The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1883-03-22
Impressions OF Gambetta.

On the whole, the prevailing impress
sion I received Of Gambetta continued
always to be that of massive and genial
human strength and good sense. Once
or twice, indeed, even in private, l have
seen the mass take fire and launch itself
against an opponent, and then the effect
was electrifying. At conviyial gather
| ing some one proposed the toast of
"The Universal Republic" Gambetta
leaped to his feet to denounce it: LET
us in the name of common sense make
safe our own republic first" he cried,
land leave other nations to govern them
selves as they like best" And on this
text, which revealed the gulf separating
him from the doctrinaire Republicans of
other DAYS, he dilated for some time with
overwhelming authority aud fire. Moth
ing was more remarkable i'll him than
thus power of thus investing with mag
NATIVE fervor the dictates of practical
prudence and Cancellation. But his ora
torical displays were usually reserved
for o formal occasion. In the tribune of
the National Assembly ut Versailles the
effects he produced We're such, | suppose
all who witnessed them would agree, as
we are never likely to behold again. AS
| an orator he seemed to me, when [ heard
him in those d VS., to unite in 4 superla-
tive degree the two qualities of weight
and splendor. AS soon as he began to
speak his voice cleared itself and rang
| like a trumpet. His tones were as sym
pathetic and various as they were re-
sounding. He could be AS irresistible
| in continuation as he was terrible in men,
ace. and his choice of language and in
| tonation never failed. He could be alike
furious or familiar without ceasing to be
dignified. His looks and actions were
full of command, and it was thrilling
sight to see him stand there like noun
tain, while the sea of hostile Deputies
fumed below. With toss of his great
head and name and tremendous ges-
ture. he would hurl back taunt after
taunt into the arena till his enemies cow
cred and shrank into silence. But al
though impetuosity and conviction, com
| bned with natural force and acquired
art, endowed him with this magnificent
power of denunciatory eloquence; never
theless, his most etfectual strength as n
leader, it seemed to me, lay not in the
combative, bat rather in the peaceabie
and generous, elements of his character.
He indeed excited inevitable rancors, but
as far as / could ever perceive he cher
ished none. He was the doughtiest Of
fighters, but singularly little, l should
say, of hater. / have never heard him
speak enormously OF his enemies, still
less, which is q rare thing in a politician,
of his friends, and from the carping
spirit of division and recrimination, from
| jealousy and mean suspicion and resent
ment, he seemed, 10 those days at least,
absolutely free. Those who know France
best will not deny that this spirit has
been, and is, the body polite. and if her
republic stands to-day, it is because its
practical founder, Gdmbetta, was lover
of Cancellation by temperament as well
as on principle; it is because he was, at
least. according to the impression of n
casual observer, the kindliest- hearted as
we'll as the strongest of her sons.
A remarkable saying of Gam beta is
quoted by the Paris correspondent of
the Tablet: when Littre died some
friends were indignantly deploring in
Gambet.a's presence the weakness or
treachery which induced the illustrious
savant to profess Christianity on his
death bed. Who can tell?' remarked
Gambetta, lifting his hand and letting it
fall on the arm of his chair. perhaps
Littre did right after all. 1t is a great
toss up (pile on face what lies OH the
other side of DEATH - NJ. Paul Bert,
the dog torturer,' frustrated all at
tempts to afford ghostly comfort to the
| dying statesman, upon whose end the
Univers makes the following edifylng
reflection: "While he was recruiting
his strength and meditating fresh as
saults upon the church. and promising
himself victory, the Divine Son of the
Carpenter was preparing his coffin
From Paris Letter to the Pail Mall
Gazette