Tas assumption by M. Gambetta of the obligations and responsibilities of office is an event of the first importance both for France and for Earope. It is so because it will now be no longer possible for the Republic to maintain that position of comparative isolation from the common affairs of the Enropean family of nations, and that indefiniteness of policy as regards her own domestic affairs which have marked alike the Ministries of M. Waddington, M. do Freycinet, and Ferry. since the constitution of the existing Republic its Government has been of a hesitating, tentative character, while behind it has been a force inspired and directed by M. Gam. betta, which has been at least believed to have urged it to more decisive action. One Ministry after another has had to succumb under the attacks of the compact body of delegates who owned allegiance to M. Gambetta, while he himself remained in the background, The opportanity had not yot come, he said, for him to declare himself. Possibly ho may have designed to convince France of the inefficiency of all her great public servants before he came forward to claim the undivided confidence of the country. Events, however, have been marching somewhat more rapidly during this last year or two, France must needs take her proper place in the settlement of the Eastern Question, and out of that necessity arose the Tunis affair, which is simply the Eastern Question as it affects France. The general election came on in due course, and there was no longer any room for delay or any more fitting opportunity to be waited for. M. Gambetta cautiously felt his way towards that undivided power to which he aspired, and be was warned both by the Conservative Republicans and by the Radicals that if he deferred taking office, in the expectation that matters might grow more ripe-for the realisation of his idea, he might ran a risk of arousing serious opposition, He submitted, therefore, to the inevitable, but still with no good grace. He would fain have kept up something of the irresponsible power and influence which is so attractive to him by being head of a Ministry, but without a portfolio, And when this was found to be impossible he selected the office which at once turns all eyes and thoughts in Earope to his Government, that of Minister for Foreign Affairs.
The conspicuous part which M. Gambetta has played during the years that sonic elapsed since the fall of the Second Empire, his well-known political views, his remarkable energy, and his great and varied abilities, all combine to forbid him from identifying himself with n merely Conservative and un-eventual policy. France expects great things from him, and great things are hoped or feared from him throughout Europe. He would be no true Frenchman if be did not at least make an effort to prove himself equal to that part which seems by common consent to be cast for bim, Bat M, Gambetta is much misunderstood if he is not one of those meu to whom it is given to inaugurate such changes as leave their mark upon the history of mankind. He is much belied if he does not regard himself as something of the nature of a chosen instrument for carrying such changes into effect. And a man with convictions of this kind will not be likely to neglect such 3 as ho has at command for the realisation of his ideas, even though those means may fail somewhat of the perfection which he aimed at. The time has come when the existing regime in France, which seems to satisfy nobody, must undergo some sort of development in one direction or the other. France has now recovered from and almost forgotten the disasters and humiliations of ten years ago, Her vast and varied resources aid the admirable industry and thrift of her people have enabled her to more than regain her former commercial and financial position. Her army has been reorganized at the cost of untold labour and money. And with this revived senso of vitality and recovered energy, the old hankering after political and military ascendency has begun to stir in the heart of the nation. M. Gambetta is credited with at least a full sympathy with this national impulse. He has never hesitated to avow himself an advocate of the doctrine of the révanche, So long asa yard of what he considers French territory is under a foreign dominion he will not rest content. He was in favour of a more active part in the European concert than commended itself to the cautious Ministry of the day. He has through.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.