Jules FERRY. L.A.S., Saint-DiéOctober 19 [1885], to Mathilde - Lot 560

Jules FERRY. L.A.S., Saint-DiéOctober 19 [1885], to Mathilde Charras in Thann (Alsace); 8pages in-12 headed Chambre des députés, stamped envelope. Nice long political letter, after the fall of his government (March 30, 1885). These are sad thoughts: "The policy I have pursued and maintained for two years with the help of Gambetta's friends is being defeated, disregarded, by a state of opinion that is not conducive to raising France's authority and credit abroad [...] The resolute policy I have pursued and maintained for two years with the help of Gambetta's friends is being defeated, disregarded, by a state of opinion that is not conducive to raising France's authority and credit abroad. [...] A resolute, national, active policy, which is the necessary preparation for recovery, is not to the taste of the indifferent, politically inert, timid or, to tell the truth, deeply fearful mass, which is in a position to make or break governments. Monarchists and demagogues knew this better than we do: Clemenceau's "peaceful influence" is perfectly acceptable to them, as long as this attitude of a well-behaved child is crowned - as it should be - by the reduction of military service to two years, then to one [...] I once said that France would never resign itself to playing the role of a great Belgium in the world; the universal suffrage of 1885 is completely resigned to this. [...] The right and the extreme left are going to demand the evacuation of Tonkin [...] The Republic would not recover [...] It is important that I disappear, it is the question that takes precedence over all others. [...] we'll try to put up a good show in the middle of the Circus. There's nothing good to hope for from this Chamber; all politics will consist in preventing it from doing evil. To do evil, on the inside, is to listen to the extravagant advice that speaks of giving the helm to the left"... Etc. Attached is a L.A.S. to Arthur Ranc, June 22 (1p. in-8, mourning).