Tue election for the Department of the Seine, which was to test the strength of, Boulangism in Paris, has resulted in the return of the General by the large majority of 81,500. This election, we learned by telegrams, has been looked forward to with immense interest by politicians and others in France. It may decide a good many things, among others the fate of the Floquet ministry, and, it is possible, even the Presidency of the Republic. The same Department returned M. Clemenceau, the bitterest political enemy of General Boulanger, to the Chamber of Deputies at the General election of 1885, and it was probably his belief that it was a safe seat for the extreme left, which induced the leader of that party to sit for Var. Paris is so of the Opportunists, and ago was Ambassador tv &t. "On the eve of an annie'
"which might have be bring about many reco: were encountered by a palling in its violon suddenness of its gro than which in the whol: record of history there was none mere hamil ing for their reason, or ier for their patriotism." his Jangismwas received with as was also his referer Ferry, at present the man in French politics, doubt, M. Challemel-Li: there was great discon "mismanaged enterprises, dissensions among Repn'iiic Plosatle war against ors honour of the Republic, im causing it. "The evil extended with the pr: Radical spirit. In proportion a radical that there is only one Boulangist Radi in the Municipal Council. here has been ample time since the vacancy occurred for each side to muster all its forces and use all its influence and resources. General Boulanger's following in theca] tal was an unknown quantity; according to such people as the Paris correspondent of the Times it was insignificant and discredited, while other correspondents of London papers maintained that it was very lange. election shews that, for a time, at least, General Bou-longer is the greatest force in French politics. His influence has been growing almost ever since he came to the front, about the beginning'of 1887. He has made mistakes which in a sober-minded country like England would have injured him, and retarded, if they did not destroy his chances of attaining power, but which have apparently hi no effect on his political career. What was called the circus rider part of his character has perhaps been kept under some restraint of late months, but has still been permitted to appear when it was necessary to please the multitude. Even his duel with M. Floquet, in which he got the worst of the counter, did him no harm. The truth i he represents all the dissatisfaction with the present and past ministries, with financial difficulties, bad harvests, bad rade, and, as M. Challemel-Lacour recently said in the Senate, thedistrust of and disgust with Parliamentary Government with which Radicalism has inspired the country. Possibly, also, he appears to many to be designated as the man who can or may fulfil that necessity of the country of being firmly ruled. It is said that he is something of a political accident, that if he had not put himself forward some one else would have done so and that if he were out of the way another man seeking to represent the unrest of France would immediately take his place.
We have referred to the recent speech of M. Challemel-Lacour delivered on the 19th of last December. He is one al party had approwled discontent had increased! "ts threatening character, anil saw rising up against it believed the programms of 1 to be dreams and disorg. those whom it had attracted: by promises which it could nut ko other reason was thet overturned every Minis: ry in suevession (they knew with what help) Radicatisn: had inspired France w: Vistnast one with disgust for Parlianicutary gove ment." He referred eoxiuily to forgetfulness of public opintou in its worship of abstract. princi neglect of the fact, tha ther France masses of mei tached to their tradition w perhaps dormant, which sion wake and up take a in the mind than po! hold. Some cried out thst which had been made were of the Constitution, bat he it gave every security ment and that the thing which had hoppo Radicals who ha Parliamentary governm brought in so many m them ill understood anc so that it was impossible 1 nad of them, but th hands of the Royalists wblican party and;
Finally he appealed ts the Senat defend France from the id: Radicalism had brow:!it stop the pope fron: incline which led to naieie tell them that the Repr'r'ie wa of Government best fitted to repair; errors, and to unite to prevent the advent of the rest demagogic of des-porisms. It was proposed to print this speech and post it all over France, but on the following day this was withdrawn. M. Challemel-Lacour formerly helped, to secure the success of the ical party whose policy he thus denouncs
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.