Marlborough Express. Published Every Evening. FRIDAY, JULY 6, 1888. TOUJOURS BOULANGER.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXIV, Issue 142, 6 July 1888, Page 2

Marlborough Express. Published Every Evening. FRIDAY, JULY 6, 1888. TOUJOURS BOULANGER.

4» ,;— It is impossible to disabuse one's mind of the idea that General Boulanger is acting s'a mechanical part. The Nord. elected him with enthusiasm, and he was obliged to justify that enthusiasm by somo movement. Hence his fiery speech m the Chamber. Of course we labour under the disadvantage of remoteness from the scene of action, and consequent ignorance of the existing circumstances, but some knowledge of France, the French people and French politics as they used to be, as well as some idea of tbe laws that govern affairs, enable one to form an intelligent opinion about the Boulanger episode. The first idea that strikes us is that General Boulanger is a paid disturber of the peace who ought to be put down. He is neither wise nor patriotic— if even he be sincere, which .is more" than doubtful. The Republic was a weakly infant ; good nursing'has made it a 'healthy child, but it has now arrived at a crisis m its life, when a sudden disturbance or shock might be fatal. Those who love France and-wish her well, watch the growth of the Republic with deep interest. It is to the second Empire and to the unrequited services of Louis Napoleon, who strove to keep his country at peace, and to foster her commercial life rather than her military power, who strove, and successfully, to bring tho disturber of the European peace into harmonious relations with other powers, that France owes the conditions which enabled the Republic to arise at all. The France which Louis Napoleon left was a greatly improved France, and aftor the adversities of 18^0-71, she was m a far better position to epjoy a Republic thau after the revolution of 1759. The hope we all • had was that republican France, educated by her Emperor and chastened by her defeats, would pass quietly through the early part of her new life into a vigorous prime, avoiding internal disputes and external complications. Under President Grdvy things went on hopefully. Then came certain scandals^ and tli3 succession of M. Sadi-Carnot, of whom the antirepublicans say he is weak, colourless, and common-place ; becauae he does not exhibit himself m a gorgeous uniform on a prancing horse, and klk jingoism. And now arises M. Boulanger, the regenerator, or, as that cruel satirist called him, the "St Arnaud of- the Cafes " — who has the mob at 'his back, and means to break things; who hopes to promote a revolution, and on the wreck to mount either to the dictatorship or to thepost of factotum to a restored monarchy. We believe firmly that if the Republic collapsed, a limited monarchy would succeed, and nobody would object. But it is to be regretted that any Frenchman, knowing what sad results mob rule has wrought m France, should be so void of conscience as to inflame the populace against the existing Government. It is pretty easy to see that this skilful General is trying to magnify the scandals of the Grevy-Wilson episode ; he talks to his constituents of the Novel when he declaims against coteries and corruption. This sort of invective is cheap talk', as M. Boulanger well knows, aud if he is going to feed the Nord on such fiery food, he ought to be put down. He is 'no enthusiast, he is an artist whose model of perfection is furnished by the looking glass. We have no faith m this selfappointed critic, this \pretentious person whose language, fiery though it be, lacks the true ring. France lias had many n}isleaders (unhappy Prance !),J)ilt let U3 hope the France of to-day will "not accept the guidance of General Boulanger.