[14] “L’ère des révolutions est fermée! Je suis devenu Ministre, et le peuple entier entre au pouvoir avec moi.”
[15] A play upon the title of “Contes Fantastiques d’Hoffmann”—a book which is popular in France.
[16] “Tu es le plus cachotier des bavards.“
[17] Clément Laurier used to be Gambetta’s chief political henchman. During the war he was sent to London to negotiate the Morgan Loan. But the Commune sickened him of Republicanism and he joined the Royalist ranks. He died in 1878, being then one of the Deputies for the Indre. His change of politics never impaired his private relations with Gambetta.
[18] The Scrutin de Liste Bill was rejected in the Chamber of Deputies on the 27th January, 1882, by 282 to 227.
[19] “Le ton fait la chanson, et Jules chantait faux.”
[20] “L’Ouvrier,” “L’Ouvriére,” “L’Ouvrier de huit ans,” “Le Travail,” “La Peine de Mort,” &c., works couched in the purest philanthropy and which remind the working-man of all his grievances against society.
[21] M. Wallon was the mover of the resolution: “that the Government of France be a Republic.” It was carried in the National Assembly, 1875, by a majority of one vote.
[22] There were mistakes all round in that 15th May business. The Conservatives should have allowed the Republicans a little more rope. If the Simon Cabinet had been overthrown by a vote of the Left, and if another Liberal Administration had been put up to meet with the same fate—then would have been the time to dissolve the Lower House. But the Royalists were too impatient. They called for a national condemnation of Republicanism before the nation had grown tired of Republican dissensions. The 16th May was the making of Gambetta as a leader, for up to that time he had only been a free lance—“un fou furieux,” as Thiers called him. He stepped into the place which ought to have been Simon’s.
[23] M. Cochéry has been Minister of Posts and Telegraph under six successive Administrations.