General Boulanger is playing to the gallery again. He had
addressed a letter to the Commission on Army Reorganisation, urging that the system of allowing men who intend to be
officers to serve a year as cadets was opposed to democratic principles. The future officers should, he thought, serve for a pax as ordinary privates, and then be transferred to the mili- tary schools. General Boulanger published this letter before it had been read, and so evoked an irritable reply, declaring that democratic principles were not in question, but the welfare of the Army, and complaining of the Minister's dictation. As the private soldiers detest the present system, which, as they and their fathers say, creates a privileged class within the very ranks, General Boulanger's letter will make him more popular than ever. He has principle on his side in a way; but the mothers of the respectables are bitterly hostile to his plan, which has been repeatedly proposed, and was once, we think, carried, but has always broken down. It is said to have this evil effect, that the officers are disgusted with the service at the very outset; but that is a question for evidence.
Previous page
