National Republican., 1883-01-02
GAMRETTA,s I.IFE.

HIS woNDRoUs ELoQUENCE-HIs MILITARY
AND JOURNALISTIC cAREER-HIs APPEAR
ANCE.
One of Gambetta's more recent, though not
most Aattcring, dographers gives this partial
sketch of his career
Leon Michel Gambetta was born at Cahors
on the thirtieth of October, 1888. His parents
were small tradespeople, his father keeping
what is known as an Italian store. He was
educated in the first instance at a clerical
school, where his biographer hints he en-
countered the sons of the local gentry, whose
airs probably contributed in no small degree
to lay the foundation of that strong dislike to
the ruling classes and clericalism which may
he said to give the key to his political career.
The stories of his having willfully put out his
eye to escape going into orders, and having
led dissipated youth in the Quarter Latin
(Which never appearedsvery authentic) are
effectually refuted. AS n law student in
Paris, the handsome allowance made him by
his family enabled him to live respectfully,
and his associates were men Of strong con-
victims no doubt, but hard workers and not
Bohemian book companions. How his speech
in the Baudin trial first made him famous is
within the recollection of most of u.s. This
speech was the foundation of his career. 1t
threw open TO him the doors of the corps
legislatif, where he speedily made his mark as
a speaker But 1t Is chiefly in addressing
large meetings that NJ. Gambetta is at his
hest. j should hardly call Gambetta vir
pietate gravis, but he can sway a crowd, rouse
it to enthusiasm or frenzy, and enforce upon
it the duty Of moderation and selt-control
with power, vigor, and success that no orator
of modern times has ever surpassed, and few
but Daniel O'Connell have equaled The bio
grapher narrates fairly enough his conduct on
the fourth of September, and indicates that
the invasion of the legislature by the mob did
mot meet with his approval, though he cer-
tainlV took advantage of Ii,
large portion of the book Is devoted TO a
minute recital of NJ Gambetta's conduct dur
ing the war, The object Of the writer seems
to be TO establish that the Prussians would
have been beaten If the generals whom he ap-
pointed had properly seconded him But the
gentleman who has undertaken this vindica'
tion goes so far as to express his regret that
Gen. d'Aurelles should not have written an
account Of the campaign of the Loire, which
ended in the second occupation of Orleans.
That account was written and published by
PiOn as long ago as l571, and In his preface to
It Gen. d'Aureles is very severe upon M.
Gambetta He writes, among other things !:
If twelvemonth be required TO train a
good corporal, can any man imprOviso him
self minister of war;" The writer lab0rs
more successfully to show that NJ Gambatta
did not deserve the epithet Of " Fou furieux f"
wantonly and unIustly bestowed upon him by
NJ Thiers. Unquestionably no one who was
in France at the time, and who knew her
condition, can deny the claims to respect of II
man who, from the tenth of October 10 the
end of January, raised, equipped, armed, and
sent TO the front 100000 men. His mistake
was the superstition that, if you take a man,
put a uniform on his back and rife in his
hand, you thereby make a soldier Of him
As A MILITARY MAN.
His bioPrapher, after describing how he re-
signed and withdrew to san Sebastian, pro-
ceeds to tread on very delicate ground. lie
says;
His career as military man is but inter
rupted it Is not over; and, although he APP
pears henceforth as diplomatist, endoavor-
( ing 10 arrive at result nc distant, too dis
tant, date, running thereby the risk of lessen
ing his deserved popularity, get he retains
among his future expectations the contin-
gency of a campaign for which no doubt he
is not anxious, hnt which he Is always ready
20 recommence should II be necessary for the
safety Of the republic and tho integrity Of our
soil Tho enemies Of the republic had sur
named him the Carnot Of defeat he may pos