Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-04-05
B0ULANGERIsM.

from France, and in that dramatic man
ner that is exemplified in low comedy. As
a consequence all France islaughing at him,
and the man Tener declares came in with
horse and song goes out in a laugh and
with what has been well termed an opera
bouie flight. 1t is to be hoped that, under
the circumstances, the Government will
not issue against this overrated man the
decree Of Punishment. Such DEGREES are
foreign to true republics and should
have no place in the schedule of penal
ties they recognize. Boulanger should
not be made martyr. Boulangerism,
under the guise of a desire to reform the
Constitution, is, in fact, in opposition to
a constitutional form of government, and
hence it is that around the General clus-
tiers all the indictments of France. He is
the focus where all the opposition to the
Administration concentrates. But the
public has not been informed that he has
been engaged in other than open opposi-
ton to the Ministry. If he is susceptible
10 prosecution under the new "politieal
conspiracy" Act, the evidence has been
sedulously concealed. For himself, the
General denies with emphasis that he has
plotted against the country, and we are
bound to believe him until something
definite is established against him.
Boulanger is soldier, and in the time of
peace did great deal to reform the bar
rack system of the French army. But he
is no more gallant, has achieved no more
honor on the field than dozen other sons
of France. We would not deny him any
OF his credits, those Of bravery, generosity.
hatred of the external enemies of his
country, love for the people of France,
@nd the possession of all good soldierly
qualities. But what then? What does
he stand for as a political agitator? For
all that is opposed to republican form of
government; for all that would plunge
the nation into war with her old-time
enemy on the slightest provocation. As
an orator he is nothing, as a writer he ex-
cites the ridicule Of scholars, as a politi-
clan he has not ordinary skill, and at no
time has he been able to control his own
following, but has uniformly been its sub
iect. The declaration on which he hinges
all his claims is "a Republic without par
liamentarism," which is the equivalent of
saying a Union without a Federal Con-
gress. Behind Boulanger is an association
devoted to his interests that calls itself
The League Of Patriots" 1t is possible
that the Government is in possession of
information that may attach to the organ
ization purposes inimical to the perpetuity
OF The Republic, but we have the assurance
Of not few men whose patriotism and de-
votlon to the Republic have been tried,
that the organization is legitimate in its
aims. 1t is, however, never safe to place
reliance upon secret political associations;
as rule they are opposed to the best in
terests of Republic, and the cause that
resorts to them is open to suspicion, except.
perhaps, in times of national trial under war,
when the patriotic element feels the need of
concealing the means it employs in behalf
of national integrity. The objection to the
cause of General Boulanger is that it is
causeless; that France needs at this time
no radical reforms. 1t is that character of
movement that enlists the sympathies of
the declared enemies of free government ::
1t is the kind of agitation that is more
than likely to sweep its leaders into the
whirlpool Of revolution to re-establish
monarchy and make its fgure-head die
tator. While General Boulanger may not
contemplate il, nevertheless the move
ments Of his party bear a strong resem-
blanoe to the activities that preceded the
coup @etai of the late Emperor of the
French and the Republican press of
France, having taken alarm in conse-
quence, is now daily and loudly sounding
the note of warning. While General
Boulanger, therefore, may be entirely sin
cere in his declaration, that his aim is
simply to so reconstruct the organic law as
10 excludge Parliamentarism, should he
and his supporters succeed in that direc-
ton, it is certain that he cannot con-
troll that which he puts in motion, and
will be driven to pose either as broken
idol or dictator. In fact, he is already
upon the verge of being bulletined as the
former. In the latter case his ascendancy
would be but temporary, for he has
neither the political wisdom Of Louis Ma
poleon nor tenth part of his ability to
handle men or direct the course of peo-
pie like the French, who, once aroused
against the Government, do not stop short
Of its complete overthrow.
sTANLEY's ROUTE.