Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-10-31
GAMBETTA.
A Talk with the "FIrst RrenohmRn"
-HiB PerOnai Appearance.
Cor &c ph;I.dalohia p.ass

hlf Anh DCNAef ! ,
whose fine article on the American sec
ion at the Exposition sent, you last
Tuesday, kindly undertook to present it,
aud Mr.. Ggmbetta at once responded.
Yesterday afternoon / called with Mr..
Simonin, and on the second floor Of the
office Of the Republic Franchise shook
hands with the most conspicuous per-
sonsge in France. The fact that Mr..
Gsmbetta had come in from the country,
where he has been resting after the.
wearing work Of the French parliament
or congress, and the inctssAHt duties Of
journalism and political organization
attracted swarm OF hia friends, and tha
room down stairs was full OF them as We
GENE in. Mr. GAmbetta Is one Of the
owners Of the Republic FraDcalse which |
il printed 10 the building in which | |
found him. II has great influence and |
4 large circulation, aAd speaks, OF
course, for hiS party. There was
newspaper air about the whole place
sven in the Offices he occupies himsot.
A we'll furnished room back Of thsss is
evidently HE study, Andints thathS mar
GhAled us with graceful motion.
The man himself is the impersonAtion
Of selEpoised resolution. A large, short
square figure, with 6ne head, a,Hebrew
nose, one defective eye, yet bright and
face, Suchis Leon Gambetta
Ou the mantel was a good bronze bust
OF Washington, and on the wall some
boxing gloves and short rapiers, as if for
exercise, perhaps for preparation,
Dressed in deep black, aud neatly
dressed, With q strong, nervous hand
and a shspely foot he pointed me to the
lofa, and took bis place at my aide, hold.
ing me gracefully by the hand to seal
his spoken welcome. He was looking at
my card. and then began fire OF ques
tions, in French, which were rapidly
translated by Mr. Smonin He had
heard OF me; he had read some of my
writings; be knew many of my friendsi
especially Charles Sumner, Of whom be
spoke as an exalted, superb magnificent
Democrat. "Ah yes, he was called too
soon. He, at least was friend to
France was prepared for this
Gambetta, like Victor Hugo and some
more, has not forgotten how the great
body Of the American peopla sympa-
thized with Germany in the late Frapco-
German war. met his hint squarely,
and | saw he was surprised. "Put your.
self Monsieur | said, I'm our place, p"
after delicate alusiou to the apparent
coldness of the first reception OF Presi-
dent Grant by the French. "But who
began the war with Germany? Our foe
and yours, Louis Napoleon Who told
you that your army vAs equipped to a
man, when be knew otherwlse2 The
monarch who tried to fasten Gn EN- pire
on Mexico, Louis Napoleon, with a
Christian Prince on its throne. Who
was it that broke his pledges to you and
the French people, aud By his false
plebescites turned your republic into a
system of sristocratic represson7 !
say Louis Napoleon, the same who tried
to induce England 90 Join him against
the American Union, and was constant.
ly plotting with rebel agents in Paris 10
overthrow as. Can you wonder then,
that we did not sympathizs with him
when be forced war with Germany2'
1t was new view of the question 10
r Gambetta, and impressed hlm "And
Gen. Graut-.what do you say of him
! was glad of this question, and | replied
Il know you have seen his visits tc
Prince Bismarck, as, indeed, you have
TO all the foreign nations, whose CUES;
|. he had been in turn; but did you not
, also notice bis refusal TO meet the young
prince imperial, the patent pretsnder tC
)" the French throne, on the ground thai
e he did not deeire to meet the son OF q mar
!. who had betrayed the French people
I aud who was now himself seeking to over
throw the Republic2 His whole face
lighted up and before Mr. Simonir
! could turn my English into French
4 Gambetta caught the idea and said
- "Ah, very good; | saw it and read it il
J, , the journals. But what will you dC
. with General Grant 10 l6eO2" my owl
II belief is that he will be chosen by th,
d Republicans as their candidate for Pres
i. ident, and think he will be elected
Ii is evident that, If be will take tn,
nomination, be can get it. Ia fact, Mr.
. Gsmbetta, he is our only man and il
e judge BY myself, | feel that the Ameri
/. can people are warming to him NOR
!, and more every day" He then opened
q Mr.. Chotteau's plan Of Commercial
n treety between France and America
# Gsmbetta is free-trsder, bat he is tor
A wise to make bis own convictions con
, ditioDs upon others.
u Here is where he differs from tie Bri.
1t ish free traders, who get more quarrel
II some with us the more we beat them il
Il the markets of the world. He said
=. Help us, my dear friend; help US il
material az you do in political develop
II ment You must concede something Il
e your Republican French brothers. VI
n will relax some Of our duties il you vii
relax some Of yours. We must yielt
l. much to each other. We must be un
q compromising only in regard to tn
d equality of the people, to free speech An'
h. free press, to religious federation, an,
to the just right OF labor and capital
Together we can do much for each othe
and for the elevation Of mankind. lie
- the past diei let all the disputes abou
ID your sympsthies With Germany be for
of lgotten; let US only remember how VI
=. helped each other nearly hundre
years ago" And then, with a burst Q
g Gerry eloquence, he spoke Of the thoui
d and millions of dollars France hs
er pledged herself to expend in ten year
n. to improve her harbers, canals, raj
roads, schools and people. spoke wit
e all my heart about the order, and peace
10 aud prosperity Of French people unde
in the republic; how it uplifted me as
n studied the great example; and how
= impressed strangers who visited th
exhibition. God bless you, Mr.. Gan
beta, and may you keep your healtl
's and live TO sec the French republi
Et etronp enough to defy al its adve
D, carries" Wilh these words, which wer
Lao.t,l,, ,rohnad NJ Siuonir md ~,