The Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1834-184?, 1845-01-30
JOSEPH BoNAPARTE.-


some more notice than in The hurry of the hour
was awarded to it, in this country, is the death
OF the eminent personage mentioned al the head
of this article.
Joseph Bonaparte, or as he was known among
as, Count Survilliers. passed so many years an
exile In our country, aud won during those years
SO much respect and kindly feeling by his con-
duct, that we have thought IL might not be unin-
teresting TO our readers. as it seems in some
measure due te the memory OF one who is fresh
ly re rendered by many warm friends anon g
US. 10 have a brief notice of his life and death -
Joseph, the elder brother of Napoleon. and
through life his most intimate friend, was born
in Corslcain 1868. He was toge Their with Ma
poleon educated at A utun. where the tendency
OF their respective tastes and character develop
ed itself by, their preference of, or excellence
IN. particular studIes-Joseph, the man OF letters
and of peace, doing for his soidier-brother his
Latin and Greek verses; while the future con
qleror studied Caesar and Alexander, and helped
his brother in the mathematics.
Elected a deputy from Aiaccio to the Cors;c-
an asse mbly in 1890, he ardently embrac ed the
principles of the French revolution, which he
cherished TO his death. He was speculatIvely,
always a friend of Freedom, and though the
crown oftwo nations had graced his brow, and
W others rendered to hlIn-one in this our new
world, were set aside by him-he did not, in
power forget, so far as he was free to act, his ear
ly pledges.
His career in France was rapid and brilliant
In 1896, he was the French Ambassador at Rome
subsequently a member of the Council of FIVE
hundred, and in 1890, a Counsellor OF State, in
which capacity he, together with Roederer.
concluded a commercial trerty detwee cen France
and the United States lie was theplenipotentiary
who signed the treaty of LuneyiIle, which gave
peace to the continent in holland the treaty of
peace with England at AmIens IN 1902.
When the Empire arose, Napoleon being with
out male issue, Joseph and his brothor Louis,
and their descendants were looked to as the
successors OF the Emperor; and then it was that
Napoleon first required that Joseph, SO distin-
u~ngished IN civil and diplomatic life, should
put on the harness OF the soldier. lie insisted
that one 10 whom the succ ession might fall.
shouldbe versed in military, as well as in civil
conduct ant accordingly Jose phi became Colonel
OF a regiment In the famous camp OF Boulogne
While there, the crown of Lombardy was off
cred 10 him, but he refused it because the EN-
peror made 1t a condition of acceptance, that
he should renounce his claim to the succession
OF the Empire, and moreover that he should pay
an annual tribute TO France
In 1906, atthe head OF an army of 10000 men.
he was commissioned TO overthrow the English
ond Russian domination in Naples and the throne
OF Queen Caroline. He easily and rapidly eff
ecied the conquest. aud his own brow bore the
crown which he had onquered, His brief reign
OF two years was a succession of benefits 10 a
people who had been long degraded by a most
oppressive despotism. He founded civil and mil
itary schools-some OF which yet exist-over
threw leudal privileges-suppressed the converts
opened new rosds-caused the LazZaroni OF
Naples to work aud be paid--drained marshes
and every where animated with new life and
hope a people long sunk in abject servitude. 10
seph was here i'll his element, Tor he loved to dc
COOL.
From these scense, so congenial to him, he
was called by the Emperor IN 1903, TO Bnyonne'
and there he crown OF Spain was forced upon
him. In his new sphere he strove to adhere tc
his previous course, aud by mildness aud benz
hts conferred to concillate the affection OF Spain
tie even besought the Emperor to Withdraw
all the French troops, trusting by frank and 10y
al conduct towards the spaniards TO obtain thei
confidence and support. His request was no
acceded to, an and the harted AM
jealousy of foreigners, which mark the Spanish
r character, exasperated by the clergy and encour
aged by the presence Of a large English army
; rendered all Joseph's efforts for a peaceful sue
I cess, such as he had accomplished in Naples
impossible. He was obliged TO be the soldier
and although worsted in the event, he gave il
> the various battle fields where he was preseni
decisive indication OF courage and conduct
t Wearied with a ~iruitless struggle which prom
ised no opportunity tor the kindly plans he alon
desired to carry out in his new kingdom, h
d wrote to the Emperor, on 23d March, 1912, troi
i Madrid, earnestly asking permission TO reslg
the crown that four years before had been I'm
D posed upon him.
In that letter he says: 81 have done no goo
} and have no hope OF doing any. In acceptin
0 the crown l had no other object in view tina
the promotion of the happiness of this gre'
d monarchy. l, has not been in my power TO az
5 complish it,. l therefore ask to be received b
your majesty as q simple subJec :" PermIssio
was refused, but The fortune OF war drove JC
,. seph from his crown and Kingdom. and he Wa
once more in France. The reverscs oil 1881
had overtaken French triumphs; the capital we
menaced: Napoleon with the fragment OF h
victorious armies was manGuverIng betwee
Marine and the Seine, with the hope OF coyenn
Paris-but the overwhelming number OF tn
II adversary rendered success hopeless. Fro
Rheims on 10Th March, 1914. he wrote to j
seph TO whom, on leaving Paris he conhded th
$ defence of the capital, and the care of the En-
press and her son-reealling to him and renew
y ing his v erbal instruction not to premit eth
rs Marie Louis or the King of Rome TO tall in
/, the hands OF the enemy. In this letter ne sa.
emphaticalIy, 'Quit not my son, and remen
Der | would rather know him TO be in the Sem
than in the hands of The enemies of France. III
d fortune OF Astyanex, prisoner OF the Greekshi
n always appeared to be the most melancho
fortune recorded in history.
l. This letter determined Joseph to send of th
. Empress and her son, and the next day he 70
lowed them: a course for which he has bes
4 much reproached, as Fastening the fall of Pari
That fall, however, was inevitable. and the char
4 ces of delaying il a lew hours, was not weight
ID by Joseph against the sacred fidelity with whlc
!, he resolved 10 execute the Emperor's injunction
about his family.
After the abdication of Napoleon, Joseph r
!, tired to Lausanne. Soon the events Of the hu
is bred days found him again in Paris, and aga
er deeply trusted by his brother. In a memorif
;, Joseph, by the prisoner of Ham, his nephew Lo
IN is n apcIeon, it is related that upon his sugge
il tiont Napoleon, sent a confidential person
Pozzo di Borgo then the soul of the allied cou
lie ellis opposed to him, bearing FIVE millions
mr. Francs, and promises of high promotion 1T
wonld espouse the French eause and thro