New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-02-21
FRANCES NEW PRESIDENT.
nrHoN GUERLAC. EDITOR OF lie
Steele" OF PARIS. WRITES
OF NJ LOUBET

"A SAFE Man. OF MODEST AND AMIABLE CHAR
AcrrR. WHO POSSESSES THE TRADITIONAL
QUALITIES OF THE FRENCH PRESIDENTS
no the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir. The new President OF the French Repuo-
~, ,s undoubtedly under the circumstances the
,sst choice which could have been thought oil.
S,nca orr Presidency is mere honorary once
denrlved of any means OF action and control
and since the Executive is more Of an aroi'er
between the parties than representative OF
any Of them. nobody better fitted to rum
su the conditions than the plain. modest ana
somewhat provincial man whose name Is Emile
Ioubet
He will continue the traditions OF the Presi-
dents who have been elected more for their
lack Of great defects than for their striking
qualities or their brilliant talents. Like Carnot
and Felix Faure and even Grevy. NJ. Loubet Is
one OF those honest. quiet and sood-tempered
men who easily win friends in all parties, VINO
have no enemies. and whose success is conse-
ouently resented by nobody. AS rule the
French Congress deems that kind OF man the
best which can be found. because he concinates
ss much as possible the opposite parties ana
represents the whole country before the worid.
Never was the need for such fair calm and
conciliatory arbi:er more strongly felt than
now. That is why VI. Loubet. supported by both
Radicals and Moderates has at the first turn
been elected by more votes than Casimir -Perier
and Felix Faure. and that is why even the OPP
portunists. who have voted for Meline, will re-
soice al his success The enemies Of the Re
public alone will worry
II seems as IL the Bouangists anti-Semites
md all the harebraincd members Of the ex-
IRENE parties had already begun 10 attack the
President. whose election is blow TO the
fanatics and fools who follow Deroulede, Dru-
mont or Mievoye. But it will not be easy for
them 70 find against Loubet either in his pub
lie or his private life a single act or word which
may throw a blot on his name.
A PROVINCIAL LAWYER
Emile Loubet is the typical French politician
Uf the generation which has founded the Repub-
lie and which. after the struggle over, has
been able to enjoy the victory. Like many
others. he came to Paris from little country
town. where he had fought against the Second
Empire and whore he became a prominent
citizen after 1870. In Paris he quickly gained
the confidence Of his colleagues through the
same qualities which had made him succeed in
his province. Until 1876 Loubet was a lawyer of
Monttlimar. a little city Of Dauphine, which is
well known 10. its candy. The candy of Monte
limar is a matter Of frequent Joke. and the name
OF Lcubet has become associated with IT,
in the Chamber Of Deputies the modest lawyer
who was the glory of Montelimar proved HIM
self good and conscientious Deputy. working
hard. and displaying in many special matters
much ability. He also a strong and sound
Republican. belonging 10 that party Of moderate
opportunists which, headed by Gambetta and
Jules Ferry. has worked out and built up the
actual Republic He soon was looked upon as an
authority in politics and In finance. He was APP
pointed 10 many committees. and became a
member OF the most important group of the
Chamber. La Gauche Repubcaine' showed
its regard for his ability and character by
electing him its president But until 1857
when he was chosen by Tirard as Minister Of
Public Works, the public at large had not
heard much OF him.
Even when, in February. 1892. President
Garnet asked him TO form Cabinet. many peo-
pie were wondering. who is this Loubet?
Where does he come from?'
But the politicians who knew him very well
and those who had met him in the Hobbies. an
swered 'Loubet Of Montelimar? Don't you
know? He is a very nice fellow"
He is nice fellow Gun brave homme); that is
the general judgment which was to be heard Of
HIM one knew that he had won the friendship
and respect Of his colleagues of all parties by
his unpretentiOus manners and his fairness. He
was modest Deputy. a good father he loved
his children. Of whom he had many and he was
very fond Of his home lie is "un homme
dinterieur,' say in French Carnot ap-
precated him highly. He had the virtues and
qualities which were most sympathetic to the
former President And during the period of po-
litcal excitement when the parties were aroused
against one another Garnet deemed that one
was more proper to be a Minister Of Cancellation
and concentration than NJ. Loubet the honest
Loubet, Loubet lie brave homme."
PREMIER IN 1892
Loubet tried in 1892 TO concentrate the differ
ent and antagonistic parties. and he formed a
Ministry which was very we'll composed and
which deserved 70 live long. He gathered some
Of the brightest men Of the Republican party
Rouver Bourgeois. De Freycinet and Rlbot
Unfortunately. that Ministry of Cancellation had
10 face some of the most momentous events in
the history Of the Republic. and poor NJ. Loubet,
the quiet bourgeois. the pere de famille. had to
govern France when II was threatened by the
Anarchistic crimes of RavachOl, the great
strikes Of Carmaux. and when the tremendous
Panama scandal broke out. During such crisis
the best and most energetic men hardly escape
criticism Of all parties. NJ. Loubet did the best
he could. he acted as arbitrator in the Carmaux
strike. and tried TO limit the Panama scandal.
and so dissatisfied both the Radicals and the
NOderates. His good heart seemed 10 be his
principal guide and he preferred to resign