Rensselaer Republican, Volume 20, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 July 1888 — BOULANGER AND FLOUQUET. [ARTICLE]

BOULANGER AND FLOUQUET.

In the Chamber of Deputies, Thursday, General Boutanger proposed the dissolution of the Chamber. His proposition was rejected. Gen. Boulanger thereupon resigned his seat. General Boulanger, in his speech proposing the dissolution, said that such a course was imperative and the elections ought to be held before the celebration of the centenary of the revolution of 1789. The country demanded the institution of new safeguards to secure the Republic from the attacks of its adversaries; against \yhich it is powerless. The Chamber of Deputies was falling into rum and flecay, and the country was trembling w T ith emotion at always having presented to it as an enemy a citizen who only desired the welfare of the Republic. The Monarchists were watching the Republic, expectant of its death agony. The country felt that its safe demanded a revision of the Constitution. He did not doubt that the patriotism of the deputies was on a level with their sense of duty. He would do his duty by demanding the passage of a resolution that the chamber, being convinced of the necessity for fresh elections, ask President Carnot for a dissolution. Premier Flouquet reproached General Boulanger for relying for support upon the Right. [Applause from Left.] He said it was not fora man like General Boulanger, who was always absent from the chamber, to judge of its legislative labors or criticise hard-working members. What had General Boulanger done. The debate proceeded until finally Boulanger called Flouquet an impudent liar. Before the President of the Chamber could apply censure Boulanger resigned.

As was expected, the insult offered by General Boulanger to Prime Minister Floquet in the Chamber of Deputies resulted in a duel. The two gentlemen, attended by their seconds, met in the vicinity of Paris at 10 o’clock Friday morning. Swords were used, and both combatants were wounded. General Boulanger was injured in the arm and neck. His wounds are datigerous. M. Flouquet’s hand was scratched by* General Boulanger’s sword. Further than this he was not touched. M. Flouquet’s colleagues in the Ministry were waiting at his house for news of the duel, and were overjoyed to see the Prime Minister return safe. He was given an ovation. A small crowd of General Boulanger’s followers were in front of his house when be reached home.

The duel was fiercely fought.. General Boulanger tried hard to kill M. Flouquet, and threw himself u pon him again and again. When M. Flouquet received the wound in the hand and it began to bleed the seconds proposed that the fight be -' •! discontinued, but both combatants refused to stop. M. Flouquet received scratches on his hand, chest and foot. The seconds have made a formal report, in which they state that Gen. Boulanger received a serious wound in the neck. Dr. Monod, who is attending Gen. Boulanger, has issued a bulletin regarding his conditon. It says there is a deep wound in the right side of the General’a neck, and that it caused marked difficulty in his respiration. At present the Doctor is unable to give any opinion as to what turn the case may take.