LOUBAT, Joseph Florimond, We-Hi-mond Duc DE, French author and philanthropist: b. New York, 21 Jan. 1831. He was graduated from the University of Paris and has been a liberal giver to public institu tions, among his benefactions of this char acter being a gift of $1,000,000 to Columbia University, including valuable books and manu scripts. He has likewise given much to the Roman Catholic Church, and in recognition of this fact received his title of Duc de Loubat from Pope Leo XIII in 1893. He has written 'Narrative of the Mission to Russia in 1866 by G. V. Fox' ; 'Medallic History of the United States.' LOUBET, Emile Francois, French statesman: b. Marsanne (Drome), 1838. He was graduated in law at Paris, in 1865 was admitted to the bar at Montelimar, attracted attention by his legal ability, became counsel for the Paris, Lyons and Mediterranean Rail way, in 1869 was elected conseiller d'arrondis sement. and 4 Sept. 1870 was chosen mayor of Montelimar. Elected in 1871 to the general council of the Drome, of which he afterward (1885) became president, he was returned to the Chamber of Deputies for Montelimar in 1876, where he served with the Republican left until 1885. In 1885 he entered the Senate for the department of Mtme, and from December 1887 until April 1888, when he retired with his colleagues of the ministry, filled with much credit the post of Minister of Public Works in the Tirard Cabinet. He was chairman of the Finance Committee of the Senate in 1890, chairman of the Customs Committee in 1893; and on 29 Feb. 1892 was made Premier by President Carnot. His Cabinet, in which he held the portfolio of the Interior, lasted until November of that year, when its retirement was caused by attacks on its supposed laxity in the prosecution of the Panama case. In 1896
he was chosen president of the Senate. Upon the sudden death of President Faure (16 Feb. 1899), the National Assembly met in congress (18 February) and elected Loubet President of the Republic on the first ballot. His position in politics is that of a moderate Republican, without the tendency to Radical views some times ascribed to him. He has been not only a skilful administrator, but a close student of economic questions. He is a protectionist, though not of the extreme type, and an ad vocate of economy in finance, having made an able speech on financial reform in 1895. His administration as President did much to strengthen the Republicans, and the Monarchist party has almost entirely disappeared as a serious factor in national affairs. Among the events of his term were the trial of Captain Dreyfus at Rennes and the remission of the 10 years' sentence there passed upon him; the strike of the miners at Montceau and of the dock-workers at Marseilles; the complete separation of Church and State and the dis turbances attendant on the passing of the law of the associations; and the conclusion of an entente with England, which left France a free hand in Morocco in return for non-inter vention in Egypt. In 1906 he was succeeded in the Presidency by Clement Armand Failieres (q.v.). See FRANCE — HISTORY.