, 1877-09-15
His Prosecution by the MacMa-
hon Ministry.
What tho London Papers Say About
the Extraordinary FRO.
cccd'ng.
The Duo do 'Broglie tho Author Of the
Action, and What Ho Hopes to
Effect Thereby.


bic efforts in his behalf, i,o has attained noto.
have achieved in twice that length Of time hy
his own unatsstci endcayors. The Govern.
1ncut OF the Marshal has resolved to crown tho
cda,o Of N. 0ambetta's good fortune. Il
.eeu1s incredible; but 30 1t H. lie Is to bc prose.
cutcl for his snccch At Lille. Whatever tho
law mar say or permit, any person Of tlispas.
sjonatc Judgment Will feel that IL 10 rntalrf
unfair that N. Ga'nbctta should be prosc-
tiuns against the Marshal, when the supporters
nj The Marshal IN the ptcss every tlay hurt
Injurious and calumnious accusations agaI,lnl
II. Gumbctta, anil against Ill thc siarstals a.l-
leader OF one paEtv. nt tho same time That The
Eorsbat, the leader Of another party, claims and
exercises full rights Of speech, viii strike the
whole world as unfair. The Marshal has ended,
al takc e.R liz wlses 70 be Chief Of The s Executive tive
and head OF party In tue State al ont ami the
sane time. This cannot be. N. t,asnbettn put
thc Goint tefssly anl polnte'l,y at Lille. Whsn
opinion cateeorleal1y, the President Of the Re-
public must either DOW to It's decision, or resign
Bis post. The dilemma Is Obvious; III scfuee to
be bo,lpd by either alternative is to aascrt TINT
The Executive should consult the country, but
not pay any attention to the answer."
Tic London 4se1es said VI tic prosecution:
"M. Gambctta, It IS stnted, will appear before
The tribunal OF Lille 10 answsr the Charge Of IN
an orator Will hare his opponents at Immense
disadvantage. The prosecution Of NJ. Gnmbclta
for hts speech at Lle is the widest abuse Of a,1-
thostty on which tho advisers Of Marshal Mac
Mahoii have yet venturcd. It Ia more like tho
freak Of some stupid tyrant suddenly awakened
from sleep than like the actuf set Of statesmen.
The more serious aspects and consequences OF
snch step arc almost lost sight OF In tho first
iustance, because Of tic monstrous unfatrncas,
this f0tt3 r11ny of thu
The President OF tho Republic finds tint ihc
Representative Chamber does not approve of his
puligy. Ie obtains the concurrence OF tho
Senate, and orders dissolution OF the Cham
bcr. There arc to be new clcctlous for
the express porposo nf asccrtantnR whether tha
voice OF tho constituencies docs or does not ap-
provo Of tho policy Of the President. One Of
Tho foremost 3,s leaders 9f the Rcp4b!Ican party.
younger statesmen Of Franco, delivers speech
at public meeting on tho subject Of the FORTH
coming clcctiotls, and the President Inns pros
ecutton Instituted against him. There Is 'ioth.
transgreascs tic ordinary bounds OF political
discussion, even fl France. Thcrc Ia nothing
that cxcitcs to hatred or contempt Of the Gov
crnmcnt, unless 1t bc held that to argue against
anti contempt. Tho speech is sI,np!y power
fut argument on The question which the
constituencies OF the rouutry arc nut
merely Invited, but ure even Compelled, TO
bc.ta is to bo prosecuted. Apparently tho Min
istry think TINT since they cat,,.ut answer bin,
thcy had bcttcr try to silence him. One o1 tho
charges made against Warren Hastings was,
an tneoprcntent witness, by inducing corrupt
h.rclings TO bring criminal charge against the
mal, md conscientious judge to sentence
him TO death, bat, u this charge wcrc iusti-
liable, II would at least hnvc 20 be admitted that
Hastings gained his end. His enemy was ef-
fcctually reduced to silence, consigned to the
ranks o. those who proverhtaily tell no tales.
