The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-06-15
FRANCE UNITED.
FHREH MONTHS MORE OF sUBSTAN-
TIAE PROGRESS.
BouIAnGIsn Buried and All Parties Sup.
porting tho Government.

PARIS, May 31.-The Boulsnglsts have playe
their last card and they have lost the game
Notwithstanding their complete defeat In tn
elections oflsst autumn. they still preserved tn,
hope OF reRAining at least portion OF the un
fortunate power which they held for two years
The Municipal Council Of Paris having TO bC
reelected this year they flattored themselves
they might gain the majority Of 1t and become
masters in the Hotel do Vile. Once thero
they could transform the Common Council into
little political parliament declare wal
against the Government and appeal to the
spirit OF revolt, under the preteIt Of being the
only true defenders Of the peoples rights
The preceding Council had prepared the way
for such tactics by its repeated attempts 10
create IN Paris an Independent commune,
and to persuade the Partisan population
that IL had the right to command all
the rest OF Franco Moro than once
already during the last few years this pre-
tension caused embarrassments and conflicts
OF authority. In the hands Of Boulangism
1t might have created real dangers. and
brought us into serious CONCENTRATIONS. The
success that they hoped for In the municipal
election had In ITSELF nothing impossible. boz
cause. ON the 9th OF January, 1885, NJ Bou-
LANCER was elected Deputy OF the capital. with
contingent OF 2i4 900 votes. Tho arrogance
with which the leaders OF the party proclaimed
their victory sure beforehand made people
believe that they had good reason to speak
with so much confidence. The General him
self had preserved the illusion Of the almighty
power OF his name to such degree that he
sent to the electors. from his villa In Jersey, a
prepared list ofthe candidates. Apparently he
thought that the people had nothing else to do
but to vote for the men whom he named.
The event left nothing standing OF all these
high hopes sincere or affected. 1t has shown
that the remnant OF life which remained In
Boulangism was reduced to the agonizlnR con-
vulsons OF an expiring party. Far from having
obtained anything that looked like majority
In the Municipal Council the BoulanGlsts have
with difficulty carried two elections out OF
eighty That Is more than defeat; 1t is a
complete overthrow
The day before the battle few OF tho prin-
cipal champions Of the party. led by NM. d.
roul6de. Laguerre, and Naquet attempted to
make great stroke in the hope Of warding of
the impending rout which they forosaw. They
went to Jersey with the idea OF persuading NJ.
Boulanger to como boldly back to France. This
brave return they thought would bring about a
new outburst of popularity, by the aid OF
which they could carry tho election. More
over. by constituting himself q prisoner the
General would have forced the Government to
recommence his trial before the High Court OF
Justice. In this situation n series OF ex- |
traordinary events might DO foreseen. This !
advice. which had already been given several |
times fruitlessly. took the character, In the |
present case. OF n summons The men who |
had abandoned their former republican oIin-
ions. and compromised their political future
by recklessly giving themselves over to Bou-
langlsm. let the refugee in Jersey plainly I'M
derstand that IL was his turn to make u per-
eonal sacrifice by coming over to lift up his
banner with his own hand. The advice was
no more agreeable to NJ. Boulangor than
on previous occasions. Feeling that he was
playing uoor role. and that he was SO 10 say,
running his cause. he endeavored to avoid at
least the shame OF q direct refusal. He referred
TO NJ. Rocheiort the delegates who had come to
find him. declaring himself ready to return to
rance il the latter should also come to that
determination. Now. he was perfectly certain
that NJ hochefort would completely reject the
idea of willingly giving himself up to the
French authorities. especially as. not being the
chief of the party, he had nothing to gain from
the adventure. The only thing that Rochefort
could expect from it was an Imprisonment
more or less long. Far from having the least
notion of making this new sacrifice to lost
cause he was already aware Of the fact that it
had cost him up to that time quite enough. and
that he had been very foolish to compromise
fore. he very wisely remained in London, and
consequently BOuIRnger prudently refused to
leave his asylum in Jersey. 1t is only Just to
say that to act otherwise would have been
useless coup do tGte. In the present condition
of things his return could neither build up
Boulangi5m nor reGstablish his own personal
prestige. 1t was last year, Immediately after
the judgment of the High Court of Justice
that he should have come; or. rather he should
have had courage and dignity enough not to
run away like a common outlaw. He has. more
over, had ample opportunity OF judging the de-
gree Of esteem which remains for him in pub
lie opinion. The day before the elections the
interested partisans who remained true to him
circulated the report OF his landing upon the
coast OF France. lie was going they said, to
present himself in full uniform to the autLori-
ties and challenge his own arrest. Nobody
believed for a moment that there was any truth
in this report. and the little attention that it re-
reived was only for the purpose OF turning it
Into rdicue.
The collapse OF what was called. for some
lime, the National party is complete, 30 COM
Dlete. In fact. that it inspires a sentiment OF !
pity. Not that anybody has any genuine SYM
)athy for this one-horse adventurer, whose | :
vanity and selishnoss wrought such danger TO
our country. He was not even able to take
advantage OF his chance. Still less is there any
lIty 70" the ambitious and Discontinued men
md the fools who had grouped themselves
round his strange and dangerous POPULAR
ty. Now that Boulanger appears reduced to I
lis true proportions II is sad to think that such
IN individual could put on the airs of q quasi ,
master OF France. and find partisans by hum I
reds OF thousands among the ambitious In the {
anks OF all parties and on all steps of the :
ocial ladder. We could understand the thing {