Evening journal., 1913-05-06


NJ Constans. the veteran states
man of France, whose death is re-
ported, at the advanced age OF so, is
best known to history as the man
who brought about the downfall Of
Gen. Boulanger. the pinchbeck die
tator, who, having won over the
bourgcoisie Of Paris in the late SOS
Of the last century. threatened to
transform the destinies of his coun-
try.
A handsome man, a perfect figure
on horseback. the idol of the masses,
yet Boulanger proved no match for
the astute and intensely patriotic
Constans the blunt, bluff and stocky
minister Of the interior Of that day,
who stamped out the public demon
strations with an iron hand.
His master stroke was TO rid
France peacefully of Boulanger at
the height Of the excitement, and
when the opera -bouffe generals par
tisans were gaining ground each day.
NJ. Constans was wise enough to
forosec that the arrest of the gen
eral might lead to a revolution. and
therefore he had recourse to an in
genious ruse Having signed a war
rant for the generals arrest, he
placed that document in plain view
on his desk while receiving one OF
Boulanger's intimate friends who
called at the ministry on business.
During the interview NJ. Constans
was called out of the room by his
private secretary. The distinguish
cd visitor left alone, saw the war
rant. and much perturbed left the
Office hurriedly Next morning the
news spread through Paris that Bou-
langer had fed across the frontier.
The ridicule showered upon the flu
Gitiye over his cowardly act in leav-
ing his followers to face the wrath
Of the populacc marked a speedy end
Of Boulangerism.
Flaneur readers perhaps will rec
ollect ,hai Boulanger, "le beau sa-
breanr." as his admirers were wont
TO call him, after the handsome
Murat. of the Napoleonic epoch,
after leading an obscure life at Brus-
sells for some years, shot himself to
death in the cemetery of that city
beside the grave of his beloved Mar
guerite, "the only sensible thing the
Baker (Boulanger-baker) ever did
In his life" as Kladderadatsch, the
famous satirical weekly, put Il at the
time,
NJ Barthou. the new French pre-
mier. began his career as an under
secretary in the Meline cabinet, to
which France indirectly owes so
many strikes and riots. His evolu-
can be compared favorably with
those of an acrobat He shifts about
very often. but the limits around
which he evolves are fixed. Outside
OF the tastes Of collector of rare
books, manuscripts. engravings and
curios. his one aim as a public man
is to hold trump cards, by no matter
what means.
A strong president, who is bound
at all times to have his own way,
means weak premier. England
had a strong king, If a willful one
may be so designated. in George Ill
No strong cabinet or prime minister
was possible during his long reign
Therefore NJ Barthou may we'll suit
the combne that brought NJ Poin-
care into the Elysee When Henri
Quatre said that Paris "vaut bien une
messe" and had sucked dry the
Huguonot orange he showed himself
a typical Bearnais. and so is Barthou
one. The Bearnais is mobile, clever,
and pleasant TO deal with. But no
matter how intimate one might be
with him. he is the last person to
oblige one, however trining the favor,
unless one can be of use to him. \
The Norwegians used to complain
that the first four Bernadottes had
this character, especially the first Of
that dynasty. He would never be-
tray any one. although he has often
been charged with having done so.
But he did have knack OF slipping
away from close associates when he
could he Of use to them, II they could
he OF no further use 10 himself His
son and grandson had the collecting
instinct and tastes which go to make
NJ. Barthou's residence in the Ave
nue. d'Antn an interesting and valu-
able museum.
The new premier possesses both
fluency and versatility He started
in politics as an underling to NJ Me-