The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-01-03


France has certainly lost the greatest OF
her politicians if not a great man by the
death of Leon Gambetta He has been the
moving spirit of her politics for the last de-
cade, and, since the death of Theirs, the
most conspicuous of her public men. The
Republic was his creation and he led it by
the hand through many stormy days and
thorny paths to the apparently assured po-
sition it now occupies. He has left it so
firm that his death Will be regarded more as
personal bereavement than national cal
amity. His house is bGilt upon solid
foundation.
Gambetta's political life was brief, begin
ming 10 1869, when he was elected Deputy
for Marseiles. He at once distinguished
himself by his radical opposition to the EN-
pire then totterng to its fall. AT almost
the beginning of his term he won the adj
miration of Paris by stigmatizing the gov
eminent as the fist government on record
ashamed of observing It's own birthday.
This singing allusion to the Tenth of De-
cember was eagerly caught up by the anti
Bonapartsts and became catch phrase 1t
was the first Of the many epigrams he ut
tered during his brief and brilliant public
career Another is still wildly remembered:
that said of the MacMahon ministry in 1877,
that it must soumettre on demettre, trans
lated into America as submit or git.
The German war gave him his opportuni-
ty. After Sedan and the downfall of Ma
poleon, he seized the reins of power, estab-
lished the government of national defense,
organized armies in all quarters of France,
armed the national guard, acted as Minister
of finance and war, negotiated great loans,
and afforded a stubborn though unsuccessful
resistance to the invader. Had he possessed
military skill equal to his genius for civil
administration it is probable that the tide Of
Teutonic invasion would have been rolled
back and the provinces of Alsace and LOr-
raine saved to the Republic.
His course during the invasion made him
next to Theirs, the most prominent man IN
France. After the death of Theirs he was
easily first. He has shaped the later legis-
lation of the chambers, virtually controlled
the administration of the country, and sc
moulded sentiment and managed affairs as
to make the Republic happy, prosperous and
wealthy. 1t was in this period of his public
life that he did his best work. His denun
Citations of the Empire were brilliant but Of
little effect His struggle against Germany
was heroic but of no avail. His introduc
duction of the practice OF opportunism into
French politics was novelty productive O.
immeasurable good. He saw what M
French republican before him ever saw
that in order to establish the Republic on ;
firm foundation, to make it acceptable t.
the people, heed must be paid tt
Earring opinions and conflicting Interests
concessions must be made here ant
postponements there, practical mel
must yield something to doctrinaires an'
doctrinaires no longer refuse measure o
substantial advance though limited seop
because it was not so progressive or so broa
as they demanded. He taught French pol
ticians to seize upon the Immediately attain
able He brought home to their minds tn
proverb-theretofore apparent untamilia
that bird in the hand is worth two in tn
fault with him because the CONSTITUTION
1875 was based on reconciliation, that the
had pronounced his and It's eulogy.
deny the absolute everywhere" he said
am of a school which believes only IN u
relative, in analysis, observation, study
facts, the harmonizing and combination
ideas, school which takes count OF aver
ges, of races, of tendencies, OF prelude
and of antipathies."
Perhaps he had in mind the saying
John Quincy Adams about that greatest
all compromises, the American Constitute
that it was ''wrung from the grinding niece
stiles of a reluctant nation" However tn
NAV be. whether he was led to his coui
by study or intuition he did great VIC
for France in introducing aud popularizi
the doctrine Of compromises, and his his
est claims to. his country's gratitude are
the claims of the orator or the executi
but Of she opportunist.