The New York herald., 1872-11-27
Return Of Hon. Charles Sumner from
His European Tour.
HE INTERVIEWS TIMERS AND GAMBETTA.
Message to the American People from the
Chief Of the French Nation.
LA FRANCE EST TRANQUILLE."
Senator Summers Views on General Grant,
Horace Greeley, John Bright
and the Boston Fire.

Yesterday morning the revenue steamboat Mo.
cassin was sent down the bay to meet the steamer
Baltic from Liverpool, and on which it was re-
ported the Hon. Charles Sumner was passenger.
At nine O'Clock the incoming vessel was met or
Staten Island, and the Senator was taken on board
the smaller craft and carried to Whitehall, where
he took q carriage and drove up to the Brevoort
House. Here he found Congressman Hooper and
family awaiting to welcome him home after his
brief European tour he having left the United
States on the Sd OF last September.
During the afternoon q visit was paid to the Sem
ator by HERALD reporter, who found Mr. Sumner
seated In his bedroom with Mr.. Hooper, and look.
ing the personifcation Of good health. The follow
ing conversation then ensued as to French and
home politics, Mr.. Summers visits various celeb
rites while abroad, the Boston fire and other kim
dred subjects-
REPoRrER-What do you think Of the stability OF
the French Republic, may ask, Mr.. Sumner9
Mr.. SUMNER-I think that President Thiers is the
right man in the right place. When left him
| lately in Paris said to him, 'What word shall
carry back to the American people as to the Repub
lica" M. Theirs promptly said,
! "LA FRANCE EST TRANQUILLE."
In repeated conversations with him found that
he possessed singulary moderate views and talked
| like statesman. Formerly, as you know, he was
| in favor OF monarchcal government but he now
willingly accepts the new order Of things, believ-
ing it to be the only practical for France to
adopt
REPoRTER-I suppose you conversed with the
leaders Of the principal factions on the same SUBJ
jectf
Mr.. SUMNER-Certainly. I had long converse
tions with Gambetta, the Count OF Paris, Duke of
Aumale, Edmond About, the celebrated writer;
Laboulaye, also several leading legtimists, and, in
fact, during the four weeks was In Paris studied
attentivey could the diverse public opinions,
and from all these sources came TO the opinion
have arrived at with reference to the stability OF
the French Republic. l read in the HERALD that
the majority of the Right is willing to accept Presi
dent Theirs resignation should 1t be offered, and
in such General Changarnier is to be appointed
President but sincerely hope that no such thing
| will take place, for am profound believer in
the efficacy Of NJ THEIRS rule.
REPoRTER-The idea prevails here generally
that France Is on the eve Of anarchy, and that no
on account Of the fcEleness OF her people
THE FRENCH BECOMING MORE SERIOUS:
| Mr.. SUMNER-I differ from tina view, and firmly
| believe, from my late experience III that country
that the people are becoming more serious They
moment; the pressure Of q foreign army ON their
soil, the payment OF those milliards to the Prus-
slams. and many other things too numerous to
mention. Politics, as we, phrase 1T here, undoubt-
edly run high in France at the present moment,
| but anarchy Is not impending, DelleVe me.
DELIGHTED WITH PRESIDENT THEIRS
was charmed with President Theirs. The dig
nifty Of his conversation and the charm OF his man
| ners led me to look upon him almost as modern
giant among men. need not allude to his intelli-
gence. In some respects he was more agreeable
than could have supposed. a!lude to dogmatlc
op 2ions which 1t might be supposed are incidental
10 a man OF his learning and views, but found him
open TO conviction and laying down no laws EN-
| phatically without appeal.
REroRfER-I gather from your remarks that you
| are very sanguine as to the future Of France.
frances brilliant inture, for her people are very
intelligent and Woodworking, and cannot fail to
| achieve success with q stable and good govern
ment, and believe that no nation possesses recu-
peratng powers more strongly than she does.
without Republic; but that is absurd The press
| In France Is also doing good service, and consider
Among its most able productions place in the
first rank the Journal des Debats. The greatest
and most enlightened spirits in France are ire-
guent contributors to the daily press and great
good arises therc1rom.
Mn SUMNER INTERVIEWS GAMBETTA.
At this stage Of the conversation Mr.. Hooper re-
marked-"Some of the papers gave q very curious
version OF your interview with Gambetta.'
Mr.; sTMNaR.There was nobody present M Nat with US
may have given an account OF it to the correspond
ent of the London Daily Ners. What am now
going to tell you is the principal subject OF our de-
bate alluded to the fatal expression used by
Henry ~. in the last decade OF tine sixteenth CEN
tury, when besiegng Paris at the head OF the Huge
not army, viz, Paris is worth mass"
The city oered to capitularte 4 Henry would
II
overfures were accepted by him with the laconic
observation just mentioned, that Paris is worth q
mass France accordingly remained Catholic, ard
her history would not have been what 1t is had
those words remained unspoken. Mr.. Gambetta,
was c a. to the saby othe % PRESENT form gov
ernment, but proceeded from the clergy and the op-
position Of the Ultramontane party. Senator sumner
related the conversation textualy in French as it
took place, with ready facility, showing his we'll
grounded knowledge of that language.
| MR.. SUMNER VISITS JOHN BRIGHT.
In England went to visit Mr.. John Bright, at
Rochdale, and we talked together for ten long
| hours over international and other matters. We
had no company and it was to me most agreea
bic interchange Of ideas. The next morning he
told me he had slept well Ia and had not suffered any
been so shattered OF late years as to compel
him to withdraw from the Cabinet. To recruit he
! has become great salmon fisher and walker. AT
the last session OF Parliament he flied his seat but
for couple Of hours, but he told me he intended
session, and to enter into the political arena once
| more. also had the pleasure Of dining with Earl
unable to see Mr. Gladstone as he was out Of town
| While at Paris visited nearly all the picture gal.
eres and Libraries found them much as mad "a
the library at the Louvre by the Communists Is an
| irreparable loss.
| OF THE TWO REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES
| for President he preferred Greeley.
REroRTER,I suppose you will stlll carry the war
Mr.. SUMNER tpausing)-I shall go to Congress
| with the firm intention to try and do my duty
as have ALWAYS tried to do; As to the late
two republicans, and preferred Greeley.
REPORTER-lt was alleged, Senator, on some
! leaving in the midst OF the campaign, and one or
our Grant papers remarked about II, jokingly, that
| friendi"
Mr.. SUMNER with energy Il was obliged to for
| sake him for my prostrated health's sake and to
| forget all exciiements, and ] am happy to state
| that since my departure I have gradually been
| gaining health and force, and have reduced some
| bad symptoms from which have hitherto suffered
| BY perverse fortune, my Old doctor, Mr. Brown Se-
| quad, whom went to call upon directly upon my
! arrival here, has left for France.
| CIVIL SERVICE REFORM
REPORTER-What do you think Of the question OF
/ civil service reform which Is being SO extensively
discussed !?