Evening star., 1912-07-07
PASSY, PEACE CHAMPION

The death Of Frederic Passy on the
18th ultimo is a political event OF more
than ordinary gravity
International -an event of such i'm
r.. portance that 1t may
be classed as an inter-
national calamity. Grand 'paladin OF
peace. Frederic Passy was known to all
the world as the champion of liberty
Of peace. good will toward men,.
A few days before his death the rep
resentatives Of all political economy So
cieties assembled In Paris to fete his
ninetieth year and at the same time the
SEVENTEEN anniversary OF the political
economical society Of Paris Of which he
was president. Passy was not present to
receive the bust offered him. being
obliged to remain in bed. He wrote to
his colleagues: MY Dear Friends: 1 do
not make any more speeches; my age.
on which you congratulate me. but which
you should commiserate. prevents all
physical or mental fatigue. l cannot
quit you. however. perhaps never to see
you more. without expressing to you the
gratitude with which 1 have watched
your coming. not only from all parts of
France. but from all countries-which we
persist in calling foreign bringing to
me the evidence OF your sympathy"
With what emotion the assembly Of the
elite OF all nations gathered at the Sor-
bonnie listened to that solemn adieu the
pen may not interpret sufficiently.
Frederic Passy in that letter Of adieu
added: Should l not also, whilst / flnd
myself for the last time in your presence.
ask myself what merits OF mine have
won for me that which you term your
'homages.' Is 1t not Il think 1t has
been said simply the unity of my life.
the fidelity with which. since / have been
lowed the way which had broadly
traced. having no other ambition than to
render myself useful as much as pos
sible?''
The entire man is thus set out in bold
lines in this description Of himself Fred
eric Passy for a fact realizes the lines in
Gray's E1egy:
Along the cool sequestered vale Of life
His sobered wishes never learned to stray.
Political economy revealed to him the
grandeur Of life. There was reason for
that. for. nephew Of Hippolyte Passy
(noted political economist. who died in
1880, he read his uncle's works. and
at an early age he was wondrous wise in
the intricate problems which had been
worked out by the uncle, who was. aside
from his profession, a remarkable minis
ter OF commerce.
4 =
Frederic Passy entered public life In
1S4S as auditor at the council Of state.
and whilst there he attract
Speech cd attention by speech
o.o made at the Mole confer
OF Ao4o. ence." The subject treated
of the suppression of the laws relating to
tariffs and interest the liberty Of country.
the respect Of private initiative and the
care of individual rights. These questions
appeared to him as the essential condition
Of public order and OF social harmony.
But Frederic Passy, beside the teachings
Of his uncle, drew from another rich
source, that Of Michel Chevalier. distin-
guished political economist and statesman,
born at Limoges in 1906. and who died In
Paris in 1879. The name OF Michel
Chevalier parenthetically merits mention
here at a moment when the study OF
political science and economy is attract
ing the attention of American statesmen
as necessary to the solution OF problems
heretofore neglected.
should be known to Americans. for 1t
was in America, having been obliged to
resign his position as mining engineer
in France for political reasons, that ne
wrote q series OF letters which were pub
lished in the Journal des Debats Of Paris
which served as an Introduction to the
scientific societies Of France and estaD-
lished his reputation in Europe. In this
connection it should be mentioned that
as engineer Chevalier first OF all others
suggested the practicability OF construct
ing a canal across the Isthmus Of Panama.
In the celebration In 1915 of the success
full achievement Of that great undertak-
ing by American engineers the name OF
Chevalier should be given high place, even
above that of his emulator Count de
Lesseps.
Michel Chevalier returned to France in
1872 was elected in 1916 deputy to the
chamber from the department of the
Herault, then councillor OF state. senator,
member of the, institute, professor of
political economy in the College OF France.
where he was distinguished for the SUI
periority and excellence of his instruction.
In concert with Golden. with whom
Chevalier was intimate. he was the chief
instigator of the treaty of commerce of
1860 with England He founded likewise,
in his quality as engineer. society for
the construction Of a tunnel under the
channel which would unite France and
England, q proposal which continued until
mosities Of the two nations reciprocally
4 i
ton. perhaps, that induced the distin-
guished engineer and
CheValier political economist to
seek refuge in America.
Al 1AAnoAAe'' He was attracted here
by the ties of parentage, for DR.. Pierre
Chaille, the father of the distinguished of
ficer Of that name of the American revo-
luton, had married Marie Chevalier. and
he was thus closely united to their de-
scendants, the Chailles Of Maryland.
For the benefit of the students of rail-
way construction and political economy.
attention may be directed here to the fol-
lowing books which he published: His
toire ct Description des Votes de Com
munication aux-Etats-U Unis'' QSD). Let
tres Sur Reorganization du Travail QS4S).
Les Brevets d'Invention" QS7S.
Under the inspiration Of the distinguish
ed uncle and that OF his protector and
friend Frederic Passy developed rapidly
into that extraordinary man whose death,
l repeat. is an international calamity. Be-
cause of his tireless energy, Will and con-
slant study he became blind. He corre-
sponded by dictation with all the world,
and above all with economists, to whom
he left nothing unsaid. Like the uncle,
Hippolyte. the nephew held the portfolio
of -finances in the first administration or