Ribbonism
the name assumed by a group of secret associations among the lower classes in Ireland throughout the half century extending from 1820-1870, at its greatest height from about 1835 to 1855. Its origin and organization are alike wrapped in obscurity, but it appears in the beginning at least to have been political in its aims, and it seems probable that it grew out of the northern Defenders who banded themselves to oppose the Orange organization. Earlier associations with somewhat similar aims were the Whiteboys and the Threshers, and, in particular corners of the island, the Carders, Shanavests, and Caravats.
ALEXANDRE FÉLIX JOSEPH, a French statesman. He was born at St. Omer in 1842 and was edu- RIBOT, ALEXANDRE F. J. RIBOT cated at the Lycée of St. Omer. He was admitted to the bar in 1864 and in 1870 became substitut du tribunal de la Seine.
In 1878 he was appointed by M. Dufaure secretary-general of the ministry of jus- RICASOLI tice and in the same year was elected to the Chamber of Deputies. In 1890 he became_minister for foreign affairs in M. de Freycinet's cabinet and continued in that position for three years. ing his tenure of office the alliance be- Durtween France and Russia was concluded.
He was president of the cabinet during the stormy period of the Panama case and became for the second time Prime Minister after the resignation of M.
Casimir-Périer, and SO continued till 1914. He was Minister of Finance during the greater period of the war, 1914- 1917, and became premier again in the latter year. He has opposed the policy of retaliation against the religious orders and his most important speeches have been delivered on finance, foreign affairs, and the question of freedom in teaching. He is a member of the Académie Française et Académie des Sciences Morales et Politiques. His works include: "Life of Lord Erskine," "Réforme de l'enseignement secondaire," "Discours politiques." a