The Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) Suivant a verite. THURSDAY, JANUARY 4, 1883. LEON GAMBETTA.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 3, Issue 33, 4 January 1883, Page 2

The Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) Suivant a verite. THURSDAY, JANUARY 4, 1883. LEON GAMBETTA.

The cable on Tuesday brought us intelligence of the death of one of the most remarkable men of the, age. Leon Gambetta probably occupied the highest political position as a statesman m the history of France, and his uttei> ances on momentous questions invariably were conceded their full measure of significance by the other Powers. Gambetta's origin waß humble, and he selected and achieved success m the legal profession, m which he distinguished himself as an eloquent and able advocate. It was the Franco-German war of 1870 which brought out GaMbetta as a prominent statesman. He leifc the beleaguered city of Paris m a balloon, and succeeded m organizing the army of the Loire, and superintending a national scheme of defence. He resigned his position as Dictator of the French Empire shortly after the crisis ia the affairs of that country, and retired ti Spain, from whence he emerged the following year, and again became a prominent figure m French politics, holding the position of leader of the Rxtreme Left. Gambetta was undoubtedly a patriot m the truest sense of the term, and as a statesman was one of the foremost men of the world, wielding a power second to none. It is melancholy to reflect that such aa able politician has been cut off prematurely, and the effect of his death on the immediate future of France, and peri chance of the continent of Europe, it is impossible at present to predict. A great man, and an .invincible, power m. j the political world has passed away, and the foofsteps of Gambetia, we venture to uay, will not be filled within the present generation.- In ancient and mpdern history .master-minds, like i his have periodically come to tne front, during a critical emergency h which only served to develop their vast strength and powers of resource, organization, and self> reliance. Gambetta's political views were based on the future greatness of the French Empire, and nil his theories of constitutional and social reform were suggestive of the true patriot, who lived but for his country. He counselled moderation m the relation* ship between class and class, and persistently advocated a change from small electoral dietricts, with their petty concomitant local influences, to larger constituencies, with a. proportionately extended scheme of public policy. This idea of his life he would doubtless I ultimately hate carried/ into gfFje.cifc, had he been spread. His {death was the result of disease which supervened an accident from the careless handling of a I revolver, and after* various conflicting bulletins regarding his health, the cable brought the sad intelligence that the ! curtain had dropped on his eventful ( 1 life's history, and that a State funeral is ] to be accorded him. Many a sorrowstricken friend and admirer of him who is no more will soliloquise : — •■ ; i 1 hough out* patriot's sun has set. Its light shall linerer round Ub yet,— ' . . Bright, radiant, blest.