National Republican., 1881-06-14
GAMRErrA,s SPEECH,
Extracts from His Address mt the Unveil-
ing OF the SoIdiers' Monument.


My DEAR CoMPATR1oTs The nations
who desire to remain free and independent ought
to bring before the eyes of the younger generations
| examples and recollections which will help TO
strengthen their minds which win form their char
acters, which will .early steel their courage and
which will consequently constitute that which is
highest in the education of the nation. All ma
tons who have been of any note, or who have
taken any place in history have before everything
cultivated spirit of self-sacrifce and military
self-denial [Applause And to-day more than
ever we may congratulate ourselves without run
ming the risk of falling into excess of the mill
tary spirit when attending ceremonies like the
present, for henceforth the army is identified with
the nation. [Applause.l No more striking proof
of this is required than that which sgiven to-day,
when
YOU SEE THE OLD ARMY
which was so unfortunate, and which has, never
theless, written so many admirable pages in the
development of our national greatness, welcoming
and, so to speak, taking by the hand that still
young and feeble army which was born but yes
terday under feeling of national self-respect and
the necessity Of making up lost ground. PRO
longed bravos.] Yes; We must honor the dead,
and will even say that we must honor above all
those who died in disaster who died in defeat and
died without hope, but who did their duty to the
end the more devotedly that they did it with the
feeling that they had nothing give to France but
their blood Prolonged applause.l Buff it is ten
years since these events took place. this homage is
not tardy: it comes in good season like justice and
will remain permanent like the granite in which
you have represented
THE FORM OF YOUR HEROES.
We must set an example in this sculptured stone
for the generations to come, and be assured, it is
not an example nor lesson in the policy of ag
gression, adventure or conquest. No! [ApplauSe.l
If this monument can say anything with irresisti-
bic power it says, be weI assured, that they fell
because the nation at a sad hour gave itself up
entirely into the hands of one man. Loud ap-
plause.l But do not wish to recriminate. do
not wish above all, to introduce into this speech
anything which in my mouth may resemble
partisan statement, because do not wish to recall
before this monument the fact that at that time all
parties were united, and whatever their personal
preferences, marched with the same dash and
heart
UNDER THE NATIONAL CoLoRs.
[Applause.l But why was it not given to us on the
morrow of these terrible lessons of fortune to see
on the peaceful battle ground of discussion the
same union and community of effort and energy
exercised upon the progress of education and the
political form of government. How great, gentle
men, would France have been if it had been SOL
[Applause] Well that which was not done i'm
mediately after disasters is being accomplished
every day in spite of the resistance of the general
staffs of powerless parties. France, the true
France, which works and pays and wishes to be
free, secure and tranquil, and which, above all,
wishes everywhere to be like herself, has one
more effort to make, and we shall obtain unity of
effort, feeling, and origin. Yes,
LET Us COLLECT OURSELVES,
let us remember, let US be indulgent toward one
another, because it is certain that catastrophes
like those which we have just recalled do not come
upon people and bring them within an ace of
ruin without some common fault. Some sinned
through excess OF weakness, others by excess of
arrogance and despouzau butthe majority through
culpable Indifference. BLt. gentlemen, everything
in society and history has lis compensation. Ir.-
difference is answered by disaster. Bray0.I Well,
to-day you have two guarantees that
THE SWORD OF FRANCE
can no longer become in the hand of an adven-
turer an instrument 0foppression at home nor of
unlawful aggression abroad. These two guaran-
tees you acquainted with. The first is COM
.pulsory military service for all, and the other
is that in this country nothing touching
the question of peace or war can henceforward be
decided without the will of the nation. Who, then
is there that can contend against the will of
France? Well, what France wants is what the
Republicans want-that is to say, peace, with lib
erty and progress in order to secure the develop
ment of the genius of France: Prolonged ap-
plause.l Such, gentlemen, are the ideas with
which this ceremony inspires me. will only add
one word 1t is that am here only a witness. 1
do not merit the flattering words addressed to me-
In the day of peril l did my duty. 1 did it with
the energetic help of all FrenChmen worthy of the
name, and if the national defense, so long mis-
at length claims its rights and justice
in the eyes of men, it will have justice done to it
still more by history. And this consideration
sufices for those who have done their duty.