Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-01-28
THE DEFEAT OF GAMBErrA.

silenced her Bonapartists, and annihilated
her Orleanists, but she has still great deal
of rough water to sail over. The constitu-
ton adopted when Louis Napoleon was sent
back to the obscurity such acharlatan never
ought to have been allowed to emerge from,
provided for its own revision at time that
has now arrived. Gambetta, recently, as the
head OF the parliamentary government, and
! displaying great talent there, introduced
a project for a doubtful reform known as the
| scTutin de iiste. By this system three or four
voting districts are amalgamsted, 30 that
each voter, instead of voting for one or two
candidates, votes for half a dozen.
The proposition was not well received, and
has led to Gambetta's resignation, which
is bitter thing for him, and one
not generally desired by the country.
Besides this, France is getting into financial
difficulties. For long time speculation has
gone on until shares and stocks attained
prices utterly out of reason. The reaction
has arrived, and financial and political
troubles are each one helping the other to
become unbearable. Gambetta is showing
wonderful nerve and GOODNESS under the cir
cumstances and all who have regard for
France may wish him success in his struggle
with adverse circumstances. While allow
ing Gambetta's high merit we cannot be
blind to failing he possesses in common
with all persons of warm temperament and
ardent nature. His anxiety to secure per-
manent republic in France and to battle any
future attempt TO re-introduce systems
from which she has suffered so deplorably
in the past, has made him over
eager in his efforts to secure the measures he
believes adapted to accomplish the end he
has in view, and leads him unduly to strain
the law as it stands 30 as to further his
views. He desired the chambers TO discuss
and revise just such parts Of the constitution
as he pointed out, and no other. The con-
stitution as it stands, however, put no limit
to the powers of the revising authority.
Filled with his own views of the case Gam
betta could not be satisfied with presenting
those views, and leaving that expression of
them to have what effect it might
on the legislative body, but he identified
himself and his ministry with them
to an extent that those who en-
tertained other views regarded as
overbearing. A rejection Of his pro-
jects, which in some respects were GER
tainly strained in their character, ii not
altogether erroneous, necessarily made it
i'm possible. under the circumstances in which
he had placed himself, to retain Office The
enemies of Gambetta, who knew his nature,
predicted the very result that has now &C.
Cured, at the time he took office. As the
sincere and able leader of French liberal |
opinion, the defeat of Gambetta is unfortu-
nate, but the experience the check brings |
may assist to curb too passionate devotion |
to his own views, and make him a more |
successful because a more careful leader. 1t |
is pleasure to see, by this opposition to the |
minister, the increased independence OF par |
action in France. While that is |
preserved neither absolutism nor imperial !
ism can snbdue French liberties. 1t is also |
interesting to notice the use made of the |
power to revise the constitution, compared |
with the intention OF some of those by whose |
aid the power to revise the constitution was |
conferred. The intention of those who we're |
were favorable to the Bonaparte family, |
was to use the reyisal power at a |
future day for the purpose of restoring the
Bourbons to the throne, or of re-establishing |
the Napoleonic Imperialism. Neither of |
these projects had shadow Of chance in |
the late proposal to revise; the only object
was to make the constitution still more lib I
eral by doing away with the system of allow
ing senators TO retain their seats for life, and
BY rendering the house more complete rep
of popular sentiment. We see,
therefore, that democratic principles are in
stronger standing in France than when the
present republic was established, and we see
the check given to Gambetta was not because
of his republicanism, but Notwithstanding
his republication. He has not been defeated
on a matter of principle, but of detail; not
on a question of Whdf object should be accom-
plished, but of hoo the object-the establish
ment of liberty on a sound basis-should be
attained