The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-03-23
New York SUM-

The debate in the French Parliament upon
bers of dynastic families has been adjourned
for three months, but it is certain to be re-
newed with increased violence and acrimo-
ny, owing to the popular disturbances which
are believed to be instigated in some meas
ure by the reactionists. Meanwhile the Eu-
ropean reviews and newspapers are discuss
ing the history and dynastic affiliations of
the several pretenders from every possible
point of view. The Bonaparte family In par
ticular, whose tltular head is the Prince Ma
poleon Joseph, son of Jerome, has been
made the subject of careful genealogical
study in the Westminster Review, reproduce
ed, with important corrections aud add
tions by the Revue Brltannique. Some o.
the facts examined will be found Of interest
just now, in view of the unsettled political
condition of France.
OF the four brothers of the great Napoleon
only two are represented by living male de-
scendants. II the law of prlmogeniture had
been recognized in this family, the head of
it would be Cardinal Bonaparte, the grand
son OF Lucien, who was by far the ablest of
the first Emperor's brothers, and to whose
Incompatible energy ON the 10th Brumalre
the establishment of the Napoeonic dynasty
was unquesionably due. But OF Lucien 1t
may be said with perfect truth that he pre-
terred to a throne the companionship Of a
woman whom he loved, although choice
between these alternatives was repeatedly
pressed upon him. BY his clandestine mar
riage IN 1903 with Alexandrine Jonberthou,
who was said to have been his mistress, but
who was one of the most talented and esti-
mable women who have ever entered the
Napoleon family, Lucien gave irreparable
oifense TO his brother, and his descendants
were formally excluded from the list of sue
cessors to the throne. 1t is known that the
Emperor, touched by his brothers noble
conduct during the Hundred Days, intended
TO rescind the sentence OF disinherItanee /;
but he had no time 10 carry out his purpose,
and the exclusion Of the line OF Lucien was
naturally re enacted by Napoleon Ill in
order to make good his own title, which
would otherwise have been worthless. In-
asmGeh, however, as the line of Jerome, In
which the dynastic rights are vested, has but
three male representatives, II is well TO bear
in mind that the elder branch also has but
AtAA lAAiC 0NcNtuddAtc HtlHEs OILY one oil
whom is likely to have son.
After Cardinal Bonaparte would come ae-
cording to the rules of prlmogeniture his
brother, Prince Napoleon Charles, who thus
far las had only daughters; then their I'M
Gle, the well-known philologist, Prince
Louis Luclen, childless man OF 20; and
lastly the nephew of the last named, Roland
who married not long ago the daughter of
NJ. Blanc, the founder Of the gaming estab-
lishments at Homburg and Monte Carlo.
The legal head of the Napoleonic dynasty,
Prince Napoleon Joseph, who, by way Of
indicating his parentage, signed his recent
manifesto Napoleon sJeromel" is one Of
the best-born men in Europe, unless his faith.
er, the King of Westphalla and youngest
brother OF the first Emperor, is held to have
tainted the current of royal blood derived
from his maternal ancestors. BY his moth
or, the Princess Catherine of Wurtemberg,
the man who now has right to call himself
Prince Napoleon par excellence is related to
the imperial and royal families of Russia,
Austria, Great Britain, Prussia, Holland,
Bavaria, Saxony and Sweden, together with
the dueal houses of Hesse, Sake Weimar,
Mecklrnburg and oldenburg. He is In par
ticular near kinsman Of the Romanoffs and
the Hohenzollerns. and were he a Protes-
tant he would stand in the line of succession
to the English crown. Iu brief, he has all
the dynastic affiliations the want Of which
compelled Napoleon III, TO surround him
self with adventures, and prevented him
from strengthening his throne by suitable
marriage.
The advantages of birth possessed by the
present head of the Napoleonic family are,
of course, doubled in the case Of his sons
Victor and Louis. Through their mother,
Princess Clotilde, the sister OF the present
King of Italy. these young mel are related
10 the great houses OF Hapsburg, Of Savoy,
of Lorraine-Austria, Of Hesse, of Saxony
and Of Rohan. What is more noteworthy,
they can trace descent by three lines of an
cestors 10 the house OF Bourbon itself. The
Princes Victor and Louis and their sister
Princess L@titia Marie, are descendants in
the seventh degree Of Louis XIV, and in
the ninth degree of Louis Kill Thet are,
therefore, remote kinsmen OF those Orleans
Princes who seem likely TO prove formidable
rivals, aud TO whose equally interesting his
tory and relationships we may at some other
time advert