new process of tuhu ar foundation.
| During the Franco Prussan war NJ. Carnot
was given charge by the government Of tho
| organization OF the defence rationale In Nor
mandy, he being a commissary extraordinary
In the Seine lnferleure, Eure. Calvados, and
| pretect OF Seine-lnferieure, which Onerous
| post he occupied from Jan. 10 to the 18TH
and only left Harve for Bordeaux at the ex-
| piration Of the second armistice.
He was what may be termed u moderate
republican OF the Ferry and Freycinet type,
| whose training rs an engineer and political
economist fitted him in n quite peculiar man
ner for the high office to which he was
| elected
Besides being one OF the foremost engineers
Of France, NJ. Sadi-Carnot was dstin-
| guished political economist and fervent ad-
mirer OF the late John Stuart Mill, OF whose
works he published a French translation.
| His skill in dealing with intricate questions
| Of national finance resulted In his being re-
peatedly elected member Of the parliament
ary budget committee. He was one OF the
few French statesmen OF the pre-
sent day whose past history was
absolutely unimpeachable, and whose politi-
cal and private character was untarnished by
any kind ofbemsh. The most striking proof
thereof was given in the Wilson. Dreyfos
scandal. when NJ. Sad-Carnot, notwth-
standing all the pressure brought to bear
upon him by President Grevy and his son.
| In-law, absolutely declined to give his
sanction ~ minister Of finance, to the
Illegal repayment by the national treas.
ury Of certain dues which had been paid by
| them to NJ Dreyfus Rather than give way
| he preferred to incur the bitter enmity of the
Elysee, which resulted In his being forced to
withdraw from the cabinet few weeks later
| aud to make way for less conscientious min.
| lister Of finance.
The president was very silent man, oi
grave demeanor n rather long face md d
| pronounced aquiline nose. Although his
stature was not above the average height, his
figure was we'll set together. In May, 1883
at the opening of the ceremonies attendant
upon the centennial Of the states general al
attempt was made to ussassinate President
Carnot by discharging a pistol at him while
seated In his carriage.
While raising the weapon for the secont
time, the would-be ASSASSIN was overpowered
He was n Frenchman named Jean Nichola.
perran, and was insane. Another attempt
almost identical In character, was made IL
July, 1891, while the President was passing
along the avenue de Ia Republique In his ear
riage, the miscreant being lunatic who hat
Just escaped from an asylum.
He inherited his democracy from hi.
father, Lazaro Hippolyte, who was one OF tn,
leaders OF the French democracy, and afte
the revolution OF 1S4S became minister o
public instruction, having been member 0
the Corps Legislatif in 1863 and OF the ma
tional assembly In 1871. He was elected sen
ator for life In 1878, and died In 1888.
President Carnot's term OF Office woult
have expired next December, and It has beef
well known that he desired reelection, hi
principal rival being NJ, Casimir- Perier re
Gently at the head OF the ministry.