Show THE FRENCH PREMIER t I France has just passed very successfully success-fully through a cabinet crisis M Bourgeois has been succeeded as premier by Felix Jules Meline M Meline is not unknown to French poli I tics By profession he Is a lawyer He has always been a high tariff man A I bographical sketch of him in an exchange ex-change says he was elected a member of the commune but declined the office I He was made a riaituonal acQsmibly man in 1872 and four years later was elected to the chamber For fifteen I years he was almost constantly before I the public as deputy or as filling some function under the patronage or necessity neces-sity of some ministry He was undersecretary under-secretary of the interior with Grevy but resigned at one months end Lwter I he was made a member of the tariff commssion ard in 1880 he battled with I the party m power for protection making I mak-ing his influence felt in all directions ISo I-So totally was he convinced of the i strength of his position that he favored a protection that was practically prohibitive I pro-hibitive Tne only concessions he would listen to were a few points in favor of Switzerland and the United States One year thereafter he was returned as a deputy In 1883 we find him minister of agriculture Retiring in 1885 with Ferrys cabinet he went back to the chamber and in 1888 he presided over that body Since then he has been in the chamber at odd times I and has never been out of the public eye He is a sharp politician a good statesman and thoroughly understands the temper of His countrymen His ministry waIl most lIkely be very much the same as those that have preceded pre-ceded it So far as foreign matters are concerned it is sure to be conservative |