Omaha daily bee., 1888-07-14
A Notable French nuel.


Our cable dispatches recorded yester-
day morning the sensational proceed
ings in the French chamber Of deputies
on the previous day. when Premier Flo
quot and General Boulanger had an
acrimonious tilt, ending in the latter
charging the former with having i'm
pudently lied. Boulanger was called to
account for this language by the presi-
dent of the chamber, and told that it
would be necessary to censure him. He
%thereupon resigned his seat, and the
dispatch closed with the statement that
a duel would probably result. The prom
Use has been fulfilled.
1t would seem that Floquetlostnotime
after the adjournment OF the chamberin
seeking a vindication of his vcracity
by challenging Boulanger to mortal
combat. and the redoubtable general
appears to have been equally prompt in
accepting. He undoubtedly expected
such a result when he applied the Ian
guage,a and may have intended to bring
it about. Floquet has been c%onspicu-
ously bitter in deRuncing Boulanger
ever since the latter began his move
ment for q dissolution of the chamber
| and a revision of the constitution. A
few weeks ago he made Il powerful
speech cXcoriatinG the general, which
was printed by the thousands and dis
tributcd throughout France. 1t was
not only a most vigorous arraignment
| of Boulangcr US II plotter against the re-
| public and a ~self-seeking demagogue,
but it was as well a mas
terly argument against the wisdom
and ~eXpedienCy at this time of his pro-
posal for dissolution and revision. The
speech made a great impression upon
the country, and its effect was severely
damaging to the popularity of Bou-
LANCER. He, was, therefore, naturally
very much embittercd against FlOquet,
and very likely determined to use the
first opportunity to provoke him to a
fight.
If such we're the case he did not find
the premier unwilling, nor was the
statesman at any disadvantage with the
sword, but fully the equal of the soldier.
The two men met yesterday morning,
and the language of the dispatches in
dicates that the encounter was deadly
in its earnestness. Both men were
wounded, but Boulanger received
the more serious hurt, getting
a thrust in the neck which is thought
to be dangerous. 1t was by far the
most notable duel, and one of the most
sanguinary that has occurred in Europe
for many years. The numberin France
who will sympathize with Boulangcr is
perhaps not very great, while certainly
no well wlsher of that country else
where will regret hat he got the worst
Of the combat. He has come to be
nearly universally regarded as II mis-
chief maker Of a very ordinary, but still
dangerous kind, and if the hard and hu.
initiating experience he has just had
shall take him out of the way as q men
the sword of Floquet will have done
a very great service to that country
1t is possible however, that the aifail
may be productive of consequences that
will give Boulanger another opportu
nifty to get a public standing and renev
the agitation with which his name ha.
become prominently identified. In al
most any other country he would be per
manently consigned to obscurity, blu
the French people are not like an,
other, and are quite as likely to max,
the v%anquished general again a popula,
idol, if he survive his wound, as to pur
sue the more sensible course of drop
ping him from the list OF men who hav,
a claim to public respect and conf
dence.