The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-10-01
mxsteriou. and DRAMATIC. In alI likelIhood BIS

mysterious and dramatic In all likelihood his
| suicide was prompted by sincere feeling
lie Soieil remarks: "It was q strange destiny
after living Ike vitellus 10 die like werther
Yet what splendid career Bouianger might
have had as simple soldier
Gculofs says: "Boulanger's death was his
last blunder."
La Liberte says: The life of man who
could have upset the republic had ne chosen to
agifafe France to that enormous degree, has
ended like that Of q hero of romance, and he
died alone and far away from home.
Ia Pdtrfd says: The deed was ike that OF the
hero of novel, and not like heroic soldier.
losDoN, Oct. 1.-The Berlin correspondent OF
the Neses teiegraphs: Germany has lost her
greatest foe, for he knew the possibility of re-
covering power lay in war with Germany.
ROME, Sept 30.-News OF the suicide of Bou-
LANCER caused considerable excitement in Italy,
where he was regarded as q national enemy.
when Cardinal RampolIs, papal secretary
suicide, the pope uttered an exclamation of sad
ness and prayed silently. The generals private
life placed him on the black books of the Vati-
can, yet his career was watched with feverish
vigilance.
GEORGES Ernest Jean Marie Boulanger was
born at Rennes, April %, 1887. In 1856 he issued
from the military school at st. Cyr a. second
lieutenant, became lieutenant in 1860, captain in
November, 1870, colonelin 1874, brigadier general
In 1850, and general of division in 1884. He was
wounded at TurbIgo in the Italian campaign OF
1859; at the battle of Trai in Cochin China,
In 1857, and al the sortie of Champigny IN 1870.
In 1881 be was enc of the French commissioners
10 the yorktown centennial celebration, ana
made many friends in this country. IL was not
until 1886 that Boulangar became famous. On
January OF that year he became minister OF
war IN the first or radical cabinet OF freyeineI
In the war ministry he achieved immediate sue
cess He gave the soldiers more comfortable
beds, abolished the rule requiring them to
shave on their boards, relieved them OF the
duty OF carrying kna psacks, did away with sun
day drills and parades and gave them more
holidays. Abuses and loose methods were cor
rected. All Departments OF the service were
terial were collected and repeating r1ie was
adopted for the infantry. The heavy ordnance
was added to and the powerful g sx.
reorganization OF the French army alarmed
all Europe, but. made Boulanger the
most popular man in France. The soldiers
and patriots idoized him; his praises were sung
in every concert hall in Paris, aud all the world
heard "Boulanger's March" The socialists
and monarchists both admired him. A blood
less duel in which he engaged with the senator
Baron Lsreinty added 10 his renown. When he
rode through the streets on his black charger he
received kings homage from the populace
1886, the cabinet was reconstructed by Sadi-
Carnot, now president OF the republic, and
Boulanger was retained. Bismarck, aroused by
speeches In the reichstag, and vastly increased
the German army with the sanction of the
nation. The German authorities forbade the
export OF horses, called out the reserves, and
began preparations to invade France Boulanger
constructed barracks and planned an expert
mental mobilization on the German frontier.
The Radical leader, Clemenceau, Boulanger's
cousin. now decided that the war feeling had
risen high enough, and, throwing his strength
with the reactioneries and Republicans, the
Carnot ministry fell. IN May, 1887. During the
ministerial crisis the Radical populace of Paris
became excited over the prospective exclusion
OF Bouianger, and when the list of the new min
istry was published 1t was decried a "German
CABINET On taking leave of Office Bouianger
issued an extraordinary farewell order of the
day to the troops. closing with the words: 81
two-fold discipline, at once military and repub-
ncan." A grand military festival had been ar
ranged by Boulanger for the evening of May 81,
crowds gathered around the opera cheering
Boulanger and marched to the ministry OF war,
shouting for his return. Troops dispersed the
mob: Boulanger was assigned TO the command
OF the Clermont-Ferrand army corps His de-
parture for his post was the occasion OF noisy
demonstrations in the streets of Paris, at Lyons
ana In the towns along the route. This was
followed by an attempt to overthrow the min
istry. After turious debate in the deputies,
during which Clemenceau, who raised Boulan-
ger TO power and then threw him down, de-
elared that the general was now in his right
place, the ministry was sustained. The impos-
Ing demonstrations attending Boulangers re-
planned by the cunning general himself. Soon
aiterwsrd he seized an opportunity to challenge
NJ. Ferry, who had alluded TO him as ssst.
