The evening light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1881-1883, 1883-01-03

labors and responsibilities greatly leSSened
felt under great obligations to Gambetta.
When, after the siege of Paris had com
menced, the government at Paris found 1t was
necessary to strengthen their delegation at
Tours. Gambetta was selected as its represen-
tatiye for that mission, so vastly important.
Besides the vast responsibilities to be under
TAKEN it was most dangerous and hazardous
adventure to go out in u balloon. But Gam
beta did not hesitate to take the risk. / well
recOllect the day of his departure, for he had as
dent of Paris, Mr.. Charles L. May, of New York,
and a member of my legation went to the start
ing place of the balloon TO see him off. Most
fortunately the balloon descended in French
territory, and Gambetta soon found his way to
Tours to join the delegation sent out from Paris
before the seige. Intlamed by the most intense
patriotism, with his iron will, his enthusiasm,
his courage his resolution, his, eloquence,
he soon subordinated his colleagues to
his own imperious domination. He soon
became in truth and in fact what has
of France. The true history of that Dictator
ship has yet to be written, and it will become
one of the most interesting episodes in the his
tory of France. Single handed and alone he
aroused the dropping spirits of the people,
raised and equipped armies and accomplished
all that mortal could in stemming the tide of
disaster which was Overwhelming his country.
He disbursed the millions which he had raised
by a loan i'm England through the American
house of Morgan Il Co., when the war was over
his enemies in the national assembly, then
strongly reactionary, raised a commission to
examine into his administration of affairs at
Tours, Pursuing him for months, tracking him
with pimps and Spies they found his hands
clean and his record pnstained.
After the war was over Gambetta retOOk his
place in the national assembly there TO help to
build up the broken fortunes of his country,
He was a born leader and a tower of strength
to his party. More than any other man was
his advice sought and followed. He was al
ways in the breach aud was always at the helm
when the wind blew highest, His views origi-
became m
as Russia-nihilists were thickly clustered
around him, and as time went on he was less
meant for mankind" As an orator at the Tri-
bune he had no equal. Never was he so great
us on the occasion when he was called
upon to speak for the republican in the
assembly on the occasion when preSi-
dent Mcmahon had dismissed his repub-
ican ministry and replaced it by a ministry OF
avowed enemies of the republic. The excite
ment in Paris at this time was intense and the
Indignation of the republicans, even the most
conservative, was terrible. met in the salons
of NJ: Theirs that evening many of the most
prominent republicans of Paris, and il is diff
cult to describe the excitement that prevailed
among them all. / shall never forget the en-
phasis with which Madame Theirs (who was
great Politician denounced the action of
BETA had been selected by the republican dep
nties to speak in protest of McMahon's action.
The next day that fact being known, the crowd
that went to Versailles (where the chambers
then met, TO hear HIM was Immense, went
early to get q good seat IN the Diplomatic
Tribune. Never had a speaker more
brilliant and sympathetic audience, and never
was Gambetta in better condition to meet the
high expectations of his audience. / think the
speech there made must stand out as the great
est of his life. have heard nearly all the most
eloquent aud distinguished men in our own
country since 1885, and some OF the most cele-
brated in both England and France, and can
truly say never heard anything that could be-
gin to compare with the speech of Gambetta on
this occasion. 1t was never surpassed by Mir
abeau i'm his proudest days in the constituent
assembly, neither by DantOn, when he tbun-
dered at the Jaoobin club nor by Veiguiand
when rising to his highest flights of eloquence
IN the national convention of France.
From this time l met Gambetta frequently,
and am proud to think / enjoyed his friend
ship. He always expressed the greatest inter-
est in everything connected with our country
and his desire one day to visit it. He con-
sented TO sit to Healy for his portrait for
me, ana our great artist SURPASSED himself in
bringing out most accurately all his marvellous
features. Adjoining the wall of my library,
value not to be expressed and will be treasured
as a souvenir of one of the most remarkable
men of his time.
The last time / saw Gambetta was at the
house of NJ THEIRS, September 8, 1877, on the day
of the funeral of that distinguished man. He
was bowed down with grief and In eloquent
accents spoke of the loss which France was then
called upon 10 mourn. When about to return
to my country, | hade him goodbye and
pressed his hand for the last time.
San Antonio, Tex, January g. 1854