But II te out OF tho question TO suppose that
Marshal MnrAfnhuti, or the Due dc Nfogltc, or
NJ. tic FonEtou, or any combination they can CT.
fcrt, cau reduce 10 silence man like n. Gam
bc.,a.
Prosecuting man like II. Gambetta for
political speech would in any caso he a Erotcs1uo
hlunder. but. If such step could eycr be justI-
fled. II would only be In the event OF his having
sald the very opposite af what he did say. II
hc hal told people In Lille to prepare Tor i pro-
ton thut even after the elections the Govern
mcit wouIl still resist thu Will OF the Nation,
and that Marshal hiacsiahon was lcspotc
pereonnogo who would neither. submit nor re-
French Cabinet might bring itself to sec the
p!ts, With ali It's folIles and ofenses, never fsll
ipto ay srro1 80 shasefu' M that Which
siahon seem. determined On commit
ting. Tho prosecution OF tho Conlte D.
Montalrmbert was u serious bluntlcr, that Of
~. FrGyost Fa!auo! pal.ry plcro OF perscyu.
Pfeyost Paradoa was q recognized political
leader Of o great party actually about to engage
- an electoral contest with tho Government.
Theirs might bo some show Of public sntrIt,
malice, IN either proceeding. Hut N. Gambelta
Il at present tho most active opponeut Of the
Government. III Is tho man who has nominated
the rival candidate for the Presidency. ii tue
endure the conduct Of Marshal MacSlahon.
but toF his having anticipated such moro
taent ny putting forward the name Of n. Thter1.
40 might himself be tho oppoattion cantil-
hy tue threat Of prosecution. u pos
!tlyely dcsptcablc stroku VI policy. II
Is llke ~ attempt to initiate the famous Jarnar
sstoke: : tGe cut behind, in tho memorable Frenci,
Illustration. it ID like son,c OF ths clcct!oneertng
tricks ucsctluca tn aoHlc Of Levers novels When
candidate who wants to get rid OF q too for
tnaanle opponent trdurcs sotnc creditkr to IT,
sue wrlt and have him aEreAtca and clkppcl i1.
10 Gaol Ut The critical moment.
tho F1sneh policy as " cannot fall 70 dlsgust
sSntn snx fa,i vi woa .s seem - u they endure
whlgh ls sl'nply ignob!e. 4 people should in.
ueed DC strangely indifferent to all tnat per.
io"s @ 10 tolefste 'Sa. such h'oe,t' ill.,, i they co%la
which "a iiuatratel in the x Prosecution nj '"oi Of
N. uam6stta IT, II tee leader Of The Oppo.tion
then ths whule system .! so-ca,lcd Constitution.
81 and parliamentary government becomes n
!oloWcr sham than that which Ia At prsscn,
kept up in Constantinope. On . memorobls
otcaa!on during the Second Empire, II. Thicrs.
protesting against the manner in which liz
newspapers we're treated, exclaimed tn words Of
penetrating lruny: 'utvu u liberty Vi the
pr.ss, ~ Il. Ausirta!' That waa in the days
whcu something like acspo,is rule stili preysIl.
cd IN the Empire Of Fsancis Joseph. ii. Thicrs
might now exslaim with equal effect: Give us
liberty vi speceh, ~ !u 'rurkcyl' There l.,
apart from all other objectionable qualities, q
certain coarseness about this new-fashiuueu war
u dealing with great political opponent which
must shock pcoplewlI0 Ike some seoaGlanee Of
dignity anl grace III the conduct u{ ey.n The
lDortst OF their administrations. 1tought to op-
crate ns an elfcx1tye warning to the Frcnct.
People to be surc, Wien they ne1t elect Chief
AaxlstTate+ that he fully undrrst anIs the nature
" his authority. Marshal MArslahon evidently
regards h,lascli Is III lmperasor lilteu 10 powcs
on ti4c 4hislls oi . victorious and aluFing
sollsesy. ue il, perhaps, mistaken eyen " ~