New-York tribune., 1876-04-08
THE FUTURE OF FRANCE.
A GREAT SPEECH BY GAMBETTA.
THE POLICY OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY MARKED
oUT-EvIL INFLUENCE OF ECCLEsAsilCs-NoD-
ERAIION TOwABD OPPONENTS coUNsELED'

MY DEAR FELLOW CITIZENS: 1t is long
time since I formed the project OF coming 10 'iSt you
Since then circumstances independent OF my VIII nave
deprived of this pleasure and preVen'e" NY Aoop'nS
the enga cement which had made with your representa-
tyes elect. | might have come TO you uhuer oi'0""i
stances less favorable hour OF greater sadDeS' at
moment when you under the YOKE OF an adlihiS-
tratiop resolved to test to the last extremity
vour respect for law. Had ] come at sucn an
epoch we should have had to consider toseuier
the political situation caused not only In the large
cities but throughout France by an administration
which while France tranquil, called tselI an adl'
istraton OF combat Coming do, however, after the
happy and decisive defeat Of these comDaahs oy paco
and liberal France whose desires and aspirations they
have indeed been able to postpone but against whom we
are to-day TO enter Judgment ferries OF Very good! very
good M the counsel shall hold Win each othcr WIZ
be at once more agreeable, and perhaps also, more rut
full H. before returning to Paris. have come 10 Lyons
on the eve OF the Assembly elections which, IN spite Oh
the carseess mprecaons OF dshonored press are nav
ing the effect of strengthening the Republican majority
already assured to France; if. say, am come here IL
that has seemed good to me before returning 10 tae
Assembly the OF those labOrs which VIII be I'M
posed upon your public servants, to stop here TO draw
fresh instruction to the real state OF that democracy
which people pleased to represent to the rest OF
France as the democracy tumutuos most extraVa-
CANT the easteordcrly but which, nevertheless every
tune in the last five years that has had occasion to per-
form its part in politics, has never been recreant
TO its duty, but mas conducted H'eh most
CONSIDERABLY has expressed itself in the most sen-
cant ms well as in the most measured terms ale III 'ne
choice Of it's delegates, in the precision OF It's pro-
pramues of action and in the declaration Of principles
which il called upon its delegates To represent anu uo
fend should rot say all my thoughts. however, If
did not add that sired also to consider with you the
great electoral work in which France has been engaged
and which she will complete on the 9TH OF March, anu 'o
study with you the the character and the cohse
quences that election. both in relation to our loresh
and domestic affairs.
THE ECCLEsIASTIC,L SPIRIT
For TODAY gentlemen having become the majority in
the country and in the Assembly you must place your
selves in presence only OF the rights but OF thc dueS
which such role imposes. You must know exactly inc
line Of conduct to pursuo what to do tomorrow anu
what 10 postpone till the day aer what to reclaim al
once what on the contrary leave to be matnred by
study by agitation, by persuasion. You must ascertain
especialy the needs which to be most Immediately
satisfied and for this there is no more certain Hetou
than to question the country ITSELF and to determine y
the manipuations it has made what 1t wishes, "n
exacts what it rejects THAT Is very good" AppauSe
Now when one lays aside what call the accessory deas
of the election and to the eliminating pon "ncn
one seeks the ruling note of these elections one secs
that France faithful herself in the north as wei as
the SOUTH at the center as on her HANKS; @ tila'
France has desired III prGclaliding grnnoont nyr 70
combat and dcnOunce the clerical policy WllhIh dh
without. at home and abroad. lGre1e npptu1e 10 ~,
If there Is any manifest and striking feature OF s
election about which no statesman, to Whatever parry nc
may belong, can hesitate an instant II Is Ls % "a tb
truly menacng encrOac ments which, for me hve years
mast the eccl, sastca spirit has been making upon tne
rountry (ApplaIse.l IL has become apparent 10 our
