Make France Great Again-Chapter 984 - 975: Winning Over Gambetta

This was Leon Gambetta’s first appearance on the stage of history. Although this debut carried some elements of chance, his agile thinking and knowledge of the laws of the Second Empire left many in the courtroom audience feeling surprised.

Thus, as soon as Leon Gambetta left the courthouse doors, he was immediately surrounded by reporters waiting nearby.

"What’s your opinion on this verdict?"

"Which university did you attend? What are your political views? Who is your teacher?"

"Why did you take on this case? Who instructed you to accept this case?"

...

The reporters’ incessant questions left Leon Gambetta somewhat at a loss.

As someone who had arrived in Paris for less than half a year, Leon Gambetta was clearly not yet accustomed to the "enthusiasm" of Parisians.

However, fortunately, Leon Gambetta himself was also a person good at social interactions.

After a brief moment of bewilderment, Leon Gambetta began to answer some of the reporters’ questions.

First, Leon Gambetta introduced himself to all the reporters present, mentioning his name, school, and his belief in republicanism. He then earnestly invited the reporters to join him nearby the coffee shop by the Administrative Court for further discussion.

After all, standing outside the administrative court to answer questions wasn’t quite appropriate.

Upon hearing that Leon Gambetta was a republican, the reporters’ interest in him waned a bit.

In the current Empire system, only a few republicans could attain high positions.

The remaining republicans mostly existed outside the system and lacked significant value, while also being easily targeted by the Empire’s internal censorship.

If things went wrong, the entire newspaper office could be implicated.

[PS: The current Second Empire censorship does not directly set a clear boundary. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

On the surface, even opposition remarks to the Empire can be published.

However, during the secretary’s review, some newspapers are refused publication for various reasons.

A few newspaper offices are scrutinized due to issues like tax evasion or fire safety.

Newspaper offices in Paris have gradually learned a rule: overly radical news must not be reported.

Only report moderate criticism and positive news!]

When a portion of the newspaper offices shifted battlegrounds alongside Leon Gambetta, they quietly left.

Remaining by Leon Gambetta’s side were only reporters from Republican and Left Wing newspapers, and one reporter from the Bonaparte Newspaper.

Leon Gambetta led the reporters to the coffee shop near the administrative hall. The coffee shop’s staff quickly approached Leon Gambetta and his companions, then placed the café menu in front of Leon Gambetta, eagerly asking what he needed.

Leon Gambetta glanced at the prices, a trace of embarrassment flickering in his eyes.

The price of each coffee variety in the café was beyond what he could afford as a poor student. He had to call the waiter aside and quietly ask if they had free water.

The waiter’s formerly warm expression vanished quickly, coldly saying to Leon Gambetta, "No money, no coffee here!"

"I..." Leon Gambetta felt his cheeks flush with heat, wishing he could immediately disappear into the ground.

Just as Leon Gambetta found himself in a dilemma, a voice came from behind him, "Provide a coffee for Mr. Leon Gambetta and the reporter friends accompanying him!

I’ll pay!"

Leon Gambetta turned around to see behind him Emile Olivier, clad in a black suit, standing there, though Leon Gambetta didn’t know him.

Emile Olivier stepped beside Leon Gambetta and produced two gold coins for the waiter, "Is this enough? If there’s extra, consider it your tip!"

"It’s enough! More than enough!" The waiter’s face immediately broke into a flattering smile, "Respectable sir, the coffee will be ready soon!"

After the waiter left, Leon Gambetta curiously examined Emile Olivier before him, his eyes showing a hint of gratitude as he inquired, "Who are you?"

"Emile Olivier!" Emile Olivier straightened up and responded briefly to Leon Gambetta.

Leon Gambetta’s expression froze upon hearing Emile Olivier’s command, revealing a clear look of disgust on his face, "I will gather the money for the coffee as soon as possible to pay you back!"

Faced with Leon Gambetta’s distancing, Emile Olivier did not feel angry.

Thinking back, Emile Olivier himself had once felt disgust towards traitors who sided with the Empire; yet now he was serving as the head of the secretariat’s news agency.

"Mr. Gambetta, you seem not very welcoming towards me!" Emile Olivier asked Leon Gambetta with a hint of teasing.

"Mr. Olivier, I respect your choice, and I hope you respect mine!" Leon Gambetta responded to Jerome Bonaparte in a tone neither humble nor arrogant.

