New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-30
AMERICAN WIFE

Canbetta's NJ Ribot in many respects presents
striking contrast To that famous leader In
stead II being a Southron. with the hot blood Of
Provence in his veins he is a Norman. with all
the GOODNESS Of judgment, steadiness Of nerve
and fxedness OF purpose Of that masterful race
He was born at St Omer in the Department of
the Pas De Calais. on February :. 1872 and IS
consequently now in the very prime Of life. He
received classical education. and then studied
law in Paris. receiving his doctors degree at
the University when he was only tWenty-one
years old. \ few years later he was chosen
Secretary OF the Conference of Advocates in
Paris and Just before the fall Of the Second
Empire. to Wit in March $50 he made
Deputy Judge Of the Tribunal Of the Seine. As
yet he had taken small part in political affairs
but was marked as a rising man in his profess
sion Of which the public would one day hear
more
The Third Republic several years old be
Fore he entered its administrative service 1t
was IN March 1870. that NJ. Defaure. then Min
is,er Of Justice appointed him to the head Of
B bureau q that department. making him Di-
rector Of Criminal Cases and Pardons few
months later he promoted 10 the Office OF
Secretary General. with the rank Of Councillor
a STATE. Then a Ministerial crisis came on. the
first Of many in which he was destined to figure
and IN Decerber 1876. he retired with his chief
from Office. and resumed his place In the fore
front q the Paris bar. But he had had his hrst
taste II politics and was bent on having more.
When the crisis Of the MacMahOn Government
came on. in May, 1877, he came consplcuousY
forward though in a non-otfica station lie
took leading part in the popular agitation
against the rcactionary tactics Of the De Brog-
lie Ministry. and was the author Of the famous
Republican manifesto against its delay in dis
solving the Chamber and appealing 10 the
people
His frs, appearance in Parliament was made
IN April. lN7S when he was elected Deputy lor
Boulosne-sur-M er. in his native Department.
MS opponent having been NJ Dussaussoy'
BonapartiSl Re took his place in the Chamber
among the Republican members on the Lef', or
rather in the Left Centre. and presently began
u be recognized as a leader Of more than ordi-
nary power He had already shown himself an
uncompromising supporter Of the RepuDh'
egains' monarchical reaction. lie now proved
himself an equally steadfast champion Of IL
fgaiust extreme Radicasm and COmmunlsin'
He did not hesitate 10 oppose even the Gam
BETA Ministry I'm some Of its measures lie
voted against giving amnesty TO the Conlmuh-
ISIS and against The attacks against eccleslastl-
cal organizations. At a later date he opposed
the expulsion IF the Orleanist princes ana
strongly deprecated the craze for Colonial enter
prsos u the Tonquin and Madagascar type. In
fact, Il was his strenuous opposition 10 the Ton
Quin business that more than anything else
caused the downfall Of the Ministry responsible
for IT, His constant aim from the beginning OF
his public career has been. in brief 10 make OF
france a stable. conservative parliamentary Re
public. appIOximating as closels as possible 10
the patterns set 10y Great Britain and the
United States lie has long been close student
OF British and American affairs, and has written
and published among other works. an admirable
life Of Lord Erskine' and treatise on THE
Act II August D. 1873. for the Establishment OF
a Supreme Court Of Justice in England In
deed his marked prediction for BRUSH ana
American institutions has at times caused IN"
extreme Chauvinists 10 accusr him Of being an
Anglomaniac. a reproach he mas been wei able
10 endure
The Presidential crisis Of 1887, when NJ Grevy
was forced 10 resign. brought NJ. Ribot to the
saxy forefront Of politics. He was the man to