Alexandre Ribot

In 1878 Alexandre Ribot assumed his place at the left-center of the French Chamber of Deputies. From here he began a lifelong effort to establish a moderate republic based upon his conception of liberal political values. The time seemed propitious to instill lofty purpose into French political life, for his entry into the Chamber coincided with the consolidation of the republican regime following the crisis of 16 May. But the first wave of republican anti-clericalism revealed the fragility of Ri