people and as well to all Europe, that iOr nPe vars
owing to m3fortunes, to our lsst'Is, anu lb lttbh
monarchical rights, ana Of the restOfatloh 0L tnlS
or that dynasty, the true leader o, 'ne cnide
thp
of All those dan combinations against me lPery
and future prosperity OF the country Was & Ce m S srb
OF February 1871. and of which we are not YET ato1
gether dsembariasscd' tnouSm II tfis Assembly
commenced its work If we reckon up the aets "IT m
have received the support OF the greatest roep and
physognoIny-what do we fndi That the pO.cy w%nlG1 %
never varied, Which never was false to itself;
Which always pursued its purpose through all
changes Of ministry and all ab0rtIye, govern
mgnta cS%oa"H'P Y@ Ras Prolonged T @ appaase 1t this
plicy begun you will rccollcct 10y that ceieDLatGu pc
tbe fnrp nor the domestic situation of France. nor OF
her military and financial resources PROPOSED hOnhS M
nowers most formidable both on land ana water-a
nuwer which, through our aid, has been adVahc.l llo
HE third to the second rank and which at the pleset
moment PLAYS an exceedingly important part III the pO-
he ith France~of italy which III the past always
found herself united by interest, by affection, ana
by aspiration with France; oi ltaly which ohy dshS W
march beside France in developing the advanced lueas
nf noitcs and progress. This is the power with which
fv tried 10 emGroil us, and with which, think, We
after this what next did they dol They formed In the
heart of France it were, league, sort OF aSoclt
borrowed from our ancient religious quirrei o' ne Sn
tecnth century, aud invited us to the eredtoh
of special associations, pilslmages, missions, MIRA
cle manufactures, pilgrim migration. 10 me
Vatican Of the creation of propagandst clubs,
sometimes for workmen sone.is dsvo,opmeSf ~
primary and secondary education Ana WHAT "Ie ticy
taught in these assoclaOn IN hse ,an t ry forever the
clubsi Nothing more nor less tnn ~ p,iy nIi,e
principles of 80. Yes, that's IT." Prolonged appuseI
That is not all They dd not STOP mere 3 favnr fr
the Administration the utmost sympathy anu sVt ioi
the inordinac development OF reilG0us cOrporaiohs'
Tney forgot or ignored our past lGsison No.nn
quired for the creation OF these reIsouS
certain formaities, certain guarantees my uIsne @
garded the prescribed regIons anu netSc % rsu Su
of the Lord as since 1870. taughterI Nor din tnty
They opened France others from without SO that We
were rapidly becoming the refuge of ali the JesutS oi
Chisendom
OPPOSITION OF The ADMINISTRATIONS.
At the same time that the Administration accorded
this excessive protection the religious orders at the
same time that IL favored this formidable extension III
country civil and democratic equality OF the religious
orders by sanctonng their constitutions their develop
mcnt and their acquisitions they at the same time pur
sued in the most ptess manner the principles OF evil
liberty wherever they found them whether in the Com
mune in the school, in the judicial tribunals, ard even
IN the army Gentlemen, cannot deliver ourselves to
such experiments without attracting the attention not
only of our country but of Europe and when this system
was developing, progressing more and more IN the
State and in the Administration when it was seen to
menace even the living OF the regime founded by
the French Revolution and laying ts wicked hand upon
the Code; when 1t was heard To speak OF SUI
bordiuating civil marriage To the religious mar
riage, of violating the rights OF succession,
of establishing the personality OF diOceses
when the design disclosed OF cnvelopng the country
in "A compact network which should not leave a single
liberty 10 modern France when II was discovered that
nothing left ia the family, in the school in tho Ad
ministratOD the i'll the Assembly which this
fell spirit not trying to appropriate, then France
arose. She alarmed she feared the return OF the
ancient regime OF that theOclatic spirit which cOyets
every thing which takes everything, and for which
Que is thought to have done his share. lAppa