The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1871-01-25
Gambetta.

The Boston Post very graphically
summarizes and speculates upon this
very extraordinary young man. We
quote its lively, readable article:
1t is not easy for an observer of the
Saxon race to appreciate this Leon
Gambetta. His lofty contempt for
truth Is the salient point which Offends
our Yankee sense of propiety, as it
offends our British cousins. Punch,
not long ago, recognized his existence
in a cartoon; but it was sketch show
ing him insolently shutting the door
in the face of Truth, and resenting her
attempt to communicate with France
as she stood fondly coming over a
bulletin of delusive victories. Thomas
Carlyle has sheer for him as Min
lister flying over the country in bal
loon ballasted with nothing but out
rageous public lies. But this view,
just as it is, is nevertheless one-sided
and overlooks those traits of tempera-
mcnt and race which make variety in
the world.
The London Spectator, in an article
published Il few weeks ago, pointed
out some of the things which this man
has actuallp done, using an occasional
falsehood to keep up the public courage
h.
just as that first Napoleon, who con-
stantly occurs as n suitable COMPARE
son in treating Gambetta, was accus-
toned to employ the Same instrument
when it served his purpose. He has
leaped into the position he holds with
no more authority than the first loun-
ger one meets in Washington street
might assume to be Mayor of Boston
in case of riot. But he has made ar
mies-not only armies in name, but
armies capable of fighting battles, and
of winning partial victories, armies
with artillery and commissaliat. He
has made immense contracts, reaching
all over the world, for armies and am
munition. He has put down local in
surrectiOns in various cities, tlirusting
such men as Train and Clusuret into
Jail, and shooting others without mercy.
He has introduced discipline, not
only among soldiers, but among gem
erals, neither of whom in France, for
the past ten years, have known the
meaning of the word. And he has
done this without military training or
experience in public administration, a
young man whose one great gift, that
of fcrvid eloquencc, has not been gen
orally deemed sign of qualification
for the duties of practical statesman
ship. That man who has done all
this has lied now and then in doing SO,
seems no more a suitable point for
criticism in the light of accomplished
results, than the fact that Sheridan
broke one of the commandments many
times in the torrents of words with
which he rallied a beaten army at
Cedar Creek.
But we must wait for the end before
fully estimating the character and the
worth of this enthusiastic, laborious,
thickset, black bearded lawyer OF
thirty-fve, who flies over Bismarck
and Won Malta -, n 1>oIIoo, l,alu.
up within ritie-shot of the enemy is a
railway train, rides rough-shod over
the prejudices of venerable generals,
snuffs out an empire with one hand
and brushes socialist conspiracy with
the other, is in every part of France at
once, and keeps up the enthusiasm OF
great people and of his own heart
under the most discOuraging circum-
stances known to history. OF all the
conflicting rumors with which our sole
remaining cable has perplexed us dur
ing the last few days, none is more
significant than the story that Gam
beta at last contemplated an armistice.
From our last advices this appears to
be true; but of this we may be sure
when Leon Gambctta takes a step to-
ward surrender, France is indeed at
the end of her struggle.
~~~-o~ -
SWEET POTATO VINES FOR HAY.
"A South Carolina farm er SAYS: