JULES FAVRE.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2139, 29 January 1880, Page 3

JULES FAVRE.

The folio wing sketch of this eminent statesman, whose death at the age of 70 has just been telegraphed, is taken “ Men of the Times:”— Gabriel-Claude-Julcs Favrc, a French statesman, born at Lyons, March 31 1800, was prosecuting his studies for the bar at the outbreak of the revolution of July, 1830, in ■which he took an active part. He. soon afterwards commenced practice, whilst the independence of his character, the bitter irony of his address, and the radicalism of his opinions, made Lima reputation, and he has remained the consistent champion of French [Republicanism, in the press, in the different national assemblies, and at the bar. After the revolution of Feb. 1818, he became Secretary-General of the Ministry of the Interior, and was the author of the circular to the Commissioners of the Provincial Government, as well as of the “ Bulletins ” of the same year. He officiated for some time as Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs, voted for the prosecution of MM. Louis Plane and Caussidicre for their .complicity in the insurrection of Juno, 1818 ; refused to join in a vote of thanks to Gen. Cavaignaco, and opposed tiro expedition to Home of Dec. 1818. He became the strenuous opponent of Louis [Napoleon, after the latter’s election to the Presidency, and of Montague on the flight of M. Lcdru Ilollin. Elected after the coup d'eiat of 1851 to the General Council of the Loire ct-Pln'me, he refused to take the oath to the new constitution. His defence of Orsini in 1858 created a great sensation by its boldness and eloquence. In the same year he became a member of the Legislative body-, since which time he has distinguished himself by his speeches in favour of complete liberty of the press, against the law of “deportation,” the war with Austria of 1859, and in 1801 by an attack on the policy of the Imperial Government in the Mexican War. At the general election of 1809 M. Favrc narrowly escaped losing Ids scat. He was proposed for various constituencies, but it was thought he had the host chance in the 7th eirconscrlption of the Seine, and the Ist circon script ion of the Phone. At Lyons, however, lie sustained a severe defeat, polling only 5,991 votes against 16,985 recorded in favour of the Socialist candidate M. Paspail. lu Paris the contest was a closer one. M. Fravre was opposed by M. Cantagrel, who held very advanced radical opinions, and M. Henri Pocliofort, who was well known to be particularly odious to the Government. The result of'the first ballot showed that out of 34,308 votes recorded M. Favrc obtained only 12,028 against 10,033 given to Ilochcfort and 7,137 to Cantagrel. The latter thereupon retired, but M. Ilochcfort maintained his candidature. M. Favre, however, was returned by 18,267 votes against 14,503 given to his opponent. On the downfall of the Empire and the establishment of the Government of the National Defence, he Avas appointed Minister of War (Sep. 1870) in Avhich capacity he proceeded, on the 18th of that month, to the head quarters of the Ping of Prussia at Ferriercs, in order to consult with Count Bismarck as to the terms on Avhich an armistice could be arranged for the purpose of permitting elections for a Constituent Assembly to take place.' The negotiation came to nothing, in consequence of Count Bismarck insisting, as a preliminary condition, on (lie surrender of Strasbnrg, Toni, and Verdun. In Jan. 1871, M. Favre Avas invited by Lord Granville to attend, as representative of Franco, the conference held in Loudon on the Black Sea question, but he declined to do so for various reasons, one of the principal being the refusal of Count Bismarck to provide him Avith a safe conduct. M. Favre resigned the otfico of Minister for Foreign Affairs July 23, 1871, and on the Ist of the following mouth ho made his re-appearance in his robes as a barrister in the Salle des Pas Pcrdus, at the palace of Justice. Since then lie has actively resumed practice at the bar. He Avas elected batonnicr of the Order of advocates at Paris in Aug. 1860, and again in 1861, and a member of the French Academy in May, 1867. Many of his most famous speeches have been published, and he is also the author of several pamphlets. The

principal of these, are,:Do la Coalition dcs Chefs d’ Atelier a Lyon,” 1833 ; “ Anathemo,” 1833 ; “Sixiemo Proces du Precufseur,” 1833; Affaire Ladvocat et Boullcnois,” 1837 ; “ Biographic Contemporaine,” 1837, of which only two numbers were published ; “La Liberie do la Prcsse,” 1819, and “ Defence de Felix Orsini,” 1866.