The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1878-12-11

meeting at which NJ. dc FouIton's friends |
insisted on o rctractiou from NJ. Gambetta /
Of the words complained of holding that
the withdrawal made in the Chamber OF
Deputies rendered the original exclamation
still more offensive. Under these circum-
stances it was agreed by the four seconds
that hostile meeting was inevitable. II
was arranged that NJ, dc Fouron should
have the choice Of weapons, and he named
pistols. Among the conditions laid down
for the meeting it was stipulated that the
duel should take place with rife saloon
pistols at distance OF thlrty.ivc yards,
and that only one shot should be ex-
changed. After the pistols were discharged
the seconds shook hands, VI. Gambctta and
NJ. de Fourton saluted each other, and thus
ended what will be regarded in 'he future
as b memorable encounter.
1t his high time that y stop should he
put by legal means to conflict which oscil-
late between the ridiculous and tragic.
| The life of a statesman is far too valuable
to be impcrill cd at the bidding Of the first
individual who chooses to pick quarrel
with him, but it is clear that public opn-
ion is not against the practice and nothing
but new legislation on the subject will put
stop to the evil. In this Particular case
NJ. Gambetta was certainly justified IN using
AN unparlamenlary expression, and it
would have been Wy no means beneath his
fmgnity to withdraw it but there is no doubt
that he is strong and perfectly justtiabc
personal animus against NJ. dc Fourton,
who was Minister Of the Interior when the
government convicted the great orator
for having declared that Marshal Mac Ma
hon had only oneof two alternatives open
to him in the dilemma into which he had
been thrust by evil cpuaselorxk the asser-
ton that he must either reasmoryicd con
veyed covert compliment, -hasmuch as ii
dismissed, as discredtable " his honoHthe
lnsinuation made by numbcrless rcactidnafy
writers and speakers that he intended 10 N.
tempt q coup d etat, but VI. Gambetta vas
actually sentenced to be imprisoned, and he
was still under sentence when the Marshal
verified the orators words. The absur,lty
of carrying out a conviction under such cir.
cumstances would have been too great, and
moreover, NJ: Gambetta was from that mo.
ment so powerful that the thing was out OF
the question. NJ. Gambctta naturally looks
upon the then minister of the interior as
responsible for the objectionable Injustice
which was inflicted upon him. 1t must be
conceded that VI. de Fourton'S speech oi
the other day was proyocaton in the ey-
tremc. He deliberately accused NJ Gam.
beta OF having at AK declared wal
against all Frenchmcn who were not ami.
mated By the old Republican faith" Now
NJ. Gambetta's words, quoted by an even
ing paper, were these: There is no cxclu
sivencss in our Republic. All can enter
Our arms are opened to ALL We have to
passionate desire to repair the losses o.
France to exclude any Frenchman from thu
work of the restoration Of our country.
These noble and patriotic words certainly
do not bear the Interpretation put upor
them by the ex-ministcr, and it is easy t.
understand NJ Gambettas Indignation n
hearing himself thus misrepresented. I
the unparliamcntary language of NJ. Gam
BETA cannot be defended, his behaviour il
consenting to risk his life merely becaus,
: VI. de Fourton chose to take up hasty
word, is still less to be excused. His posi-
ton is too high, and his existence too vau
able, to be lightly Imperfect, lie hold
the greater part Of France IN the hollow o
his hand, and it is not for such
, man 10 take up prOyOcatiOn whicl
might be Systematically renewed by mum
Der Of coniederates, determined to persever
until they had wreaked their vengeance Of
the popular tribune. NJ de t'ourton can
not. however, be reckoned among these ban
dts; indeed, the combatants of ycsterda
were well matched. VI de Fourton is par
ticularly short sighted, and NJ, Gambett
has only one eye, No wonder that on N
exceedingly foggy morning neither of tn
combatants succeeded in hitting the other
Both must be held to be for the future n
freed from the charge Of braggadocia a
from that of cowardice. In order to lea,
people to imagine that the difficulty la,
been arranged, NJ. Gambctta spent the pre-
ceding evening at the ministry of agricuI
: ture where he dined, while VI. de Fourtol
passed his at the opera Now that VI
: Gambetta "a fat SEES preuvcs' it il TO b'
hoped that he will proclaim his intention o
never again going out, and that he viii
thus place il beyond the power of any polit
ical antagonist to get him out OF the way
To show how welded Frcnchmen are &
their habit of duelling, it is only necessary
to read the "0rdre' Of this evening, r
which the admirable suggestions made IL
Al a. 4 AZ