1889] Boulanger Again 21 



limits. Those possessed by the President of the United States will 

 probably suffice. There must be the Veto, but he would not say that 

 in an old society like the French it would do to assimilate the American 

 regime too closely. He had no intention at all of destroying liberty. 

 Thus, in the matter of education he was for full liberty for all creeds, 

 not as at present when religious education was persecuted. The French 

 provinces did not want secular education and it should not be forced 

 on them, but he was not for this a Clerical. He did not himself go 

 to Mass, but he was determined everyone else should do so who liked. 

 If a man chose to go about in fancy dress it was no concern of his 

 neighbours. On my second point, peace and war, he repeated what 

 he had said to me last autumn about the hazards of war, and his un- 

 willingness to rush into hostilities. He could not ever propose to 

 disarm till the question of Alsace-Lorraine was settled. No Govern- 

 ment which did so could stand a fortnight. He believed, however, 

 that the question could be settled without war if Frenchmen were 

 united. He would then most gladly propose a disarmament. In this 

 sense I might say of him that his ultimate end was to bring about a 

 disbanding of the great armies of the Continent. This he authorized 

 me to tell my Liberal friends. He invited me cordially to come again 

 any Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday morning." 



I fear I did little towards helping the General in this or any other 

 way. Politics were at that moment repugnant to me, and I could 

 not bring myself to start on any new campaign. I never saw the 

 General again. 



