New-York tribune., 1876-03-11

but III these sums Were 10 DeRln WlUD, i've tleb IebS
they would be cheerfully paid by twenty times the
number of individuals. The income tax, and that
bugbear of the French race, the progressive income
tax can alone set the overwhelming majority of the
nation free to feed and develop itself and force in
proper ratio-the rich to pay for the poOr-but no
one can predict on this head who will vote for or
who against Half the Legitimist proprietors will
vote for the ruthless diminution of the Octrol
duties as half the rich Republicans Will
vote resolutely against an income tax
The latter not having yet sufficiently studied the
economical problems of age, persist in fancyng
that two and two do not necessarily make four, and
that You can disturb the equilibrium of nature by
taking from source without giving TO another
On these points you will some day, and perhaps
ere long, find Leon Say and rank Legitmists stand
ing side by side or the Due fAudifret backed by NJ
Rouher But what this strange dovetailing into
each other of adverse parties on individual ques-
tiOns will lead to is comparative mutual forbear-
ance and, the existence of the republic being now
secured there will very likely be less bitter hostility
in the new Assembly between political enemies than
there was in the last.
The chief objects to examine are Gambettas seve-
raj elections NJ Bullets universal defeats and the
attitude of the Marshal NJ. Buffet is pitilessy con-
demned and with him, by implication, the Due de
BrOghe and the representatives IN every degree Oh
the so-called "GOureynemCnt de combat" of the oath
of July is sentenced and for the next few
years. certainly till $780, the obstructive pol
icy of the retrOuade cliques is impossible
But to those who really know Gambetta,
who know how essentially moderate he Is, how
prudence is the very groundwork Of his character
the fact of his election in the four chief centers
Paris, Lille Bordeaux and MarseilleS, proves that
senseless reaction against Conservatism, rs not the
order of the day. Gambettas election meaDs-at
Lille the victory of real progress over the ogar-
chical spirit of dOctTinaireism (f may 80 term lt
at Paris the justification of his character against
the calumnies of his monarchica and clerical foes
at Bordeaux the victory over Bonapartlsn; but at
Marseillcs. the absolute victory, in its own very
stronghold, over mere empty, impractical, reNolu-
tionary violence. Were Gambetta not the moderate
! prudent man he is, these elections OF his would
! teach HIM prudence and statecra!t The dIeamels-
| those who believe in revelation III the matter OF
| pohcy-are already in arms against MN, ana even
Just little above these there are some Revolutonsts
of the old school who are suspicious OF his ambition
! They are beginning to ask whether he aims AT
dictatorship The vainest OF all speculaiions,
! for Gambctta is not a man of action. Ills MS
fortune was during the war to have been
! forced to play q part which did not lie
in his particular capacities. He did his very best,
! and nc achieved far more than was supposed THE
Germans did him justice); but he has no gifts for
| action still less for war. Gambctra Is especially a
| man of peace and pacific dcvelopment-a man OF
toll for whom work is holy; and i'll this sense he Is
! modern man. But IN the more specific political
and economical fields of thought Gambetta has still
good deal to learn before he would venture to dis
cuss the problems which are ianiliarly discussed
! every day in England and America.
| We come now TO Marshal Mcmahon. What OF
! him2 1t is all very well to abuse the Marshal; and
! every opinion and party indulge largely in such
/ abuse THE Marshal is an old fool" There is the
one universal cry 1t is not true. The Marshal has
I'M utter absence of the sell-suiciency and vanity
that are requisite to make real fool The Marshal
isanullity;-ther' is tho strict truth, aud possibly
! this absolute nullity has saved France. The Mar
! shall is slow hard, thick Opaque, aud may commit
many sins of omission, but Inc VIII attempt no coup
! Fstdt; of that be sure. Since his Presidency he
| has left much undone but he cannot be accused of
! having done a foolish thing His slowncss of per
! ccp,ion made lin retain NJ. Buffet Minister; but
NJ. Buffet. You must remember was gwen 20 MIN In
March Last by the majority vherewi;h ii 10 found the
Republic and if the Marshal retained Buffet. neither
wouid he allow Loon say to resign. Besides, TINS
very nullify has achieved everything the country
needs: for had the Marshal discarded N. Buffet he
/ fore the hour OF Judgment, France could not have
executed him as she has DONE aud the ptiieSs cxecu
ton Of Baflct b. tho nation IS battle OF Waterloo
| won by modern France.
| That the Marshal is pleased by the elections can
not he supposed He is thoroughly surprisrd-to
use a vulgar term, Struck all Of = heap;' but he
viii not rebel against the decree Of the nation. Tie
utmost he will do is 10 try to keep around him such
Ministers as may be inoiicusiye under the new
| Cabinet-Gcn. de CiSsey NJ do Mcaux, even
NJ Pa.llauX, and aSsuredly the Due Decazhs
than whom France never had IA better For
cim Secretary, but there is no danger IN
these; Dufaure viii rccOnstltute the Ministry
and perhaps be Yice-Prcsdeut Of tho Council. We
shah most likely see the names OF men such is
Bcreuger Waddiugton, and others Of that stamp
! among tho new Ministcrs-but tho chief discussion
will be on the Home Office, which must eventually
| 20 to Leon Rcnauit VIII the Marshal accept this
| at oncel / think not and NJ Dufaure may perhaps
he Home Minister at first but il must ere long be the
young enlightened brave eX-Prefect OF Police vino
will rule over the interior. He is probably destined
to be the modern Ca,imir-Ierier Of France, but
Minister OF far higher order than the one of 1881.
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PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES.