New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-01-18
PRESIDENT FALLIERES.

The expected. contrary TO false tradition mas
happened in France In a double sense The
Republic has again demonstrated its capacity
for elf-government-which is precisely what
its friends have looked for, despite the futile
carping of its foes-and it has chosen for it's
next President that statesman whom the most
iudicious observers have for some time regarded
as the foremost candidate and as the likeliest to
he elected The manner in which this has been
effected must command the envy of some ma
tons and the admiration Of ALL 1t is lmpossl-
BILE to imagine anything simpler and more pusl-
nesslike There was no disturbance OF the nor
NAL life of the nation, no ebulltion or pas
sion or talk of revolution. At the appointed
time the representatives Of the nation went
to the appointed place, organized themselves
into an electoral convention, dropped their pal
lots into the urn, counted them, declared the
result and returned home Thus was chosen
new Chiefsof State of one of the worlds great
est nations.
Clement Armand Fallieres is one of the most
DISTINGUISHED and most estimable statesmen
now living in France. AZ sixty four years OF
age he Is not past the prime of life, yet
with thirty years of continuous Parliamentary
service he has experience more ample and
more useful than most of his colleagues. He
IS three years younger than the man whom ne
succeeds. but is exactly his peer in length of
Parliament on February 20. 1876. He began
as a Republican of the Left, elected against
Bonapartist and he has remained loyal TO his
creed He voted no confidence in the Brogle
Cabinet in 1877; he began Ministerial work as
q sub-secretary in 1880; he served in the min
istries Of the Interior, of Public Worship of
Foreign Affairs, Of Justice and of Public In
struction he served under Ferry, Freycinet,
Rouvier and Trard; he was the first man
asked by President Garnet to form Cabinet;
he was elected to the Senate, and seven times
in unbroken succession chosen President
of that body With such record of public
service it was emnenty fitting that he should
be chosen to be President of the Republic.
The new Presidents attitude toward the two
foremost issues Of current politics may be
briefly stated. He is Republican Of advanced
though not quite radical tendencies. but reso-
lutely opposed TO revolutionary Socialism; and
he is Catholic-his elder brother was an
archhishop-who believes in a free church in
a free state. 1t will be recalled that 1t was
he who in 1889 boldly annulled an act of the
Municipal Council of Paris which he regarded
as too radical. It was also he who began in
1891 the movement for state superiority to
church in political affairs which was carried
to its logical contamination by Waldeck-Rous-
seau and Dr.. Combes. His action against the
Archbishop of AK was marked with equal
moderation and resolution, and was the first
decisive step in the campaign which ended
with the expulsion Of unauthorized congrega-
tons and the abrogation of the Concordat, and
more than one of the subsequent steps were
also taken by him or at his initiative. These
features of his record forecast the policy of
his administration, so far a French Presi-
dent may be said TO have political policy
distinguished from that of the existing Min
istry and of the majority in Parliament
NJ. Fallieres resembles NJ. Loubet strongly in
two particulars of his private life. He is a
man of the people, the son of a peasant and
the grandson of q blacksmith, and through
out his long and active career he has main
tanned character and a reputation unsuI-
lied by even SO much a suspicion of scan
dal. He will enter upon his administration
endowed to an exceptional degree with the re-
spect. the confidence and the affection Of the
people, while with equal measure of the
same grateful tributes his predecessor will re-
tire from the place he has so well filled TO the
repose he has we'll earned. As for the
ton which, to the roll that bears the names
of Theirs, MacMahon. Grevy. Carnot, Casimir-
Perier Faure and Loubet, can now add the
name of Fallieres, it is entitled to the con-
gratulations of the world and to TIE fullest
confidence in the stability and integrity of it's
government