The New York herald., 1873-01-27
The Republican Party in France-nI
Gambetta and Hts Position.

Gambetta and Hts Position.
MIR. Carlyle, in one of his essays, makes this
quaint, ''moral reflection -seThat neither thou
norL good reader, had any hand in tho making
Of this Mirabeau; else who knows but we had
objected in our wisdom. But it was the upper
powers that made him, without once consult
ing u.s. They and not we, SO and not other
WISE" Ii there be any conservative readers
who object to the reappeagance Of N. Gam
beta in the columns of the HERALD as radi-
cal, an agitator or destroyer of society. or in
any way representing these elements Of chaos
and disorder, which so often unsettle the policy
of France, then we say it was the supper
powers that made M. Gambetta, without
once consulting us-that he is among living
| Frenchmen one of the most considerable, and
his opinions are apt to direct the opinions and
actions of many millions Of his countrymen.
Nor can we well understand the interesting
problems now solving in that strange country
without noting carefully what M. Gambetta
and men like him have to say. s4
M. Gambetta might, without injustice, be
called a boy in politics. He is now about
thirty-fve years of age, and two years ago he
was master Of France, or, at least, as much Of
France as Prussia did not occupy. Public men
do not as general thing. reach their growth
at thirty-fve, and in Europe especially, where
the three most conspicuous living rulers
are each verging on eighty. Young men
have risen to eminence in history-men like
Napoleon, Lord Give, Hoche, Alexander
| L,.kt ty~o:-
political phenomenon. Revolutions are like
earthquakes, and men unknown and young
are thrown up conspicuously and capriciously
as in . night The French Revolution was
the work of young men, and there is pain
full interest in recalling tho leaders of that
extraordinary movement and seeing that they
were nearly all under forty. Is it that youth
welcomes change, opportunity, new ideas,
conflict, and grows impatient with conseyy-
i atisp and formP :. Or is Il, as may be reason
ably argued, that The men who really belong
to generation know its temper and respon-
sibilities instinctively and are better leaders
better as reformers and teachers than those
who have gone before? Gambetta showed
that he possessed this instinct when, in the
glory Of the Empire he struck the first blow
at Napoleonism. That Notwithstanding in
1868-recalled Mrabeaus famous oath in the
tennis court. From that day, whether for
good or evil, Gambetta became q power in
France.
The men Of the Revolution, between whom
and Gambetta we see o resemblance, were, like
him, uncertain and erratic. The world admires
but does not follow them. They preach the
| gospel of Instruction. thing we'll enough in
its way, but which must in time give way to
the gospel of reconstruction. But their char
acters have often irregularity and rugged
ness. A man can only live 50 many events
and opportunities, whether his years be thirty
nine or ninety-three. Napoleon was a young
man when be became ruler of France; yet
what centuries rolled into his single life
Napoleon paid the penalty which young men
who come suddenly to greatness too often pay.
They challenge the envy of mankind, and
envy in time will do its work. Napoleon
lived long enough to make his followers great;
he was left to fade away and die in exile, while
they welcomed the new conner who permitted
them to enjoy in impunity what their benefac-
tor gave them. Lord Give died young, having
offended England with his wealth and his
glory, and died, too, with his own hand
Many Frenchmen believe that Hoche was
murdered by those who envied him his fame
We sometimes question whether Alexander
Hamilton could have carried to old age the
power and glory that rested upon him when he
rol lacar u
of the Revolution in France were in nothing so
sincere as in their efforts to destroy each other
Young men like Vergniaud and mis- party were
destroyed by still younger men like Danton,
who, in their turn, were overwhelmed by q
party-one leader Robespierre, aged thirty
four, and the other st. just, aged twenty
five. SO that even this law in history, like
other strange laws, has its compensations;
and, while glory and power sometimes come to
youth, youth must in return encounter all that
is precious and desired in mans early days.
M. Gambetta is learning this lesson. AT thir-
ty-two he was master of France. At thirty
four France regards him as an emblem of
inquietude and disorder. The nation applauds
his vivacity and courage, but gives its money
and its votes to the venerable Thiers.
1t is difficult not to see, also, in the charac-
ter of Gambetta, especially as shown in the
interview with our correspondent, an empirical
quality. For instance, he gives us hiss plat
form for form Of government in France, and
sketches his plan for constitution. This is
the first publication of his views on this SUBJ
] ject and will have deep interest in France as
well as America But it is disappointing, and
does not show an original mind. He wants
President This President, however, must
have as much power as an Emperor; for
France, he thinks, cannot move along without