Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1879-01-29
"IN A PfCKW1cKIAN SENSE
NOW A VERY POPULAR AND MUCH USED
PHRASE ORIGINATED.

From HArper's Magazine for February
Difference in manners among civil
lzed and closely related nations is con-
spicuously shown in the fact that NJ.
Gambetta in France recently felt him.
self constrained by public sentiment,
like Alexander Hamilton in this coun-
try nearly seventy.five years ago, to
fight a duel, 1t would be incredible
that General Garfield, or Senator
D-y---ls = -.-s- r~i;.;.ai ohinf in this
country, should feel that public opinion
compelled him TO take the field. In.
deed, if any such leader should engage
in a duel, instead of satisfying public
opinion, it would undoubtedly prevent
his further high promotion. No duel
ist could be elected President, nor fail
most seriously to injure his influence.
Yet Gambetta felt that bis influence
was in peril if he did not ego out NJ.
De Fourtou asserted in the Chamber
that M. Gambetta had made a speech
which declared war on every French
man not of the old repulic 1t was
undoubtedly very exasperating to hear
such a lalsehood, and Gambetta shout
cd, THAT is Il lie F." The words were
rctracted, but apparently he would not
apologize, and when De Fourtou chal-
lenged him he accepted, and they
fought. SO that rather than apologize
for words which, by retracting, he con.
iessed that he ought to have used,
Gambetta exposed the cause which he
believes TO be that of his country, and
infinitely superior in importance to all
personal considerations, TO the risk OF
his death and a consequent immense
injury. No doubt Gambetta thought
that De Fourtou did lie, and, although
acknowledging that he ought not to
have said so in the Chamber, he could
not honestly say that he was sorry to
have said what he believed. But in a
sounder condition of opinion be would
not have felt obliged to give De Four
tou chance of killing him for saying
so.
Such scenes in Parliamentary assem-.
blies are well known. One of the most
noted is that between Canning and
Brougham in the House of Commons.
Canning had Joined the ministry of
Lord Liverpool, when 1t was agreed
that the question of tho Roman Catho.
lie claims should be left open, because
it was practically impossible to form a
ministry which should be unanimous
upon that subject. During q debate
upon the question, which had become
very warm, Lord Brougham indecent.
ly said that Canning's conduct in join
ing divided cabinet was the
most incredible specimen Of monstrcus
trucking Tor the purpose OF obtaining
service that the whole history Of polit-
ical Regeneration could furnish" /"
Canning rose in the midst of Broug.
hams sentence and said, ompbatioally,
"Tbat is false - There was profound
silence for few moments. Tho
Speaker then said that he hoped Mr..
Canning would withdraw the words.
Canning replied that nothing on earth
should persuade him to do so. There
was moro silence. Then motion that
both of the ofenders-the most cmi.
nent minister and the leader Of the
oppositlon-should DO committed to
the custody of the Sergeat-at.Arms.
But a dexterous gentleman, Sir Robert
Wilson, evidently verscd in the oti.
quette of "honor," relieved Canning,
Brougham, the Speaker, the Sergeant.
alarms, the House, and England, of
the dilemma. He suggested that what
Brougbam had said referred TO Can.
nings official character, while Canning
had enormously supposed that the i'm.
putation was meant 10 be personal A
statement TO this effect from each OF
the honorable members he was very
sure would be mutually satisfactory.
Canning and Brougham assented, and
the matter ended. Tho latest narrator
Of this story, Mr.. Spencer Walpolo,
says that this was the event which
Dickens afterwards heard from his
fellow reporters when he went into
the gallery, and which he reproduced
with all the richness of his humor in
the celebrated quarrel which was com.
posed because Of timely agreement
that offensive words had been used
only in o "Pickwickian scnse.' Had
some friendly Sir Robert Wilson been
present in tho French Chamber he
might have saved Gambctta the ne
ccssity Of fighting duel, which, as
the distance was thirty.fvc PAGES and
the exchange of shots harmless, cost
him more ridicule than his refusal to
6ght could have cost him in influence.