"Mr. Gambetta, I believe I have shown you respect!" Emile Olivier shrugged his shoulders and said to Leon Gambetta, "I know you are prejudiced against me, but I can clearly tell you that I have never betrayed the Republican Faction from the beginning to the end.

Alfred Dariemon is the same!"

"Then why do you side with the Empire? Acting as the Empire’s lackey!" Leon Gambetta questioned Emile Olivier aggressively.

"If joining the Empire’s system makes one an Empire lackey, then all public officials of France, representatives of the Legislative Corps, are also lackeys of the Empire!" Emile Olivier said flatly to Leon Gambetta, "Oh, and those who voted in favor of the Empire are also lackeys of the Empire!

Mr. Leon Gambetta, if this nation’s majority are Empire lackeys, then our republican ideology is enmity with the majority!

History has proven that organizations that are enemies with the vast majority of French citizens are destined for a bad end!"

"I..." Leon Gambetta hesitated for a moment before opening his mouth, saying, "The Second Empire itself is built on the despicable and shameless seizure of the Republic!"

"Mr. Gambetta, the Empire was indeed established through disgraceful means, but before its establishment, nearly 8 million people voted for the Empire to be established!

If not for these 8 million votes, I don’t think the Emperor would choose to establish the Empire!" Emile Olivier said convincingly, "Also, you just said the Second Empire was founded on the premise of usurping the fruits of the Second Republic; then I’d like to ask who the Second Republic usurped its fruits from.

Back then, why did Mr. Cafenak lose to Emperor Jerome Bonaparte?"

Leon Gambetta was at a loss for words momentarily; Cafenak’s actions during the June Revolution were indeed hard to speak of, leading to the defeat of the Republicans.

"And didn’t the Second Republic also seize fruits from the workers, only to later massacre them!" Emile Olivier retorted to Leon Gambetta, "Compared to Mr. Cafenak’s actions in June, at least the Second Empire did not cause the death of tens of thousands or the displacement of hundreds of thousands.

Mr. Gambetta, you should embody the Republicans’ spirit of seeking truth from facts, carefully observe the Empire, rather than rashly judge based on your likes and dislikes."

"I will!" Leon Gambetta replied to Emile Olivier with a low tone; in the aspect of eloquence, Leon Gambetta was indeed too immature.

Immediately, Leon Gambetta asked Emile Olivier the purpose of his visit here.

Emile Olivier candidly told Leon Gambetta he wanted to invite Leon Gambetta to join the New Republican Party.

"I’m sorry! I cannot agree with your party’s ideology!" Leon Gambetta refused Emile Olivier, "Firmly believing the republican system will ultimately be established, and the Second Empire is destined to fall!"

"Mr. Gambetta, since you believe the Second Empire is destined to collapse, you ought to join us!" Emile Olivier was not angry, he invited Leon Gambetta again, "Our party’s principle is not anti-republic, but rather achieving republican ideals without seeking a coup.

Within the party, there are those who advocate combining monarchy and republicanism, those striving to garner public support, then deciding via vote whether the Empire or Republic should prevail."

Leon Gambetta was somewhat surprised upon hearing Emile Olivier’s reply, "How exactly did you gain the Emperor’s approval?"

"Very simple!" Emile Olivier smiled slightly and said to Leon Gambetta, "The Emperor has said as long as there’s no armed upheaval, whether Republican or Royalist Faction, he can cooperate with them.

The Empire itself is founded on order!

Unless absolutely necessary, he won’t do anything to disrupt order."

At this point, Emile Olivier lowered his voice to Leon Gambetta, "It means, Mr. Gambetta, as long as you can unite more people, even if you want to impose some restrictions on the Emperor’s power in the Legislative Corps, it’s not an impossible task!

This was said directly to me by His Majesty the Emperor!"

Leon Gambetta showed a touch of astonishment, he couldn’t understand why anyone would willingly impose limits on their own power.

"Mr. Gambetta, what do you think?" Emile Olivier asked Leon Gambetta, "Will you join us?"

"I..." Leon Gambetta pondered for a moment, then responded to Emile Olivier, "I need to consider!"

"Alright then! I won’t disturb you any longer! Enjoy the time you have next!

By the way, you’d better be cautious! Those newspaper journalists are quite formidable; if you’re not careful, you might suffer a big loss!" Emile Olivier concealed a smile at the corner of his mouth, then turned to leave.