New-York tribune., 1896-01-19

Charles Floquet owed his popularity. at least in
the beginning OF his career. less to his recognized
talents as an orator and active politician thah
10 his hat and his waistcoat. He used to wear
a white hat. OF monumental dimensions and awK-
ward shape: he also wore white wastcoat. cut
"a Ia revouonaire" with long points extending
to each shoulder the coat. exactly Ike the
waists worn by Robesp.erre. For this reason
F!oquet was ncknamed "Robesp.orrot" by the Re
actonists, who wanted also to intimate that nc
a.mel at playing the role of terrorist DICTATOR
like his prototype Of the frs; Revolution The
hat. though white Ike those constantly worn ny
Emile de Girariin. the great polemist and journal
ist and by the poet Lamartne. affected the form
of the head covers used by tho revolutionst lead
ers In 1915
Still "Robespierrot" Floquet had never been the
extremist and the wild revolut,onist whom many
people thought he might become when they heard
the stories about the legendary Floauets nat ana
Floguet's Robespierran vest. Under the Empire
he would have fought behind bnrricades In order
to overthrow the Napoleonic system but such
an opportunity not offered TO him. VINO was
a Republican Ike most young men OF his genera
tlon and who became man OF government,
that is n Conservative and an adherent OF moder-
ate Republicanism. which has prevailed In France
He was considered. first. Radical but he
died Conservative Republican.
Floquet born IN 1898. at Saint Jean de Luz,
under the shadow Of the Pyrcnces. in the south
western part Of France He finished his classical
studies at St Louis College IN Paris. and was soon
after. in 1851 admitted TO the bar In that cty
He belonged to the group OF those young profos-
sors law medical students. artists who. Ike
Gambeita. Rare. Iaurlcr. About. NORM. took their
luncheon at the "cr5merio" or dairy restaurant OF
the Rue Jacob. and nourishcd their hatred Of the
Empire by animated conversations. Floauet. as
lawyer. had to dcfeni many Of his young Gonzales
implicated in political cpne7racies and trie.s. lie
was himself sentenced 10 few weeks imprls nment
a having been member OF the secret society' The
Thirteen" such sentences were. ai that time. INC
best recommendation in the ey's OF INC eie,tern
masses. They could ony seldom succeed ~ elect
Ing their Candidate in the iacs - ,ac ,rehomH uS
governmental pressure eN'rclScl ht tle Autnoilu'S
but the Liberal party TO which they belonged never
hcstatei in choosing for it's nominees tho men lust
out OF tho imle.ai prisons flolnct was c,n iiair
10 the Chamhcr IN two departments III 1914 am
His popularity continued to increase on account OF
his Efforts - defender of political acc'ses but II
Emper5'r Of Russla who had been ircd upon ty a
Pole. named Bcrc7 )"ski in ihe i'ois lie i,u'oene.
Napoleon III 70 HIS roya and imperial visitors dur.
ing the Universal Exhibition Of 1871 Fogue' icad-I
In court for BcrezOwsk., and succeeded In Ttvlns
him from the gullot.nc. II was Mt that tine that
Gar % i m P% a .csh y TO 6a the erpn steps 81
when foquct brandt. hing his phenomenal nat ani ~
Robesperre" shouted IN the Cars face long iiv"
dsI 20 ahu s', lon,sr bv Robesa"rrsi aho
denied him the lite Of car ard an insulting Tro,e
against tho bloody repression OF the Patriotic Polish
After the fa.l % the Empire. septcniber : $50;
I
Radical. but strong Republican OF modcrlic
ideas HonOrs ralnel upon hi'n down 20 the time
OF his death He was Assistant Mayor oi Paris. aud
elected IN February 1871. Deputy So the Nhti' 'nsl
Assembly OF bordeaux lie pru1cnily avoided hav-
Ing ANYTHING to DO with the Commune. In 1876 ne
was e.ectci hy Paris clrconscripHOn 10 the ch nm
hcr and wac Of III" SG3 Deputies VINO protested
against the rcactionary coup d.t9t oi May sl,.
which caused the dissolution OF the Chamber. Al
OF them Foquct In the number. OF course. were re-
c.cctei 10 the Chamber. He vas aficrward. In
turn prefcc Of the Seine. Spe iker OF the Chamber
Deputy, and Minister. and even Premier during SIX
months. But there he found his Tarpcian rock BE-
F.oquct though an .n-isivc orator and smart
politician, did not really pOSscss the qualities nrccs-
sary for nrst-ratc statcsman. He managed To
have a duel with General BOIlangcr. and atiemptrl
to ruin the efforts OF the Bouangist party wh n he
accused Of being antip2riOtic and harb)ring IDEAS
of Z. military dicta torsh!p. II has been proved. by
his own admission. that Floquct considered II a. his
duty as a Minister and patriot 10 accept from the
/ Panama Cana. Company 10000 francs. destined to
elections. In that ;ranst trton F.oquet found the
/ grave of his political honor and future though he
! did not gain ono sou himself from the Panama
too famous "Chcquea" But suspicion stuck = him.
inasmuch as II known at the time that the real
victor Of BOu.angcr VI. Consttns. Minister ami
now Senator. Since the time = the Bouangist
movement in 1889 FlOluct had Jed quiet lifc keep
] ing away from all active political movements which
/ have occurred during the last few year..