Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1906-02-24

OHer himself again. Like C1ncln0aIuS,
he will return to the plough. Nor is his
love of homely ways surprising; he
was born on a farm near the little viii
lage of Marsanne in he department of
Drome. OF good peasant stock, M.
Loubet has never blusned for his par
entage. His attachment to his aged
mother was we'll known, and he made
a point of visiting her at Marsanne at
least once or twice year. That gives
the keynote to NJ. Loubet's character;
fidelity and simplicity. The president
has built himself country chateau at
Begude- de- Mazenc, not far from his
native commune, and here he intends
to retire at the close of his official ca
reer. He will not, however, cut HIM
self entirely adrift from Paris. He
has taken comparatively modest APP
partment in the immediate neighbour
hood of the Luxembourg. It was in the
senate, indeed, that NJ. Loubet passed
fourteen years of his official life as
senator and then as president of that
august assembly. If the constitution
is altered, MS is proposed, NJ Loubet
Nj. Loubet has become the most pop
ular of all French presidents, not ex-
cepting Felix Faure, who had a man
ner all his own of ingratiating himself
with the Parisians When he was
elected by the national assembly at
Versailles seven years ago, he was re-
ceived with shouts of derision by the
Parisians; mud was thrown at his car
riage. He had taken the world by sur
prise, and the world did not forgive
him. He was dark horse that had
arrived unexpectedly at the winning
post. Then followed the shameful in
cident of Auteuil, in which the presi-
dent was struck by well-dressed Ma
tionalist rowdy That was the turning
point. The insulters had gone too far.
Thenceforward the new chief of state
was to gain the sympathy of the
Parisians.
= Il is curious fact that there may
be two presidents of the republic dur
ing the first fortnight of February,
1906 NJ, Loubet's term will not have
expired, and his successor will have
arisen before during the 80 odd years
Of the third republics existence. Theirs
who was driven from Office by vote
of the Nationalist assembly, had his
successor appointed in "a hours. Mar
shall MacMahon, who retired In Janu-
airy, 1879, was Immediately replaced by
NJ. Grevy. The last-named it is true,
was reelected in 1856. but on account
of a scandal which touched his family,
be did not complete his second term.
Sadi Carnot, who replaced him, died
by the dagger of an assassin one Sun
day night, ten years ago, at LYONS.
Casimir-Perier's mysterious resigna-
ton. after six months of Office, and NJ.
Felix Faure's equally mysterious death,
rendered impossible in both cases this
curious constitutional picture of two
presidents facing one another like
"chiens de faience."
NJ Loubet's forte lies in his marvel
Gus knowledge of administrative de-
tail. He has occupied almost every
public Office under government from
mayor TO president. In consequence he
can put his finger on any piece OF leg
islature at moments notice General
Horace Porter, the late American am.
bassador in Paris, once told me how
surprised ne was at M. Loubet's great
memory. for treaties and special com.
mercial covenants. In word, NJ. Lou.
bet is the ideal president for such &
republic as France. where man Of
great personal ambitions and of excep
tional magnetic power is wont to at
tempt dangerous experiments in gov
+ eminent Avoiding the display of NJ
Felix Faure on the one hand. and thu
niggardliness of NJ. CREW on the othe
who from his parsimonious wavs wa
always said to have had the soul of
concierge-M. Loubet has steered tn
happy middle course. His native abil
ity, shrewdness. and common sens
have stood him IN excellent stead 70
the work of the state: and his kindli
ness and unfailing good-nature kav
endeared him TO the masses.