The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-08-26

on this occasion was his fret political speech,
but 1t created an immense sensation. ''For
twenty years." wrote Paris correspondent
soon after, mo such speech has been heard at
the Paris bar" 1t was characterized by great
dignity of manner, energy of diction, and ire
sistible argument and was delivered In voice
of thunder. The young advocate displayed the
possession of q wonderful command of words,
ian extraordinary fertility of Imagination, deep
and thorough culture, profound knowledge of
political philosophy, and above all marvellous
mastery of the art of oratory, which, added to
his stentorian tones, swept everything before it.
At the end of NJ. Gambetta's first great politi-
cal speech, he was Q dangerous man to the cause
of imperialism. The first proof of 1t was in his
return from two different districts as a member
of the Corps Legislatif at the elections of May,
1862 In one of the circunscriptions of the
populous city of Marseilles he was elected
deputy; in the seventh circumscription of Paris
he was urged to present his name; and in the
first circumscription of the latter city he re-
ceived nearly %, 900 votes out of total of
$4,000. He preferred to sit in the Chamber for
Marseilles, and Rochefort the 'irreconcilable,"
a Republican of a far different type, who was
elected in November to represent the first cir
transcription of Paris, received but $4,000 votes
in o total poll of 80, 600.
In the exciting events which preceded and fol-
lowed the ascent of VI. Olivier to power, VI.
Gambetta took a prominent part, and on the
reassembling of the Corps Legislatif on the 9th
of August, after the outbreak of the present
war, was at once recognized as leader of the
opposition to the late Prime Minister On the
10th of August he signalized his devotion to the
country in the hour of its peril by insisting that
the discussion of the proposition to arm the
people against the invader should not be post
poned, and, although the names of the new
Ministers had just been announced, was unwill-
ing in his excessive zeal, to give them any time
for deliberation on question which, as French
man, he thought needed no delberation. In
common with Theirs, the veteran statesman and
Orleanist leader, he joined hands with Count
de Palikao, the new Premier in the crisis,
but urged with all his eloquence that the new
Ministry should prove itself worthy the conf
dence of the nation.
ut would be singular" he Said, "for Ministry
which owes its existence to the necessity OF acting
with promptiiude to be the cause OF fresh obssruc
tions. You have been brought to power by pre-
dominant idea; beg you to remain faithful to it,
and not betray the authority reposed in you. uni
have opposed to us the entire German nation, which
has been preparing since 1850, and France also must
be armed You ask II the country has dege,,erated
for arms. On such a question the Government
ought already to have formed an opinion"
When, on the 18th, NJ. Jules Favre made a
proposition for the appointment by the Cham
bers of a Committee of Defense, to be entrusted
with supreme power, NJ. Gambetta made an
earnest speech in its support, but IL received
only fifty or sixty votes, and was therefore lost.
On this occasion, his enmity to the Bonaparte
dynasty cropped out side by side with his devo-
ton to France, and he declared unhesitatingly,
in the midst of great confusion, that ION such
subject there must be no trickery; the Cham
bers must pronounce between the safety of the
State and that of dynasty" On account of
the manifestations of approval with which his
assaults on the empire were received, 1t was
found necessary to clear the galleries and pro-
ceed in secret session. I'd ... .. rf ..f
Within day or two past NJ. Gambetta has
given clearer evidence of his spirit On the
Oath he boldly assailed the majority as having
been the cause of the war, and such was the
indignation manifested by the men who have
heretofore been the servile tools of Napoleon,
that his harsh indictment developed an uproar
sufficient to drown his voice and bring the ses-
sion to close in even a greater tumult than
usual. NJ. Gambettas conduct on this occasion,
according to the dispatches which are permit
ted to be sent from Paris, is generally blamed
on account of its indiscretion, and denounced
by the press generally as ''ill-timed." But
NJ. Gambetta doubtless knows what he is
about, and, while devoting all his energies
to the promotion of the national cause aud the
repulsion of the invaders, is not disposed to
suffer the men who by their servility are re-
sponsible for the war to escape the rebuke they
so richly merit. recent Paris letter says that,
young as he is, M. Gambetta shows more of the
quality of political leader than any other mem
Der of the Corps Legislatif except the veteran
Theirs. With him he has of late fairly divided
the leadership of the movement for a universal
arming against the Prussian invaders and the
salvation of the country, without regard to the
fate of the Bonaparte dynasty, at the cost of
any and every sacrifice. s-.....
Thus far he has apparently reposed the ut
most confidence in the present ministry, or, at
leas', in Count de Palikao, its head. few
days ago, it is said that, at meeting of a dozen
prominent Republicans, he was asked if Count
de Palikao deserved all the trust he seemed to
place in him, to which he is reported to have
answered." Yes, because he is a traitor" An
alliance based on no stronger foundation can
not long endure. In the turbulent and momen-
tous scenes which are IN store for Paris, the
young advocate with the stentorian voice is des-
tined TO play leading, perchance paramount,