New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-02-17
FRENCH LEADERS.
JULES SIMON AND GAMBETTA.

TIVE wEAKYEss-M. GAMBETTA's RELATIONS
WITH THE. NEW PREMIER-THE EX-DICTATof
SUCCESSFUL AT FINANCE.
lFRoM REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIDuSE.1
|. PARIS. Jan. 2G.-Riahtly TO understand what is
passing since the last two days must state with
detailed accuracy the charac and juxtaposion OF
the various individuals engaged in the present strug
gie To the foreign spectatOrabove all, To him who
remembers what parsed nndcr the last days Of the
Empire the dissensons between Jules Simon and
Gambetta seem, If not fictitious, almost nexplica-
bic. Broadly stated, from 1sGs-lG0 to the outbreak
OF the war of 1870 Jules Simon the real chief of
the Republican party. Gambetta Allan, large. Jules
Ferry, and the whole of their following were
under the dictatorship then of Jules Simon. The
violent Republicans, the hot-headed partisans
who, like Floquet, got everybody into trouble
by their indiSrction, were voted dangerous
by all the men who seriously hoped for OF
aspired to power. NJ. Simon VAS distrusted even
then, and his best friends never attempted
to gainsay his weakness Of moral character, his
slpperiness and peridy, and his absolute indiffer-
to all principle and all recttude But there was
one point on which no one disputed VI. Simon's
superiority, namely his undeniable political tact
and Judgment. He las expensive tastes, no lean
lngs toward the eieganeies of life, and leaves his
modest fourth floor to become a minister, re-
turns to IL when his Official grandeur is finished,
with the same entire simplicity 1t is needless 10
say that this real of influence and weight
but added To this there come the extraordinary
political gifts Wien during the years preceding
the war the younger and more enthusiastic Republ-
cans used TO exelaim against Simon's noted
duplicity, the answer always was, Yes;
but so abe." And 40 his hnesse and ability
gained the day. On the Fourth of Sep
TENDER Smon's advent TO power was adhered to
by every one-not SO. many Others-not so, Jules
Favre, for instance. but Simon was uncOntcsted ,
His widespread unpopularity dates from much later
than this II dates from what the Liberals term his
betrayal of trust" during this term of power under
VI. ThIers's presidency. Having during his whole
life identified himself with the cause If public and
popular instruction he certainly did betray that
cause while he remained in power after the Peace of
1871. Besides this there was 10 concession he re-
fused 10 make to the clerical party; and to such
degree this carried that the bishops were wont
TO celebrate Simon az the best Minister Of Public
Worship France had known since the days of the
Restoration. And yet in spite of all this the Con-
servatiye party did not cordially trust Simon.
did the entire Republican party unanimously dis
card him from their lists There were still large
number of able and wise men who again gave the
old answer. False. perhaps, but so ablew and a
large number who also firmly believed that the
really great intellect Of Jules Simon would prove to
him that his own ambition with the pro-
gress and prosperity of the country, and that he
would INCREASINGLY labor for the well-being of
France.
1t s more than probable that this view is the right
one 10 have, and that there is in Jules Simon an
ambition sufficiently genuine and Of quality snfii
GENTLY lofty to wed HIM to the of his coun-
try's gain. But there is one who will not agree
TO tins rs yet, and that man is Gamhetta. jules
Simon could 90 further upon the path Gambetta
had struck OUT he could be far more a votary Of
expediencv than could ever be- the politician who
invented the "Op Jortunist P0liey'-and this has
been shown TO be true; that, in fact, Simon has
beaten Gambctta with the arms Gambetta himself
had forged. There are various reasons for this In
the first place. Gambetta is 20 years younger than
Simon and is, though greatly gifted, wanting
in experience ard in knowledge of the men who are
opposed to him; and, IN the next ne has not like
Simon taught the public not TO expect OF him GER
tain things and not to be stonished at what he fails
to achieve. Downrg htneas is regarded as one ofthe
attributes inseparable from Gambetta and although
il WIS thought very wise of him to invent ;" OPP
portunisn a. it il termed. it forbidden him az
present 10 carry out his principles TO their ex-
IRENE consequences. Therefore Jules Simon had
the advantage Of him, and could achieve by his
lesser qualities what Gambetta could not even at
tempt on account OF the higher qualities with which
ne is credited by his party. Now ont or tins antag-
onisIn has "A very curious circumstance, which
il perhaps not sufficiently remarked jules Simon
having. at all events for the moment, reached Po-
Htical supremacy, Gambetta is driven to seek his
center of gravity in finance.
This at once explains the importance attached to
the canvass carried OH at Versailles in the commit
tee rooms for the last few days. and the In
terest felt in the final vote, which Will only De
taken in the afternoon of this day, but the result
whereof pretty we'll insured by the elections Oh
Yesterday. Last year when the Budget Coihlhi' zee
was formed the nomination or OamDetta as i's
nresident created tremendous sensation; the more
40. a. it WAS well known to have been chiefly
brought about by the adhesion of the Extreme
Right. who fOndly hoped that the Dictator OF the
Years 20 and II wouli make himself supremacy
iJ;cuIous the momeut he attempted TO NEEDLE with
finance. But his presidency of the Budget Commit
tee nassed over not alone quietly but was the prln-
cin,I cause of the extraordinary moderation lie
eviuced on nearly every burning question during
the wear and iay at the bottom of the most remark
able s,eech he made at Belleville. The studies he
had been obliged 10 pursue and the daily intercourse
he had necessarily had with men of opinions com
pletely at variance with his own, had so modlned
Ciambetta that the most staid and prudent members
of the Left Center on the verge OF not merely
accepting him, but of admitting that he was a
man TO work with" Nay, there were even SLOW
coaches of the Right Center both in the Senate ana
the Lower House who, like NJ. Bocher for instance
affirmed that they were astonished at the moderation
and good temper of Gambetta. All this constituted
an advance toward the exercise OF power one day
and the overthrowof Dufaure foreseen from the DAY
when he became President of the Council was not
con,passed in the view of making Jules simon take
his place. Not that it was meant either TO bring