Morning journal and courier., 1883-01-30
Gambetta as am Orator. .[From the PalI Mall Gazette.l

On the whole, the prevailing impression 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, have seen the mass take fire and
 launch itself against an opponent, and then
 the effect was electrifying. At 8 eonvivial
 gathering 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
 govera themselves as they like best" And
 on this text, which revealed the gulf separa-
 ting him from the doetrinaire Republicans of other days, he dilated for some time with
 overwhelming authority and fire. Nothing was more remarkable in him than this power
 of thus investing with imaginative fervor
 the dictates of practical prudence and con-
 ciliation. But his oratorieal displays were
 usually reserved for a formal occasion. In
 the tribune of the National Assembly at Yer sailles the effects he produced were such, suppose all who ever witnessed them would
 agree, as we are never likely to behold again. As an orator he seemed to me, when l heard
 him in those days, to unite in 8 superlative degree the two qualities of weight and splen- dor. As soon as he began to speak his voice cleared itself and rang like a trumpet. It's
 tones were as sympathetic and various as
 they were resounding. He could be as ire
 sistible in conjuration as he was terrible in
 menace, and his choice of language and into nation never failed. He could be alike furi- ous or familiar without eeasing to be digni-
 fled. His looks and actions were full of command, and it was thrilling sight to see
 him stand there like mountain, while the
 sea of hostile deputies funaed below. With
 toss of his great head and mane, and 8 tre- mendous gesture, he would hurl back taunt after taunt into the arena, till his enemies covered and shrank into silence. But al- though impetuosity and conviction, com bined with natural force and acquired art
 endowed him with this magnificent power of denunciatory eloquence, nevertheless, his
 seemed to me, lay not in the oombative. but
 rather in the peaceable and generous ele- nents of his character. He indeed excited
 inevitable rancours, but as far as ever could perceive he cherished none- He was the doughtiest of fighters, but singularly little, I should say, of hater. I have never heard him speak venomously of his enemies, still less, which is a rare thing in 8 politician, of his friends; and from the carping spirit of division and recriminatiop, from jealousy and mean suspicion and resentment, he
 seemed, in those days at least, absolutely free. Those who know France best will not deny that this spirit has been, and is, the l canker which in that country most threatens
 the body polite and if her Republic stands to-day it is because it's practical founder, Gambetta, was 8 lover of conciliation by temperament as well as on principle; it is because he was, at least according to the im- pression of casual observer, the kindliest ! hearted as well as the strongest of her sons.