Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1883-01-04


DEATH or LEON GAMBETTA.-The
death OF Leon Gambetta il announc-
ed. He was regarded. says the Bal
timore Sssn. as the greatest man that
France has produced since the death
Of Mirabeau. The same journal goes
on 10 say. that ffteen years ago be
was an obscure lawyer. whose splen-
did oratory made him the idol Of the
radical clubs at BelIeyille. In 1858
he suddenly sprang into greater pab-
lie notice by bis impassioned plead
ings for the defendants in political
case instituted BY the imperial gov
ernmens. The next year he was
elected, as an advanced radical, one
Of the Deputies to the Corps Legis-
latif by the voters Of the most turbu-
lent quarter Of Paris. The following
year. after the disaster OF Sedan, be
became memoer Of the revolutionary
government. When Paris was be-
sieged he escaped in a balloon and
set himself to work in the provinces
TO organize new armies for the pur-
pose Of continuing the war against
the Germans. In this service his dis
play Of executive and administrative
ability was 50 remarkable that he
suddenly doomed up the foremost man
IN all France. After the pact of
Bordeaux he was returned TO the
National Assembly. gave his support
to NJ. Theirs, and cut loose from his
old associates Of the Commune. For
this detection they have never for
given him. He became then the
leader in the Assembly in the repub-
lican left, and this position he has
held ever since. Dissatisfied with
the policy of N. Theirs, Gambetta was
prominent in forcing his resignation.
After Marshal Mcmahon was made
President Of the provisional republic,
Gambetta went over to him for
time, but subsequently, assisted in
bringing about his downfall and
electing NJ. Grevy as his successor.
During the earlier years of the
Grevy presidency Gambetta was the
power behind the executive, and while |
declining to take office himself, took
quietly the leading part in creating |
the successive changes Of ministry. |
After the last elections he was called
upon to organize the new ministry and |
take the position of premier. The |
clanor grew so strong that he was
compelled to assume the official re-
sponsibilities he had previously stu
diously avoided. He hal scarcely
entered upon Office when he brought |
forward measures looking to the CEN
tralizing of the power of the govern
ment by providing for elections by
departments on a general ticket, in
stead Of by districts as now, and for a
reorganization Of the Senate, which
would have made the latter body.
now partially elective and partially
appointive. the creature of the House
But neither the Senate nor the Cham
Der Of Deputies was prepared to in
dorse measures 70 radical and thus
bring the tenure Of the one into
peril, and force the other to de-
clare its own dissolution. The Cham
Der OF Deputies rejected them. and
dalnbetta Withdrew from Office. car
rying his colleagues with him.
Recently, on the reopening of the
session, 1t was evident that during
the vacation an attempt had been
made 10 conciliate GaInbetta, and the
builder tone Of his newspaper organs
Indicated that it had not been with
out some effect. What might have
been the final resul. it is difficult TO
say but many eyes were beginning
10 turn once more toward Gambetta
- the most available candidate for
the presidency on the expiration Of I
the term Of President Grevy two wears
hence. Whether such a movement
would have succeeded or failed there
a no question that the death OF Gam
BETA at this time is a great loss to
France. With all his faults he was
"a strong man, an orator without an
equal at the bar or on the platform,
aud contesSedly a statesman of re-
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