The Washington herald., 1913-04-11
FOREIGN GOSSIP.
Ioourisht lsls. b. Court Go.ulp sypdio.s.l

4
that same palace Of Versailles where the
fateful votes were cast. It was on Janu-
airy IS. 1871, at the headquarters of the
| invading army at Versailles, that VIII
| liam, King Of Prussia, by his fellow
sovereigns Of the Fatherland, was raised
to the rank Of German Emperor.
The first appearance Of the new cabi.
| net before the French Chamber Of Depn-
| ties was demonstrated that the efforts
of Premier Aristide BRAND to restore
harmony in the Republican camp have
not been successful 1t is true he re-
ceived big majority at the conclusion
of the debate on the general policy
of the French government. but his min
isterial declarations, which he read In
person at the Palais Bourbon, was re-
ceived coldly, although he promised that
his cabinet would continue the policy Of
his predecessor, Poincare. the newly
elected President. in regard to electoral
| reforms, the income tax bill. labor legis-
lation pertaining to the organization Of
mixed associations Of capital and labor.
to ensure to workingmen q proper share
of the profits.
Although Mr.. BRAND announced am
nesty for political offenders as the first
act of bis administration he failed to
enthuse the Socialists. his former col
leagues.
There are four members of the new
BRAND cabinet who did not belong to
that of Premier Poincare. Bathon. JON
nard, Etienne, and Baudin.
Mr. Jonnart, who is sixty-five, Is man
of talent and comes from an old and
wealthy family OF the north of France.
After acting as secretary to the Governor
General of Algeria, he was elected a De-
putty in 1889 and was Minister of Public
Works in the Casimir Perrier cabinet In
1893 In the Chamber he won great popu-
larity as an accomplished orator. But it
is chiefly as Governor General of Algeria
I903 to 1S1D that he made his reputation
as a tactful and energetic man. 1t caused
sensation in official Paris when he re-
signed his post in Algeria as a protest
against the fall Of the last BRAND min
istry.
The late King Edward OF England, dur
ing his cruises in the Mediterranean. was
very fond of stopping over at Algiers.
He had special liking for sturdy, hon
est Mr.. Jonnart, who in reality was one
of the few French men for whom he pro-
fessed high esteem and even affection.
He saw him each year. and in the interval
remained in contact with him by means
of correspondence. Mr.. Jonnarts ex-
periences in Algiers, il would seem,
especially qualify him for the solution
of the complicated problems awaiting
France in Morocco.
Like Mr.. Lloyd-George. the British
chancellor, whom he resembled, Mr.
BRAND has scaled the heights of fame
with amazing CELEBRITY, even seemingly
without effort. No longer than a short
ten years ago he was but a struggling
provincial lawyer, nevertheless the
present is his second call to the dig
nifty of a premier of France, q rare
achievement even for a country of po-
litical possibilities. Mr.. BRAND is an
extraordinary man, who with a velvet
glove canceals a hand Of iron. He
owes his Inc success to q large degree
TO his oratorical powers and great or
ganiZing talent but also to his ability
to seize feeting opportunity at the
psychological moment And he has
shown before that he knows how to
abide his time!
The most striking feature Of strik-
ing face is a pair of cleaning dark
eyes. and to him, too 1.-The impossible
is ever one thing easy of attainment"
Rather tall for a Frenchman, with
slight stoop, his slim frame looks little
fitted TO bear the arduous hours OF par
liamentary and executive work, which
for several years has been his daily
lot. His black straight hair dixie his
short mustache tinged with gray Is
brushed back from a square, massive
forehead. surrounding clever face
with a curiously pensive, almost mel
ancholy expression. He Is n1ty years |
of age.
Aristide BRAND was born at Nantes. |
where his parents kept a small hotel |
Owing TO the humble position of his |
family he found his path from the ele- |
mentary school to the university beset |
with difficulties Nevertheless, he sue
ceeded in accomplishing one of his |
cherished ambitions-the passing of his |
law examination.
After graduating he practiced law at |
st. Nazairc Springing from humble |
stock his sympathies remained with the
poor, the "dsnherited of life" Like |
LLOYD George. he began to study social |
problems as young advocate and made |
the cause of the masses his own. Pretty |
soon "Comrade" BRAND occupied !
leading place among the advanced So
cialists in the Department of the Loire 1
Being recognized as clever propagandist, |
he was made secretary of their party |
Next the idea of entering Parliament !
took possession Of this Socialistic agitator. !
this leader of demagogues. When in 1902 |
he was elected Deputy for the Loire de-
partment his ambitions in that direction
had already received many rebuffS, but !
with Aristide BRAND there was no going
back His foot once on the lowest rung |
of the Parliamentary ladder, he set out !
to climb to the top. He saw that a period
of self-effacement was necessary in order
that people might have time to forget
his revolutionary utterances. But his
keen brain was at work, and soon his
came He had entered Par
lament at a moment when religious strife
was at its height. The separation of
church and state was the yeXed ques-
ton of the day. Some people did not
want a separation law, others insisted
on a radical one. and hoped to strike
a fatal blow at religion in France.
NJ. BRAND. recognizing the desirability
Of Cancellation as a first principle, set
about drafting a separation bill which
should be acceptable TO all parties This
was his golden chance, and to this task
he devoted himself entirely. Brands
bill was found so superior to any other
offered that Parliament adopted it. 1t
called down fierce criticism on the head
Of its author, but BRAND defended his
measure with so mucn ability that M.
Sarrien, when forming his cabinet in
1906 offered him the portfolio of public
instruction, so that he might apply the
law he had created. The fury of his
Socialist comrades on seeing their chief
apostle enter the ministry, did not per-
turb Rriand With such fearlessness did
he fulfill the duties of his delicate posi-
lion that Clemenceau when he succeeded
Sarrien entrusted to him the portfolio of
Justice.
Owing TO his firm attitude at the time
If the railway strike which necessitafed |