The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1913-01-31

On the contrary, we have held that
the hope of arriving at peaceful solu-
ton depended wholly on the possibili-
ty Of bringing about general negotia-
tions, and we have worked from the
outset to open the way for these ne
gotiations.
so the powers considered the DOS
sibility of offering their collective med
iation to the belligerents. But In or
der that this offer might not be re-
1ected by the victors, 1t was necessary
to guarantee to them that none of the
mediators sought to appropriate all or
a part of the fruits of their success.
Therefore, France proposed, in the Of
fer OF international mediation, to in
sert a clause of dlsinterestedness
None Of the Balkan States misunder-
stood our purpose and all have ex-
pressed their thanks to us. While re-
serving our rights and respecting the
interests of others, we were able to
propose to the great powers the re-
quotation of all territorial annexation
This was, in regard to the Balkan
States, an act of wisdom and of ius-
tice. But will an agreement be
reached? That is the secret of to.
morrow. If, unhappily, rupture
should take place the role of Europe
will not be ended. Europe could not
show indifference before a renewal of
hostilities which would risk now. per-
haps, more than ever the expansion of
the area of conflagration. Europe
would, no doubt, return to her first
idea of mediation. France would in
any case continue with all her. power
to second and, if necessary, to urge
the efforts of the powers in favor of
peace. But however sincere may be
our pacific intentions, of which, since
the beginning of the crisis, we have
given repeated proofs, yet we are
firmly determined to defend our inter-
ests and our rights without yielding,
W hilihtdlh lhC 6lOdI OI
France in the Orient, and, above all, to
safeguard that intangible and sacred
thing which is called national honor"
These sentences reveal the man bet
ter than any descriptions; his lucidity,
his logical force, his considerate cour-
tesy, his courage, his high ideal of
honor. While these qualities were
innate, his life and training did much
to develop them. He was born at
Bar le-Duc in 1860. His father, Nicho-
las Poincare, who belonged to an old
family of the Mouse Valley, was a man
of, culture and scientific attachments.
A few years earlier was born at Nancy,
halfway between Barbecue ana
Strasburg, a cousin of the future
statesman, Henri Poincare, the world
famous mathematician, who died last
year. The generation or Frenchmen
to which they belonged is marked by
certain severity. "The breath of the
lost provinces" has filled their hearts.
AS NJ Raymond Poincare himself has
said, the patriotism of a Lorrainer,
adolescent in 1870, is necessarily of
supple steel. Such a one is better in.
formed, more awakened, more sensi- |
tive. He need make no effort of men,
DRY to recall the trials of the past. |
They have left before his eyes ensan-
guined traces which are not effaced.
Raymond Poincare passed his school
days at Nancy, and he has given de-
lightful and humorous account of his
trepidation before the examiner, Emile
Gebhart, to whose chair in the French
Academy he succeeded, and a eulogy
on whom, according to the graceful
custom of that body, he was called on
10 pronounce. Soon after he gained
MS bachelors degree, Paris began to
exercise her fascination on him. There
le completed his studies, took his doc
.or's degree, and was called to the
1ar At twenty-three he was first
secretary of the conference of lawyers,
Ind in that capacity pronounced a
,ulogy on Defaure which won admira-
ion. From 1883 to 1885 he wrote for
he Voltaire, when his fellow-Lorrainer,
)evelle, then Minister of Agriculture,
made him chief of his department.
Raymond Poincare, who was then
had already made his mark
is lawyer and writer. A seat in
he popular house, that for Commercy,
/ few miles from Barbecue, his home,
falling vacant in July, 1887, Raymond
Poincare became a candidate as a
Liberal Republican" and was elected
by an enormous majority. He repre-
sented this electoral district uninter-
until 1908, when he was elect
ed Cenatnr FOR the Denartment of tho