Daily Los Angeles herald., 1881-12-04

BY the statesmen of monarchical
countries, NJ. Gsmbetta has stead
lily won his place as conserva-
tive, patriotic and able statesman.
Those who have studied his career
believe that his policy has been to
avoid the responsibilities OF ex-
ecutive office and wait until
time made 1t possible for
him to be President. He has
avoided every crisis which seemed
to impose upon him ministerial
power. II is believed that II he
could have postponed this duty un-
til the expiration Of the term of M.
9revy he would have been that
gentleman's legitimate successor.
But France has moved more rap
Idly than the political schemes of
her statesmen. All eyes turned
toward M. Gambetta as the natu.
raj chief of the new Cabinet. The
recent elections had that meaning.
M. Gambctta could not avoid 1t
without suspicion of his patriotism
and fidelity.
M. Gambetta comes to office
a. the Prime Minister of the French
Cabinet under changed conditions.
The relative and negative power
he has thus far maintained has in.
jured his influence with a GLASS
which ten years ago regarded him
as an idol. He is no longer the
| darling of Bellevi'le. His name
no more awakens the enthusiasm
OF Montmartre. Others have
taken bis place as the embodiment
OF the red Republic. What Gam
BETA was in 1871 Clemenceau is in
1881, and behind Clemenceau there
is restless, daring. gifted body OF
men who see no way to Republic
can success except through chaos.
If M. Gambetta had been made
Premier ten years ago his nominal
ton would have been the consum.
nation of anarchy. Time, respon-
sibility, the growing power and
/ grandeur of France and, above all,
the natural conservative tenden-
cies of M. Gambetta, which are
the charac teristics OF italian states
men since Machiavelli, have made
him now the accepted exponent of
the moderate, law-ablding classes
in France. Will the acceptance of
the Presidency of the Cabinet in
v0lve the abandonment of his
hopes for the Presidency Of the Re
public? We are disposed to think
so. Under the eccentric conditions
of government in France career
as Premier seems incompatible
with a career as President. M.
Gambetts has lost one following,
and be is not sure to carry the
other. The Republic is strong to.
day, but the enemies of the Re-
public are dormant-not dead. The
recent elections seemed to dispsl
the Bonapartist legion, and it is
now believed that the fifth Napol.
con will give way to the sixth; but
the traditions, the necessities, the
hopes, the fears of the great par
ties in France which have hereto
fore followed the monarchica
standards OF BoEaparte and Bour.
} bon are still active, bold and reso
lutte. The Church is an i'm portanl
factor in French politics, and while
the Church accepts the Republic il
does not believe in 1t.
Nj. Gsmbetta has three ways be.
. fore him. He may make haste
slowly and keep things as they are
He may endeavor to create an ag
: gressive Republican party. HI
may throw himself into the hand
J of the extreme element, whose
leader he was ten years ago, ant
endeavor to revive in France tn,
: martial spirit OF the Revolution
+ 1t will be interesting to watch hi
, course and see VIII chi of these con
3 dltions of affairs he accepts. 1
had long been evident that th,
! time had come when he could n,
longer be content to be the powe
, behind the throne. He was obliged
to come to the front and accep
, the responsibilities as we'll as tn,
i honors OF government.