It is certain that M. Floquet relied on the defeat
of General Boulanger in the election for the Seine. M. Leon Renault informed the correspondent of the Times that the Premier had himself promised to issue a decree on the Monday after the election, rescinding the decree which expels the Due d'Aumale from the soil of France. He was afraid to make this proposition at once, lest opposition should arise in the Chamber ; but, said N. Floquet, " the electoral victory of Sunday next will give me sufficient influence with my friends of all shades of opinion to prevent any serious resistance being made to the measure." The ballot keeps its secret so well, that it is not fair to judge a man's sagacity by his failure in an electioneering calculation ; but the story is only one proof among many that M. Floquet entirely under- rates the strength of Boulangism,—that is, of the dislike to Parliamentary government. In the debate of Monday on the serutin de lists, he repeated his idea that Boulangism was nothing but an ephemeral fancy for an individual. The majority, it would appear, agreed with him, for they restored district voting by 268 to 222. They forget that a hundred districts can vote hostility to a riigime as well as ten Depart- ments.
