New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-02-20
THE CHOICE OF THE PEOPLE.
LOTBET GENERALLY PRAISED, DESPITE
HOSTILE PARIS CRITICS.
CONSERVATIVE PAPERS IN HIS FAVOR
DEROULEDE AND MTLLEVOYE AT
THE BOTTOM OF THE

OPPOSITION.
Icy cAnLE TO TIE TRIRrNE.l

lBY CABLE THE TRfBUNEl
Paris. Feb. i9.-Never before has President
OF the French Republic been confronted from
the very hour Of his election with such hostile
demonstrations. prosecuted by such an
abusive press. LOubet. like Casmr-Perier, was
the nominee not Of mere coalition. and has
the support Of almost the entire Republican
party but. like Casimir-Perier he Is Of a sensi-
tive temperament and reads the newspapers
containing gross libels on his character, empha-
sized by exhortations to violence. The ferocity
Of the Nationalist and the anti-Semtic press to-
day almost justines NJ. Cornelys's article in
Figaro in which the French political arena
is compared by that facetious Royalist TO a
den Of hycnas tigers and jackas." This morn
ing the Presidents first impulse was one OF
encouragement. but. in spite Of the noisy shouts
Of Deroulede's and Mlllevoye's professional
patriots. which continue tonight as merriy as
yesterday. It becomes hourly more apparent that
the masses Of the people believe In Loubet and
in the Republic.
LARGE MAJORITY IN HIS FAVOR.
The serious papers, like the Temps" the
journal des Debats' and the "Liberte." come
out strongly in his behalf. and this is also the
position taken by an overwhelming majority
OF the newspapers throughout the country espe-
CldIy IN the south. JOuDet enjoys the enoI-
nous advantage Of never having expressed any
opinion on the Dreyfus revision. and his views
on this point are still unknown to his closest
friends The conviction Of those In the Presi-
dents confidence Is that come what may, there
Will be nnching from responsibility. as was
the with Casimir- Perier.
To-day Mlllevoye's "Patre," Drumont's "Libre
Parole" the Echo de Paris and the "Ecar'
contain the mos; violent articles that have yet
appeared against the head Of the State.
sNEERs AT HIS HOME LIFE.
Even the fashionable "Gaulois" INDUCES in
sneers at the Presidents humble origin and
rustic habits and draws the following picture Of
Loubet's home life:
1T is true that Loubet did not wear his peas
ants wooden sabots at his apartment in the
Luxembourg Palace. where he resided as the
President Of the Senate but when he came
home he always took off his shoes and put on an
old pair Of felt slippers, which he wore even
during meals While eating. he tucks corner
OF his napkin I'm his shirt collar His wife, who
also comes from the little town Of Montemar.
near the Rhone. midway between Lyons and
Marsoilles is a good cook and knows how to
stew a rabbit better than any one. strong
dose Of garlic invariably perfumes the dishes
Ioubet who. in the dialect Of the country Is
called Loubette by his wife, is In the habit Of
taking from the rack one OF his well-colored
pipes and while smoking II, expectorates freely
on the floor no matter what the quality Of the
carpet may be Nine. LOubet Is a loquacious
woman, and a good housekeeper- She speaks
with a strong southern accent.
EXAsPERATING CRITICISM
1s.rs<. for
NJ Crozler. the Chief Of Protocol. Loubet does
not ride horseback. SO that Montjarret. the
chief Of the Presidential stables, will be disap-
pointed.
"The Ambassadors and especially the Ambas-
salc-s' wives Will not be bored at entertain
ments at the EIysee with the Presidents rural
frartness and Nine Loubet's expansive humor
Above all. what treat this will be for the soy
ereigns. the imperial and royal princes ard prin-
cesses who may come to the Exhibition of l~'
All Europe at the Elysee. How happy the good
folk Of Montelimar viii be-"
Such is a fair example Of the eXasperating ar
ticIcs which I'LL page after page of the Ma
tionalist rcactionary press. The "Matin' pun
fishes a detailed biography Of the President
and calls attention 10 Loubet being the first
President Of the Republic, except Thiers who
came from Southern France The "Matn' ADDS
that I.ouhet has a marked southern accent and
that his mother. a venerable woman of eighty
four. lives on farm near Montelimar ana al
ways wears n peasants headdross
NOT a WEALTHY MAN.
1.ouhct is not wealthy. His fortune consists
Of only $4,000 or $4,000 The public feels con-
WINGED that Loubets honesty and integrity are
unimpcachab,e. notwithstanding Quesnay de
Reaurerairc's accusations Il completely in pro-
tecting some Of his friends from prosecution IN
the Panama affair which is the only thing in
his long career which his bltt"rest enemies nave
ieeu ahI, u rake up against him
The Figaro" says: mo doubt. Loubets snort
stature and his plump round figure will pre-
vent him from assuming theatrical attitudes
lie Is bv no means smart clubman Ike FelN
Faure but it is not a crime FOR the PreSd"h' ol
q republic 10 lack royal presence After an IS
49,. rho rici1 simplicity of LouLcts person IN
stric, keeping with tho simplicity Of true re-
rrlIico Who cares for instance. how President