Rensselaer Republican, Volume 24, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 October 1891 — DEATH OF BOULANGER [ARTICLE]

DEATH OF BOULANGER

He Committed Suicide on the , Grave of His Mistress. Inglorious End of An Interesting LifeBrief Sketch of His Career, General Ronlanger committed snfeidt on the BOth on the tomb of Madame De Bonnemain, who died recently in Brussels. Madame De Bonnemain has been known as the mistress of the dead general. She accompanied him to England after his flight from France, and early in July last she was dangerously ill in Brussels suffering from consumption. To such an extent did General Boulanger carry his infatuation for Madame Bonnemain that when the French government determined to arrest him ho could not be persuaded to pose as a martyr before the French people by going to jail, preferring to fly with his mistress from France to England, and eventually to Brussels, where they have both met their death. General Boulanger committed suicide about noon. He stood alone by the grave of his mistress for some time, appearing to be deeply affected by sorrowful recollections. An attendant of the General, who had respect fully remained at some distance from Madame De Bonnemain’s tomb, suddenly heard a sharp report in that direction. Running to the spot the attendant found Geneial Boulanger lying dead ujon the ground with a revolver clasped in his right hand. A hasty examination of the body showed that the dead man had placed the weapon to his righ ear and fired the fatal shot The suicide of General Boulanger created an enormous sensation in Paris, Noth!ng clse is talked-of-along the boulevards, in the hotels and cases, in tho clubs and everywhere. The members the Patriotic League are talking of a public funeral for the General and they propose to inter his remains in France. It is believed that such action upon, the part of the league will lead to serious disturbances. Gen. Boulanger was born at Remes in erenter edmflitarv school and at 201 left it with .all his military ambition fully aroused. Ho distinguished himself in the war in Italy a year later, and was not only shot through the body, but was thrice knighted. Two years later he assisted in the conquest of Cochin-China. He was again seriously wounded, this time, with a lance thrust. He was advanced to the rank of Captain, and was placed in charge of a military school. He entered the war of 1870 as a Major, and in four, months was promoted successively to thei ranks of Lieut. Colonel. Colonel j and finally Commander of thej Legion of Honor. Following, this war ho was made a general. It was then that ho threw off all constraint and) gave full and free scope to his aspirations.! Ho unmasked tho politician ready to doi anything to carry out his purpose, and lit a few months let the leaders know that; there had come among them another man whom It would be .necessary to reckon in the future.

As a politician Boulanger was atonco active. His first step was to grasp thq portfolio of war. His rule, arbitrary and[ Iron-clad, broke everything that opposed; him. His former pupils, whom he had studied so assiduously, were made to work; big will,-and he filled every position Df linportance with men whom he knew better, than they did themselves. The mobilization of the armv, his pet sch< me, was suctessfully accomplished, and he held the whole great organization in tho hollow of his hand. If the ministry had not been jverthrown it is hard to say where his imbition would not have led him. The overthrow was made necessary by Boulanger’s own zeal. The Comto de Paris, now head of the Legitimists, invited the ambassadors to the marriage of iifs TtalghteTTpTEe" Duke of Braganza. The Government declared that this was an Insult to the Republic, and that the Comte de Paris, the Due de Chartres, his brotherand thd Due d’Aumale, his uncle, must all leave France. General Boulanger carried out, the order. The ambitious general thus made necessary his own relegation. Two years ago the Deputies, alarmed at the growth of Bolangerism overturned his government, and M. Rouvier formed a cabinet, with Gen. Ferron Minister of War. Several outbreaks of the General's faction follow ed until the government was thoroughly frightened. It exiled Boulanger to tho small provincial town of Clermont Ferrand. Crowds went to the station to see him off. All Paris began to shout "‘Vive Boulanger.” And, in his retreat, the General became almost as Important as Napoleon at Elbe. There were elections in 1887 all over France. In each of them Boulanger’s name began to appear There were 36,000 votes cast for him. He went disguised tq Paris. The ministry deprived 4Win of commission and removed him from thq army. By way of compensation, the department du Nord elected him by 02,00) votes. April 10,1888, he took his seat as a deputy. He fought a duel with Floqueb who wounded him in the neck. He rerigned his seat and contested three departments simultaneously. He was again elected In triumph. The gravity of the situation becoming Intensified, the government voted the expulsion from tho country of the glittering geneial in 1880. He went to England to thosummer of that year. For a'thneh< was on the Isle of Jersey, and kept himself in the public view by an occasions] pronunci amen to. Gradually, however, he faded away until his name was no longer one to conjure with In France.