Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1906-03-08

offer himself again. Like Cincinnatus
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 the department OF
Drome. OF good peasant stock. M
L.Oubet has never blusned for his par
ontage His attachment to his aged
mother was well known, and he made
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 a country chateau at
Begude-de-M azenc, 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 a comparatively modest ap-
partment in the immediate neighbour
hood of the Luxembourg 1t 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. as is proposed. NJ Loubet
will return thither as life member
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-
oeived with shouts Of derision by the
Parisians; mud was thrown at his car
riAge He had taken the world by sur
nrise. and the world did not forgive
him He was dark horse that had
arrived unexpectedly al the winning
post Then followed the shameful in
cident of Auteuil. in which the presi-
dent was struck by well-dressed Ma
'ionaljsl 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
II is a curious fact that there may
be two presidents of the republic dur
ing the first fortnight of February,
1906 NJ Loubets term will not have
expired, and his successor will have
been appointed The case has never
arisen before during the 30 odd years
OF the third republics existence. Theirs
who was driven from Office by a 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 scandal which touched his family,
he 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
| pubic once unuef government from
mayor to president In consequence he
can put his finger on any piece of leg
islature at a moments notice. General
Horace Porter the late American am
bassador in Paris, once told me how
surprised he was at NJ Loubets great
memory for treaties and special COM
merciai covenants In word NJ. Lou
bet is the ideal president for such
republic as France. where a man Of
great personal ambitions and of excep-
tional magnetic power is wont 10 at
tempt dangerous experiments In gov
eminent Avoiding the display OF NJ.
Felix Faure on the one hand. and the
niggardliness Of NJ. Grevy on the other
who from parsimonious ways was
always said to have had, the soul Of a
a0ncierge--M.. ,Loubet has steered the
happy middle course. fits native abii-
lily. shrewdness. and common-sense
have stood him In excellent stead for
the work OF the state; and his hndli-
mess and unfalling good-nature have
sndeared him 10 the masses.