The Portland daily press., 1889-04-09
GENERAL BOULANGER and HIS CAUSE.
Difference Of Opinion on the Flight
of the Popular Idol.
Some Contradictory Things to Which
He has Given utterance.
A Gold Shoulder to the MonarchIsts
and Their Followers.

New YORK, April s.-A special to the
Herald from Brussels says: Wide difference
OF opinion exists as to whether the flight of
General BOulanger and his absence from
France will prove detrimental, or the oppo-
site, to Boulangism. The most plausible
view is that nothing will be changed by this
unexpected event, and that the Boulangists
can hold councils in Brussels, London, Ge-
neva or elsewhere, without finding their ac-
tion on public opinion interfered with. 1t is
not his being an exile that will prevent Bou-
langer communicating with his followers or
keeping his fellow countrymen posted in the
profound ideas that germinate in his brain
when not suggested by his political mana
gers.
In his latest utterances he goes so far as to
brand as aliens those who accuse him of ow-
ing his electoral successes to the support Of
the Monarchists. Such declaration must
have been highly pleasing to the socialistic
committee that organized the meeting at the
Lac ST. Fargeau restaurant. As for the
Monarchists. if they are not satisfied, they
can console themselves with the reflection
that Boulanger has never shown much con-
sideration for them, and that he looks upon
their support as absolutely gratuitous. There
are also some curious passages in the lesson
which he read to M. Antoine, whom he re-
proaches for his reckless, indiscreet patriot
ism, and for having made use of political
propaganda, which he says has nothing in
common with the great national interests of
France. Boulanger also spoke about the
laws of exile.
He declared that he was the adversary of
all pr0scriptive measures, and asserted that
II 1t was in his power his first act would be
to recall the exiled princes. He neglected
TO explain how it came that he aud friends
took so active part in the execution of the
measures that sent the princes into exile,
and, quite recently, their votes in the Cham
Der against the recall of the Due d'Aumale.
The general tried to explain the contradic-
tion by throwing the whole blame on the ex-
treme weakness of the parliamentary repub-
lie, which requires, so it seems, violent meas
ures in self defence, from which it would
appear that it is out of pity for the parlia-
mentary public that General Boulanger gave
his consent to measures so contrary to his
individual wishes. All this is somewhat OBJ
scure and incomprehensible. but it is only
minds that are capable of reflection that are
struck by these strange contradictions.
The masses of the public, who have lost
discernment in the political matters through
the habitual lies and charlatanism of poll
ticians, will probably continue to back Bou-
langer as the favorite in the electoral grand
prix, and it is quite within the range of pos
sibility that neither the absence of their idol
nor his condemnation by the Senate will
put quietus to his ambitious and selfish
prospects.
Boulanger Says He Can Remain.
PARIS, April S.-General Boulanger has
telegraphed from Brussels that the report
that the Belgian authorities have requested
him to leave Belgium is untrue.