The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-05-11
THE NEXT FRENCH PRESIDENT.

Although Marshal Mao1A0uoAo SoAA1
office will not expire before 1880, there
already a good deal of speculation as to b
probable successor. But for the advance
age of Mr.. Theirs, he would, if then livinl
undoubtedly receive the support of all IL
moderate Republicans and Of considerab
proportion of the Orleanists, but it is unfo
tunately probable that his long and distir
guished career as public man will be close
by death before the time arrives for me-
election.
Assuming that MacMahon's lamentabl
want of qualifications as statesman and hi
suspected affiliations with the Legitimis
coterie will more than counterbalance what
ever elements of success his official position
and military prestige might otherwise Civ
him, and that France will not allow herself Il
be dragged again into the dangerous expert
ment of another war with Germany-in which
case a soldier of eminence would doubtless
be preferred to civilian as chief executive
it appears to us that Gambetta is the coming
man.
He is not only the greatest orator Of France
but has lately shown himself to be one of the
most skillfuI parliamentary tacticians Of the
day. 1t was mainly through his efforts and
personal influence that the great body OF the
Simon Pure French Republicans were per.
suaded to enter into the coalition with the
more liberal members of the Right Center OF
Oreanist party in the Assembly which result.
cd in the adoption of the present highly con-
sentative Constitution. With the instinct of a
statesman he saw that the official recognition
of the French Republic BY many Of the most
talented and respected advocates of q con-
stitutional monarchy was an object of such
paramount importance that no sacrifice of in
dividual views and preferences should be
deemed too great to accomplish it, and to
achieve that object he did not hesitate to risk
his popularity and to incur the enmity Of his
more violent and incorporating supporters.
If the republican form Of government he has
been SO instrumental in securing for his
country should become permanent, Gambet-
tas claims to be called upon to preside over it
can scarcely be ignored by those who favor it,
and most Of the prejudice created against him
by the unjust attacks made upon him for his
course during the war has been dispelled by
his late triumphant vindication-av indication
the more complete and honorable for the ex-
Dictator, because reluctantly made by COM
mission of deputies composed almost exclu-
sively of his bitter political enemies.
From a lately published sketch Of this imam
of the future, we extract the following inter-
esting particulars about the gifted orator and
statesman. who may soon be called upon to
guide the destinies of France
1t is impossible to contemplate Gambetta's
genius and career without deep admiration
and before he had reached his thirtieth year,
into conspicuous fame. In December, 1868,
he was called upon to defend newspaper,
which had been guilty of no graver crime than
opening its columns to subscription list in
behalf of q monument to victim to the coup
d'etat Gambettas speech was nominally
lawyers plea of defense; it was really great
orators tremendous indictment against an
empire. 1t rang through France; it stirred
the popular heart to the depths; it alarmed
the Tuileries.
Within a year Gambetta found himself not
only Deputy, but the leader of the "Irrecon-
cilable" opposition, with old heads like Favre
and Simon content to serve under him; and
within two years after his first draueht of
fame he found himself absolute Dictator of
France.
To this height Gambetta unquestionably
rose through sheer intellect and vigor of
character. When the news of the disaster of
Sedan reached Paris, Jules Favre rose in the
Corps Legislatif and moved the abolition Of
the empire; then Gambetta sprang to his feet
and in a voice clear, sweet and strong, moved
the establishment of the republic. The pro-
visional government, formed at the Hotel de
Vile an hour after, included but one man
who could at once sway the mob with words,
and resist the foreign invader with action
Gambetta.
After the Germans laid siege to Paris, GAM
beta escaped in balloon and repaired to
Tours. For four months-from October,
1870, to February, 1871--he was Minister of
War, of Finance and of the Interior in one,
really the dictator, the sole power-he was
the governmeut-he was France. To him
the only army which gave the Prussians seri- |
Gus trouble was due-the Army of the Loire.
Had Bazaine held out at Metz instead of sur
rendering it like q traitor as he was, it is
more than robable that this army would |
have broken the investing Gordon around
Paris. During these four months of struggle, |
and gloom, and dire misery, Gambetta so
governed that order reigned throughout |
France He had to choose subordinates |
where and how he could, yet it is now history |
that his government was wise, firm, strong |
and vigorous.
Gambetta was Radical He had, on en-
tering public life, declared war a0utrance not |
only upon the empire, but upon monarchy. |
He confessed the faith of revolutionary re- |
public. But when the Commune rose against |
those who had displaced him, he took no part |
in it. He refused to join or encourageit The
Commune was bloodily repressed. In no long |
time the ex-Dictator made his appearance in |
the Assembly as Deputy for the Bouches du |
Rhone. Men looked to see him burst forth |
in blazing radical harangues. They expected |
him to assume the role of Danton, and sit aloft |
ON the "mountain and clamor for the heads |
of the royalists.
From first to last France and the world have |
been disappointed in Gambetta, the Deputy. |
To all except his enemies, personal and po-
nhcal' is has been happy disappointment
He has labOred WiH0lv rot;or&Jx 80 - LA