Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-05-31


the English or American standard, stiff
and angular in appearance, rather diffident
in his manner stunning notoriety and at
tention.
Once Had Artistic Ambitions.
Waldeck-Rousseau received his democ-
racy from his father, who was one of the
founders of the short-lived second republic,
and his quiet determination from the peo-
pie of Vendee, among whom he was born
at Nantes, December 2, 1916. At one time
he thought of being an artist, and became
quite proficient in water, color painting, but
soon abandoned this, except as a pastime,
and studied law. After being admitted to
the bar he became secretary to M. Dufret,
then described as the f1rstTof French loren
sic orators. Then came the Franco-Prus-
sian war When Gambetta escaped from
Paris in a balloon and called for his 'levee
en- masse" Waldeck- Rousseau volunteered
and received a captains commission, but
never saw service.
Like Renan and many another great
Frenchman, Waldeck-Rousseau began his
real career at Rennes, the ancient capital
of. Brittany He labored inconspicuously
chance, which he had the ability to grasp,
made his fortune. A leading merchant, NJ
Dreyfus Gonzales, had before all the courts
of France the same case, concerning mari
time rights in which the greater part of his
large fortune was involved. His lawyer at
Rennes retired. and With some misgiving
the merchant sent the particulars of his
case to Waldeck-Rousseau. The merchant
kept stenographic reports of all his law
yers speeches in the different courts. When
he examined the pleas of his Rennes advo-
cate he was amazed to find in them the
clearest and most eloquent exposition of
his case that had been made during the
years of litigation. Shortly afterward
Waldeck-Rousseau, having interested him
self in local politics. was chosen to repre-
sent Rennes in the Paris chamber of depu-
nd Gonzales
ishment Of the Paris bar. intrusted the le-
gal management Of all his affairs to the
unknown Breton deputy. He succeeded no
less a man than N. Grevy, who had re-
linquished his law practice upon his cleo
ton to the presidency. The appointment
made some stir in the legal and political
world, and gave Waldeck-Rousseau an i'm
mediate standing in the chamber.
. Gambetta was then president of the cham
Der and the undisputed leader of French
republicanism He saw and admired quail
ties in Waldeck-R Rousseau which he himself
lacked and with his usual impulsiveness
almost at once admitted the young deputy
to his friendship and confidence. When, in
1880, Gambetta formed his Grand Minis
try he gave Waldeck-Rousseau the depart
ment of the interior, the most desirable
portfolio in the cabinet from the point of
view of patronage and political influence.
But the "Grand Ministry came to end
In two months and it's failure closed Gam
betta's political career Only Waldeck-
Rousseau wrung from him personal sue
cess. The reputation he gained as an adj
ministrator and civil reformer secured him
the portfolio in the Jules Ferry cabinet of
1882.
Earned $4,000 Year.
When the Ferry cabinet fell, the longest
in office except Waldeck- Rousseaus own,
Waldeck retired from political life and de-
voted himself to law. He became leader
of the Paris bar with professional income
Of oh a afpa6 for
the political events growing out of the
Dreyfus trial to bring him back into public
life
At this political period the premiership
of France was going begging. Cabinet af-
ter cabinet had been overthrown and the
country seemed ripe for revolution. Even
inconsequential persons like Count Boni
Castellane were for the moment exalted
into prominence by their comicai attempt to
upset the government by smashing Presi-
dent Loubet's hat at a racecourse. The
situation demanded a strong man and by a
happy inspiration the president called upon
Waldeck- Rousseau. A change was almost
Immediately apparent. Instead of a cabi-
net from one political group Waldeck- Rous-
seau got other strong men wherever he
could find them. Millerand, the socialist;
Gallifet an irascible osd martinez, with a
silver stomach In place of the one shot
away in the Mexican war, were among
those chosen. Their first job was to get
the Dreyfus case out OF the way, which
tHey uiu IN manner WHlcn by no means
satisfied everybody, but with a finality that
prevented further agitation. Then came two
years of hard administrative work which
makes no showing except in ultimate re-
suits. fCc-1e
One agitator after another was suuelched.
I remember being in Paris when Paul De-
roulede was trying to make General Bou-
LANCER Of himself. In q rusty looking cab.
so as to please the plain people he was
riding up and down the bouleyards re-
ceiving cheers and gaining considerable
following: Waldeck-Rousseau thought hin,
over during the consumption of one cigar
cite and packed him over the frontier where
he still languishes. The administrative
sword Of Napolean was coming into play.
The next official heads to fall into the has
ket were those of high army officers who
had been paying more attention to politics
than to drill. $50
There was tremendous uproar, but moth
Ing happened and the administrative ma
chine ground on. The next adversary was
much more difficult one.
Religious Associations.
Since Rlchelieu's day there has always
been a. section of the church party in
France that has sought to mix religion and
politics to the end Of securing a priestly
dictatorship. Here again the Napoleonic
system was useful When the great Cors,
can re-established Christianity in France
he made an agreement or "concordat' with
the papacy by which no French bishops
were to be appointed without the consent Of
ministratious had been Jealous Of this pre-
rogative and the Vatican authorities in turn
had always tried to evade 1t. Feeling that
Its control over the parochial clergy was
not sufficiently strong the Vatican encour-
aged the growth OF religious orders In