Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-07-14
THE FLooUET-BoULANGER DUEL.

The REcoRD-UNIoN, from the time Bou-
LANCER first entered prominently upon po-
litical activity, has freely expressed distrust
OF the man, not only questioning his sim
certify declaration of friendship to France,
but the honesty of his patriotic assump-
TONS He has posed as an ardent champion
OF the republic, when in fact he has been
convenient instrument for the schemes of
the whole pack of varied conspirators
against self government - Bonapartists,
Orleanists, monarchists of all shades, an
archists and communists, and all the riff
raft of opposition to republican institutions
If General Boulanger has not been con-
scious of the use to which he has been put
| then he is more than knave, and is to be
logically reckoned fool. He has run to
the end of his rope somewhat sooner than
we anticipated Covered with medals and
vain as peacock, this man who as sold
| Ter was an eminent success in organizing
and disciplining the French army, strobe
into the Chamber of Deputies inflated with
self-importance and fresh from a tour of
| the provinces, where he had been fattered
and pulled up with insincere praise, and
mounting the tribune proceeded for the
| third time to make himself ridiculous and
| offensive. He assailed the Government of
President Carnot rudely, declared the
chamber to be the enemy of France, and
that the need for a revision of the Consti-
tuition was so great that dissolution of the
Chamber was necessary, and this he moved.
Floquet, the accomplished legislator and
brilliant orator, replied sharply to the be-
medaled General, and the House voted
down the motion. Thereupon he appears
TO have lost his head, and INDUCED in such
a TRADE of abuse that he was roundly
Kissed, as he rendered his resignation,
which was accepted. Not even his polit-
ical friends interposed in his behalf; the
Chamber openly and pointedly mani
tested its contempt for the man as
he angrily left the room, the members
crowding after him and kissing and jeering
him to the door. The dispatches say he
! did not appear to have friend in the
body, and no one ventured to lift voice
in his defense.
1t was not becoming for the Deputies to
indulge in such demonstration. The
mob that howled its contempt, and fol-
lowed him to his house with Kisses, is par
donable. Boulanger invoked and met the
justice of an outraged people. Floquet,
smarting under the personal insults hurled
at him in the Chamber by this would-be
dictator, yesterday challenged him and
thrust sword through his throat. This
resort to the duello is an appeal to bar
barrie method of settling an issue. Flo
quet could have better left Poulanger to
the punishment of public judgment. But
since the code was invoked, it NAV be
said that had the steel of the irate Repub-
lican whipped out the life of the malcon-
tent, the world would not much have
mourned, and certainly would have had
small loss to complain of, since the attitude
of Boulanger has been a menace to free
government upon the European continent
The duel was not between the politician
and the soldier, but between the Republic
and the host of its enemies. Lovers OF
free institutions and republican govern
ment can permit their sympathies to flow
in but one direction in such a case.