The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-10-04

UN, SUNDAY, OCTOBER
BouLANarR was accused are insignificant
compared with those which his chief oppo-
nent M. CoNsTANs, has been charged In the
Chamber OF Deputies with having COM
mitted in Tonquin, and Of which he was de-
fed to clear himself by q prosecution for
libel. II is equally undeniable that nothing
imputed to BoULANGER is comparable in In
iquity with the use made Of means Of In
timidation and seduction by the same M.
constants In his capacity Of Minister OF the
Interior during the campaign that preceded
the general election Of 1889. These are all
facts. unchallenged and interchangeable.
and It would not be worth while to recall
them were not mems memories proverbially
short about those who have failed.
It is. on the other hand, legitimate criti-
cism and not calumny on the part Of politi-
cal opponents to aver that BouLANaER had
already survived the cause Of which he had
been the representative. No one. we sup
pose. would deny that the Affirmation would
be well founded II 1t were true, az most Of
the French Radicals pretend. that Boulan-
gism was only the cloak Of o monarchical re-
action. There is no doubt that royalism is
moribund. II not dead, in France. Chiefly
for two reasons. First. the understanding
with Russia proves that 1t ID possible under
republican regime to secure such foreign
alliances as may restore France to q place
Of dignity and influence In Europe. SEQ
ondly, under the earnest leadership Of Car
dinal LAv1oER1E and the Bishop Of Grenoble
IA leadership publicly sanctioned by LEO
XIu-the Catholic voters are beginning to
renounce their traditional sympathies with
monarchy and to give sincere support to
the republic. II. then, BoUnANaER was
justly charged with having been only the
instrument Of the Comte DE PARIS or Of
Prince VICTOR NAPOLEON. 1t is true enough
that his opportunity Of serving the reao-
tionists had passed away.
But Bou1ANaER himself protested, and
such stalwart Republicans as RooHEFoRT.'
LAauERRR. NAoUEr. and DfRounEDE be-
neved him, a detestation of monarchy and
devotion to o republican form Of govern
ment. framed. however. on the American
pattern and not upon the model unhappily
bequeathed to Frenchmen by the Convcl.
ton Of 1898. He insisted that the powers
vested by the Versailles Assembly in the
Chief Magistrate and the Senate had been
virtually annihilated. and that supreme
authority had come to be practically lodged
in the fluctuating majority Of tho Chamber
OF Deputies. He agreed with THEIRS In
thinking that French republic must be
conservative II it is to have long lease Of
life. and he was q revisonist in this sense
that he desired to substitute presidential
government. like that OF the United States,
for the unstable parliamentary regime by
which France had been crippled for a dozen
years after 1877. It is quito possible that
he would have gained revisionist majority
ct the general election OF 1889 had not his
opponents at the last moment reverted
from the scrwin de Hste to the scutin d'ar-
rondissement. He certainly. as tho returns
showed. would have carried every seat for
tho Department Of the Seine. for the aggre-
exceeded the total vote thrown for their
antagonists.
Nor can there be the slightest doubt that
had he really aimed at q personal dictator
ship or at enacting the role of Gen. MONK. he
could have done 80 on that memorable night
In January. 1889. when 1t was known that he
had swept Paris over the combined forces
Of his enemies by majority Of $1,000. To
say that he missed the occasion because he
lacked the necessary daring is to strangely
ignore the brilliant facts of his military
career. It Is moro reasonable. as vel! as
more generous. to believe. what he himself
that he stayed his hand because
he was patriot. and had faith In tho tri-
umph OF his ideas at tho ballot box. Why
should he not have felt such confidence In
view Of his peaceful victory that day.
II Boulangism meant constitutional re-
vision In the direction Of the American type
Of presidential government. its eventual
success has been rather fastened than re-
tarded by the conversion Of large bodies Of
and quondam reactionists iuto
sober mined friends Of the republic. These
new recruits must powerfully strengthen
those forces in the republican camp which
IRE arrayed in favor OF stronger execu-
tive and less wavering Ministerial pro-
gramme. From this point Of view. which is
by no means visionary. Boulangism seems
FAR from being extinct. and It's protagonist |
had only to bide his time to see his revision
st plan reinstated in popular esteem. As
suredly he would not have killed himself be- |
cause he despaired Of witnessing the adop- |
lion Of his proposed reforms. at moment |
whea conservative republicans were receiv- |
ng astonishing accessions.
Even more unwarrantable is the assump-
ion that BoULANaER's suicide was due to |
embarrassments. Nine DE BoN- |
SEslAIN had. 1t Ia true. expended 100000 In |
the furtherance Of his political interests,
but 1t is equally unquestionable that at the |
lime Of her recent death she still retained |
b6Oo. 900. the whole Of which she bequeathed |
70 her lover. 1t is possible that some of |
traducers would have pre-
erred to live to spend that money. He |
those to follow his mistress to the grave. It |
8 now known that two months ago he placed |
lpon the turf that covered her wreath |
Inscribed "A bientot. MARGUERITE" He
kept his word; he killed himself. as no
foe OF his denies. for the
In look ~