The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-05-10
A STALE AGITATOR.

From the N. Y. Tribune.
One of the worst disasters that befell
France in that long chain which began with
Weissemburg, and is not yet ended, was the
escape of M. Gambetta in balloon from the
beleaguered city of Paris. 1t is probable that
if that lucky air-ship had only landed within
the Prussian lines, the absence of the fiery
Gascon would have done better things for
France than ever his presence could. The
conduct of the army suffered materially from
his fussy incapacity, and his verbose and un-
truthful proclamations blinded the strug-
Cling nation at the moment when it most
needed a clear and accurate view of the
situation of affairs. When the siege and
the war ended together, instead of recogniz-
ing the existence of the actual state of
thirgs, he sought an unnatural excitement
in defiance, and, losing his head completely,
revolted at once from the dictates OF COM
mon sense and the authority of the Govern
ment of the republic. Deprived of his
functions for this outbreak of lunatic en-
thusiasm, he has been biding his time to
catch another opportunity of riding the
whirlwind.
He seems to have imagined that his chance
was come in the present anarchy OF Paris and
the terrible embarrassment of the Govern
ment. Seizing the pretext of M. Thiers ap-
perent understanding with the Prussians, he
issues circular to the projects of France,
ordering, under an authority as vague as that
by which Ethan Allen demanded the Fort of
| Ticonderoga, the election of delegates to a
| new Assembly to convene at Bordeaux for the
purpose of overruling the national legislative
| body at Versailles He followed up this
| absurd act of unsupported revolution by going
about canvassing in favor of his circular, and
the Government thus insulted and defed could
do no less than order his arrest on the charge
of seditious conduct. They will hardly know
| what to do with him when they have caught
! him. He has not even yet, after all his esca-
pades, entirely lost that enthusiastic following
which made him the popular idol during the
early days of the last year, and 1t may be found
almost equally dangerous to punish or to ne
glect him. His recent performances are all
the more unaccountable, because of the sim
gular discretion and propriety of his short
Legislative service under the Empire He had
gained his election by outspoken radicalism,
and people naturally expected a violent scene
in the Legislative Body on his first appear
ance there. But equally to the surprise OF
enemies and adherents, he made close,
logical, temperate, and thoroughly courteous
arraignment of the Empire, which was all the
more effective in its substance from the mo-
deration of its form. He harangued the stu
dents of the Latin Quarter who were clamor
ing for immediate action, oounsellin(
agitation by peaceable and legal way
| as infinitely better than insurrection
Yet while gaining the sutfrages OF the
party of order, he did not lose the hearts o
the turbulent masses. His popularity grew
with all classes, until, when the gilt anC
! pasteboard show of imperial rule fell t.
pieces with the shock of Sedan, there was n,
, man in France more generally esteemed ant
regarded than Leon Gambetta. But when b,
, sailed out of Paris in his balloon, one nigh
, also conclude that in the hurry of departur
he had left his character behind him. Fo
the same man never reappears in the histor,
, of the times-but in his stead creature 0
, bombast and vanity, and reckless rhodo
, montade, who touches nothing without mar
/ ring it, and never says useful or practica
word.
J All times of revolution are expensive II
, men and in regulations, but this last troubles
{ year of France has been especially filled wit
, easily broken tools. The statesmen Of tn
gutter, who rise and fall in a day, are no
welthy Of enumeration; but of the solid am
, substsuiial names, to which both sides locke