Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-01-07
THE FUTURE OF FRANCE.

No man of the present century has ever.
been laid to rest with such pomp as yes
terday characterized the funeral of Leon
Gambetta. A man risen from the people
and a devoted friend and advocate of the
peoples rights against the usurpations or
monarchcial power, he was held in the
highest esteem by the masses, who were
the chief mourners at his bier. Officials,
too, We'd with each other in testifying their
esteem for the dead and reverence for his
memory. The government, of which he
was so long a conspicuous and influential
member, took full; charge of the ceremon-
les, and invested them with all the lavish
pageantry that military and civic display
could create.
Now that the idol of the nation has been
laid at rest, it is an interesting subject of
speculation as to who shall succeed him.
Clemenceau is mentioned as the man upon
whom his mantle should properly fall, but
it is questionable if he can worthily wear
it. He is a man of sterling ability, far
more conscientiously devoted to the cause
of republican government than Gambetta
ever was,yet he lacks the personal magnet
ism, the power to sway the human pas
sions, the clear insight into human nature,
and the tact that were the distinguishing
characteristics of Gambetta's public
career. He is a powerful constitutional
lawyer, convincing in debate and earnest
in his convictions, not unlike our own
Senator Edmunds. Yet he has not mingled
with the people, does not understand them,
except theoretically, and cannot inspire
the enthusiasm that their old chieftain did.
Yet there is no other man conspicuous in the
councils of the nation who possesses those
qualities that created Gambetta's political
fortune, though it would not be surprising
if the exigencies of the times should create
one. There has never been an emergency
in history so great that some man was not
found to successfully cope with it if the
popular elements were sufficiently favora-
BILE to give him support.
The death of Gambetta has given rise to
renewed hopes in the breasts of the various
monarchical factions,and they are already
plotting and planning in the hope that an
opportunity will be afforded for a revolu-
ton which shall restore them to power.
The Orleanists have been practically OBJ
liberated from the political map, as they
have been absorbed almost completely by
the moderate Republicans. The legitimat-
menacing the stability of the republic. The
Count de Chambord is the last of race of
kings in direct line, childless and in his
dotage. 1t is to be feared that the occasion
will be seized upon by him, however, for
the illumination of series of manifes-
toes asserting his divine right to govern
the people of France. Had the Prince
Imperial been alive, there would have been
an opportunity among a thous
and for the empire. But the
Bonapartes who yet survive
are not in sufficiently direct line from the
great first consul to inspire the enthusi-
astic effort of those who are advocates of a
monarchy per Sc, while their private lives
and public services have not been such as
to awaken popular elamor for their ele-
Vation to the throne, nor yet to stimulate
the loyalty of their partisans to extraordi-
nary effort. Though the republic may
have a paucity of great men to step into
the shoes of the illustrious statesman who
has just departed, the monarchists and i'm
nerialists are in even worse condition. We
can see, consequently, no reason for i'm
mediate apprehension that the days of the
republic are near their end, and this gen
Grafton will hardly i've to mourn over its
grave.