Arnaud OF the music halls" comparing him to
| the general who carried out Louis Napoleon's
| coup detdt. Ferry accepted, with the under
| standing that the duel was 10 be the customary
farcical bloodless affair, but Boulanger insisted
! that the shooting should be In earnest, and the
| fight was declared of. Just before this incident
terial crisis he had repelled two indictments to
coup dctdt, one proceeding from the monarch
lists and one approved by ninety-four generals of
| the army. 1t was discovered that Boulanger
had elaborated a system of military Intelligence
that required the employment OF spies all over
| Germany. late in 1857 Clemenoeau overthrow
Grevy ssgned and was succeeded by Sadi Car
not In March, 1855, the Tirard ministry was
overturned, on motion OF the leader OF the
5soulahng . 81 VINO had formed party In the
1888 Boulanger was q candidate in four depart
ments. The minister of war sought an interview
with him and after receiving his positive denial
that he had taken any part in the election
maneuvers, told him to return to his post and
stay there. Bouanger Immediately broke his
parole, going 10 Paris In disguise, and on in
vestigation II was found that he had personally
directed the engineering campaign by cipher
kilograms. He was relieved from his command
and called before court-rnartial on March 26,
1855. This was the signal for demonstrations
for and against him. He was candidate at
Msrseilles, receiving small vote there,
a ao ,bs sps where ne healed the
withdrew because ireligible being an officer in
active service. Before the military court be de-
MED participation in the electoral canvass
until confronted with the Geographic dis.
patches. The decision of the court was unami-
mously against him, and President Carnot
signed a decree placing him on the retired list.
Then he became a candidate for the department
OF the Nord, and in an address charged the
chamber with suppressing defenses of the
nation, the senate with checking reform and
his judges with bias in deciding his case His
condemnation strengthened him with the
people, aud he came into great prominence
The antagonists of the republic, embracing mall
contents OF all the ultrs factions, supported him
as leader. His popularity rested chiefly
on the military reforms he had effected as mi a.
lister OF war, and the head and front of the
revdncae party, who were anxious TO avenge
Sedan, and the rural population chung to him
the embodiment OF the idea OF personal gov
eminent His financial supporters were Bona
part.sts. The Duchess d Uzes who was infatu-
ated with him, CAV bum S6J0,000 He posed as
democratic republican. He limited at 8 sys-
tenn of government similar 10 that of the United
States: the president 10 be chosen by plebiscite
10 parliament. The extremists in the Nord
were strong. and Boulanger was elected by IOa-
900 majority. He was also elected
IN the Desdogne, but took his. seat
he first appeared in the chamber of deputies
aud fiercely attacked the existing order of
things and the president of the republic He
advocated abolishment of senate and nresi-
dency, in lieu thereof proposing submission of
the laws to q re iereudom, election of the senate
by universal suffrage, and election OF the presi-
dent by the people who desired to have visible
head of the government NJ. Foquet described
this scheme as vet1ed CaSarism. On July ~
Boulanger again appeared III the chamber aud
supported his motion COR the dissolution of the
chamber In a denunciatory speech. Prime Min
lister FloQuet caustically replied, saying that
Boulanger WAS one who, having passed
IRON the yestibule into the ante-ehamber, vet
hsd the effrontery 10 assail tried Republican,
dome fS,tif ho., -