Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-04-12

1he1atest adviccs plainly indicate that
the French people are passing through n
grave political crisis. The Boulangists and
all their fellow eonspirators Of the monar-
chical type are doing their utmost to
block the Path Of order and to make re-
publicsnism as difficult IA possible. Many
Of the American newspapers have too
hastily blamed the French government for
prosecuting Boulanger and his chief asso-
ciaies in their disorderly agitation. 1t is
obvious enough that the Government took
risks In iusiitutiug prosecution against the
leaders Of "a powerful political party. But
II Ia quite possible that greater danger
would have been incurred by allowing the
Boulargists to go on unohstructed. II
certainly has been plain enough for some
time that the INSCRIPTIONS agitator and his
accomplices have been sapping and mining
the very foundations of the government
and Intentionally acting in the way to eff
fectually destroy the Republic. The Gov
ernment clearly saw that II It longer re-
manned silent and inactive, ii would soon
become powerless for its own defence.
President Carnot and his Ministry were
much In the same situation that the nited
States government was in the last months
OF Buchanan's Administration. Slidell,
Mason, Davis and their Coadjutors were
committing no overt acts of treason, hut
they were insidiously undermining the
:. a
triously preparing the way for secession
and civil war, thus In effect violating the
spirit and intent of the Constitution and
the laws, while the government WAS show
Ing a pusilauimity aud weakness which
served greatly to encourage and strength
en- the eoBspirators. History has Justly
stamped " / h ,oud, muation the course of
Buchanan and of his associate ofll-
Gals who were not really disunionists at
heart. It is plainly a question of life and
death with the Republican government in
France. To stand with folded arms, and
allow Boulangism to go on, is only to in
vite its oxu overthrow. To graPple with in
.idious treason, at most, cannot bring a
worse fate. IL 1t strikes the enemy with
v,gor and success, brings to the light of
the world It's unlawful and wicked plot
tings for government overthrow. the Re
public will win the respect of the better
portion of France and of Europe, and
prove its fitness to live. II is the more
probable that the French Republicans have
.,ha th, at,l, al ttNn Inf htr nm
promising chance of success and of Gu
during life.
For the persistent prophets Of evil
against the real Republicans of France w
have little respect. 1t is not pleasant TO
reflect that for good while there have
been Americans who are among the most
persistent skep.ics as to popular liberty
in the country Of Lafayette, Lamartine,
Theirs, and Gambetta. They prefer a
Bourbon,a Napoleon, or a Boulanger. Some
Of these when they 90 to Europe like to
fxwn around the representatives of Bour-
bonism and imperialism. Only the other
day the Atlantic cable told the American
publfc that General Crawford, OF the
United States army, had just been visiting
Boulsnger. since bis flight to Belgium,
and was greatly pleased by the talk of
this INSCRIPTIONS agitsior, who had left
his country for his eouutry's good. What
business had an American army officer |
calling on the French outlaw Is an Am |
erican officer so thoughtless Of discretion |
and Of what a REPRESENTATIVE Of th, Amer 4