New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-07-02
be attained, take great responsibility, which
their constituents will not overlook
GAMBETTd'S FUTURE.

GAMBETTA'S FUTURE.
Gambettas recent rebulfs are discussed in q
second letter from our well-informed Paris
correspondent. who takes the gloomiest view of
his future. We cannot say that we share these
anxious forebodings, although we are impressed
with the fact on which so much stress is laid in
this correspondence, that the French tribune is
surrounded by chorus of tlatterers and cOur-
tiers who msrepresent the man and his work.
Born with Southern blood in his veins, he has
kept open house and yielded at times to the
temp tatiOn to make too lavish display of his
political influence. But do not know that
the mass of French people will like him any
the less for that. CGsarism they do not want,
but they may not be unwilling to haze a less
impersonal government than they have at pre-
sent The quaint simplicity of republican in
situations may not wholly satisfy them. A
figure like Gambetta catches their eyes,
rouses their personal emotions and enables
them TO applaud a MIN as well to re-
cOgnze an abstract principle. He will be easily
pardOned by the nation at large for such
offences as holding Republican court in Paris
and returning with an air of triumph to his
birthplace in the Lot What they are more
likely to resent is his zeal in recruiting his
body guard of clients from the ranks of latter
donations like the Bonapartsts, Our CORE
spondent, whose admiration for the French
statesman is unbounded regards with suspicion
and disdain the troop of political tramps that
are circling about him with their tongues in
their checks. Undoubtedly the wscst thing he
could do would be to avoid even the appear
ance of evil associations by dismssng them
from his service.
But there is no evidence that Gambcttas
popularity is seriously impaired. He has been
defeated twice on questions which have not in
terested the mass Of the people. The constitu-
encies We're Indifferent to the success of the
Scrutin de Liste The other Scrutin had en-
abled them to express their will ut Il general
| election. and it was an open question whether
| it would be an advantage to vote for group
of candidates whom they did not know rather
than for n single one whom they did know.
The constituencies were neither pleased when
the Scrutins were changed by the Deputies nor
| dsploascd when the old system was retained
| by the Senate. In like manner they had no
choice between an early and late dissolution
of the Chambers. They have remained impas-
| sivc spectators while successful combination
in the Senate has thrown out Gambcttas electoral
bill and the great body of Republican depu-
| ties have declined to suspend their sessions to
suit his convenience. He has met with these
| rebuifS in one when his rivals were
alarmed by his almost imperial progress in the
| Lot, and in the other when his associates were
| piqued by his GOODNESS in interruping their half
| finished labors. In neither case has he been
defeated on any issue which was of real concern
| to the nation. Outside the Chambers he Is
| recognized rs the onc-cycd advocate of the
! Baudin case, whose voice sounded the bncll Of
| the Empire the fiery patriot who created new
armies when his country was already con-
qucrcd the Opportunist leader who warned the
electors of Bclleville that it was the social ques-
| ton that was frightening the bourgeosic and
! that it WAS for them to prove that it did not
| exist, and the master genius of the Republic
who has reorganizcd political system, re-
pressed the ardor of an exasperatcd people
and directed Alright their industrial and lc gs-
lative energies. Before the people he stand,
without rival as the one man who has made the
| Republic what it already il, and who voices it's
| highest aspirations for the future. Gambctta's
! strength Is the ovcrlnastering influence which
he exercises over the French people Such re-
| verses as he Gas met with in the Chambers may
temporarily cloud his prcstig with politicians
and timc-servers but they are not likely to i'm
| pair his popularity with nation that is crate
| full to him and proud of him.
If, therefore, selfish courters are ncglccting
| him, and generals and Orlcanist bankers are in
clined to carry their compliments to other ears,
| GamDetta can afford to bdc his time, CON
| WINGED that the influence which he has acquired
| during twelve years of almost supcrhuman
activity cannot he brought to narght in ii single
week by single division in either Chamber
| That he will not have to wait long is shown by
| the narrow escape which the Ferry Minis
| try has had i'll the Algerian debate If
he is unable to overcome his resentment he NAV
lose his self possession and rush into prema-
| ture alliance with extreme Republicans like Dr.
| Clemenccat, who want to do precisely what the
| great orator declared at Cahors must not be
done-namcly, to abolish the Senate revise
the Constitution before experience has shown
what are the general lines to be followed, and
| unsettle the foundations of republican govern
ment. But this is not the first crisis of his en-
| recr. He has been the coolest man i'm France
when he standing on the very verge of the
| abyss. Why should he be bot-headcd now.
when he has only to wait in order to regain
even his old prestge9 His popularity he has
| not lost.
| THE NEW NAVAL BOARD
| An important step has just been taken by the
| Administration in the direction of constructing