FRENCH POLITICS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1784, 1 September 1888, Page 4

FRENCH POLITICS.

General Boulanger surprised his friends and enemies on July 12 th by resigning his seat in the Chamber of Deputies, where his short career had been confessedly a; failure. The scene was remarkable. Shortly after his entrance the General took the tribune and moved the adoption of a resolution for the dissolution of the House. M. Floquet, Chief of the Council, refused to entertain the motion, and burst into a furious diatribe against General Boulanger. He asked, by what right the man who had been spending his time in the ante chambers of Princes criticised a Parliament of Eepublicans. He charged the General with unpatriotic conduct in needlessly disturbing the country, endangering its peace for personal aims. Boulanger was thoroughly aroused, and during the Premier's speech five times stigmatised him as "an impudent liar,'' each time raising a Btorm of imprecations among the members. He was repeatedly called to order by the deputies. At length tbey became highly indignant, and there were cries of rage from all parts of the Chamber, the most iußulting epithets being hurled at Boulanger. A vote of censure was J moved and seconded amid an uproar of approval. Before the vote was taken, the General protesting that the liberty of the t-ibune was threatened, tendered his resignation to the the President, and left the Chamber amidst derisive cheers aud laughter, the members following and hooting bim to the steps of the palaee. He seemed not to have a friend, and the . pent up fury of the Deputies broke | forth without restraint. Never was it more merciless. Boulanger may be said to have been driven from the place in a tempest of rage. It was expulsion rather than resignation. The excitement on the Boulevards over the affair was intense. ! A duel between the General and Floquet took place at Nauilly. Four' minutes ended the affair. Eapiers were the weapons. Boulanger, excited and nervous, made several passes at his antagonist, who did not Beem expert —iu fact, was exsremely awkward. In the second encounter, Boulanger was slightly wounded iu the h'g and Floquet received a cut on the iipht hand. The seconds wished to end the combat, but the principals insisted on continuing their third bout. B iiiiatiger made a desperate lunge at Flrqiot, who thrust his sword out etrar.'.ht b fore him. and held it in that position. As he made a lunge the General received Floquet's rapier in the right side of his neck, making a wound l£in deep, narrowly missing the jugular. He staggered, clapped his hand to the wound, and fell unconscious into the arms of his second, who carried him away. After his wound had been bandaged, General Boulanger fought desperately, and displayed much feeling. He tried very hard to kill his antagonist, and threw himself on him again and again, making desperate lunges at each onset. M. Floquet throughout the combat was cool and collected, but his face white.as a sheet. The duel caused insense excitement in Paris, and it is generally conceded that Boulanger by his conduct in the Chamber and his misfortune in the field has practically ended his career.