, 1872-12-01

1B Bald IN the dispatches from Paris I can but
believe exaggeration, and exaggeration from po7
asked him what word should carry back to our
people from his. Tell them,' he replied very
simply, to cherish kind and brother1y feelings
towards Us, as We do on oGr part, and tell them
La France est.t''anquile.' And that you know is
much to say Of France-that last. At least it
must be 80 considered for some time to come"
"Certainly there ia no little want Of harmony
between II. THEIRS and the Assembly atpresent." g"
swell, of course, that is true to some extent,
even when allowances are made for the color Of
your dispatches. France is by no means unit
on political questions, and the parties which are
opposed to II. Theirs and the Republic are repre-
sonted, OF course, in the National Assembly
very largely. But I think if there is anything
just now worthy to bo called G crisis, II. Thiers
will weather it. I think he will weather it, In
deed he seems to be the one man for the place.
q sort Of what We might Gull here at hcme a
shut gap, and for some time to come my idea
is that be will be very useful to his country"
''The parties in opposition to him are of
course strong?'
"Assuredfy; but calling Ii. Thiers the Re-
public for the present, think he is stronger
than any one Of the parties who are hostile to
him and the Republic, if indeedhs is not strong
er than they all. The first, at least, I should
hold to be true. In the first place there is
Napoleon, the ex-Emperor. OF course be is al
ways to be considered when 4 change Of the rn1-
ers Of France is thought Of Then there are the
Count de- Chambord, Henri T., the leader OF the
Legitimists The yonng Count t; de Paris, the
male. But all these, you know, arc divided
among themse1yes-hopelessly SO, it would ap-
pear--and their union would be necessary to
Overthrow the Republic. Nov, l maybe wrong, OF
course: lmay prove -. to b., n false prophet, a,3
be unsafe to say the republic is firmly eBtab-
ished, nevertheless it is the ultimate form OF
government in France, and is lsely to remain
IN power nov. Even il it shonld be OYER
thrown tomorrow, say, and eome other form Of
for eix months, it might last for year, but
doubt il it would any longer, aud during and
long after that time you knoW Trance could not
be kranQuine. There would be more or less
destroying art and general diaconteut, if nothing
worse."
"And is France republic that is to say,
does your own acquaintance With the French
people and their representative men lead you to
believe they are fitted for and satisfied with
republican government }"
= when met II. Gambetta that WAS the first
question I asked him, Said NJ. Gambetta, is
FRANCE republic?' ? and his reply was Mr.. Sum
ner, France is d republic" :"
"But is Gambotta q qualified judge2"
He said to me, with the confident air Of ono
OF our own politicians when speaking Of the po-
liticl complexion OF his State or district, Mr.
Summer, know France, every inch Of it, snd
be true. He has come into personal contact
with the people Of manF Of the eighty-eight de-
partments, aad from his Own friends and his
own correspondents has been enabled to form
population Of France at 81. 900, 900, and Of that
number he thinks 1000, 90 are true republic
ans, heart and SOUL"
';Do you regard him IS candid man Z"
About his candor have nothing to say. He
received me very coartcousE, and of courae I
Yut her ~ H,at
enthusiast, Of course, and equally Of course he
doesn't regard I'll tho 220(D 900 Of whom he
speaks as Radical Republicans. Personally ho
is extremely atfable, un1 in lis manner and con-
xersation is extremely excited. You know in
France it is customary for astranger to make
the first call, end when it was suggested to mo
to visit Ii. Galnbetta, I h.d some hesitation
about an intrusion. He, however, had heard Of
my being in town, and sent me request to call
upon him, which did, and we he! long md
agreeable talk about tho politics Of both coun-
tries"
8. Personally you were pleased with President
Theirs, OF course 2"
'.Delighted. had several long conversations
with him. My first visit We devoted to politics,
studies. or course il. Thierp, no one M needs to to
be told ls an accomplished scholar of very rare
ability. And as I was constantly comparing
What !! saw abroad and the same thinga bore
the public mon Of France aud our OWL could
ecA4 ltiy Aelp tulHAlng tuat conversation on
literature and art with II. Theirs Was as improv-
ing and as interesting aa similar one with our
own President would be apt to prove. Some
times my comparisons proved to be contrasts.
IL. Theirs speaks in q loW, quiet. thoughtful
wayLperhaPs way l cannot m better describe his man
t:1sn't the reputation which he has acquired of
being queru1ouB at times q deserved ono, then Z"
Oh, I'm glad yon asked that question. ]
know be has been called querulous and petu1ant
oftenttmes BY many correspondents who. per-
haps consider that old age and courtesy we're in
capable OF association. But if II. Theirs ever
justifies any Of those aspoEsions he must be q
very different man on the floor Of the Assembly
from that which he is in private. am glad to
tsstlfy against these reports. Nothing more op-
manner can possibly be conceived. AS I told
you, he entertains the kindliest feelings towards
our country, and expressed them to me fre-
qnently.. cannot but regard tie CONVEX
slon to the cause Of Republcanism Of such q
man, so great 8 scholar, 30 eminent thinker.
argues very strongly for the success Of the Re-
public @'S
'' Is it not possible, certainly, to ascribe his
to ambitious motives ~
r possible. don't think it would be lust,
u. Theirs had earned for himself very high
reputation, and might readily hare retired into
private life and hive enjoyed it's seclusion and
quiet. while loaded with honors. Hs was not
only famous you know, IS a historian, writer
y EiltlGS Dull uOuot, IL u1S generation has Been
0 greater PRrliamentaran, either in Franca
England, or our OWL country, than M. Thiera
has proven himself OF course, any one can
say what he is pleased to about the insinceritv
Of q conversion from monarchisnl to republi-
caniem when very great prize might be re-
garded as the reward, but there is the other
view, which is, think, more tenable and much
preferable"
'' Is it not the case that most Of the pnh1ic
men in France are fashioned in the aalne way:
mean that they are intelligent, educated. cui-
tured, refned-in short, the opposite Of what il
generally understood by the term politician ~
"1ndeed it is. II. Theirs has selected Ills Cab
met with admirable discretion. It is composed.
IF men who are not only ell that you mention.
but Who are equally remarkable for their knovl,
5dge Of affairs. / dined with Meseieurs Con-
lard and de Remusat, the Ministers OF Mnanca
and Foreign Affairs, and was extremely pleased
with what saw Of them. We have ali read lie
splendid articles which some years since M. de-
Kemuaat used to publish in the reviews and
magazines, and admired his terse, forcible
style not less than the brilliancy Of what be
wrote and meeting him Was indeed eratifca-
lion. I met, too n. Jules Simon, the Minister
IT Public Instruction, who crested me very cor
lially: II. Simon is 3 lesson to very many per-
sons, + assure you. He lives with extreme sim
p1icity, aud in lodgings on fifth story Ger
tain1y be has not used politics as a means Of
amas6ing wealth."