The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-10-07

The Now York Tribune, in dwelling upon
the lessons of Boulanger's life. reaches the
conclusion that the obscurity into which ne
sank after his sudden withdrawal from Pnris
was the very best indication that could exist
that tho republic was founded upon m I'M
movable basis. That obscuritv clearly
showed. in the opinion Of the Tribune. that
the opposition to republican institutions In
France Was identified not with great prin-
ciple which was independent of any ono per-
son. but exclusively with tho prestige Of
single individual As soon as that prestige
declined on account Of his lack Of frmness
and boldness at the critical moment, there
was no disposition on the part of his sup
porters 10 transfer his mission to some one
supposed to possess the necessary qualities to
sustain it,
The Tribune further argues that Boulanger
would have secured the dictatorship as easily
as Louis Napoleon did in 1850 if the republic
had been as insecure in the affections and
loyalty of the French people at the time he
appeared upon the public stage as it was at
the time that Louis Napoleon occupied the
presidency.
This statement is open 10 question. There
was nothing in the character of Boulanger
which would lead one to think that he posses
sel those daring and unfiinching qualities
which are always found in the men who rise
to power by an INSCRIPTIONS use of circum-
stances in sudden emergencies. So far as may
be Judged from the salient acts of his career,
no appeared in the true light when he rode
down the streets Of Paris on q spirited horse
with magnificent name and reyeled in the
applause which his presence excited. The
man had the strongest taste for dramatic and
sensational situations, which was inconsistent
with any real frmness and sincerity of pur-
pose.
Louis Napoleon and the men who brought
about the I'd Of December were not Of
this stamp. They have been often charged
with being conspirators. but they were at least
consprators who were in earnest and not
peacock heroes of the parade ground who
were content to live on the incomes of doting
women. II Louis Napoleon. St. Arnaud,
PersigDy and Morny had been tho men who
in 1888 were plotting against the existence
Of the republic. those elements Of strength
upon which the Tribune dwells with so much
natural satisfaction would not have shown
the resistance which they did when the arch
schemer was the vaingorious Boulanger.
What was practicable In 1851 was not i'm
possible forty years after if the same hostile
influences had been employed with equal skill
by equally determined enemies The repub-
lie Of France was trembling in the balance at
the time the question of the revision of the
constitution was being agitated under the
leadership OF Bouanger, and if he had ros-
sessed the qualities which fitted him for the
role Of dictator he would to-day be the mas
ter Of the destnies of France.
Nowhere in the civilized world does ;ndivid-
uaity play the part which it does in that
country. Men and not principles have
always controlled its affairs. The republic
has survived to the present day, not so much
because the French people have adapted
themselves to the spirit of republican oy-
errment. but rather because they have in the
course of the last quarter Of a century shown
themselves singularly deficient in ability to
produce real leaders Of men.
The republic would not survive either q
successful or an unsuccessful war Asuccess
full war would create national hero, who would
soon seize upon the reins of absolute power
An unsuccessful war would plunge republi-
can government into such unpopularity with
the French that thew would most probably
turn TO the Orleans dynasty in the hope that
royalty would restore the prestige which the
republic could not defend by force of arms