The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1895-03-30
best the after stages of the tempest.

Would not this revolutionary fire in
France leap the sea and kindle itself in
Corsicaf Does not occasion now offer for
the recovery of Corsican Independence?
Does not the path of destiny open by way
of Ajaccio rather than by way of Paris?
Or if the cause indeed lies by way of Paris,
does it not first extend through the native
island The patriot Paoli resides in Eng
lish exile; perhaps he may return. to Cor
sica, and we as his lieutenant-in-c chief
may yet lead the patriots to Independence
and glory. To sum up all, Napoleon at
this stage was whirled along by the com.
ing storm; but be cautiously kept his
bearings, became practical rather thai
theoretical, and impatiently awaited the
opportunity to become great.
Lieutenant Bonaparte remained with
his regiment at Auxonne until the 10Th
of September, 1890. The Revolution had
now been in progress a year and four
months. The movement had become more
and moro portentous at every step. The
ruined Bastile was already a hateful, but
glorious, reminiscence. AT his time Cor.
sica was represented in the National AS
sembly by two moderate patriots, named
Salicetti and Colona. The royal delegate
from the island was that Buttafuoco whom
Choiseul had used in establishing the
rreDcn prOIcctOIdt6 IN corsica.
The people of the island were divided
into several hostile factions. First of all,
there was a royal faction, very few in
number, composed of the petty Corsican
mobiles and the higher ecclesiastics. These
virtually constituted the insular gov
eminent" Secondly, there was a moder.
ate party favorable to liberalism, but sup
porting the French protectorate. In the
third place, there was a powerful revolu-
tionary party, favoring absolute independ-
ence, and seeking by the recall of Paoli
to overthrow all foreign authority. This
condition of affairs, as well as the deplor-
able state of his family, induced Napoleon
to obtain another leave of absence, and to
return to his native country.
On his way homeward, he stopped at
AK; and there he found his brother Lu-
Glen. That obstinate parsonage had with
drawn from the military academy at
Brienne, but had failed to secure admis-
sion to the theological school at AK.
There he was in poverty and hopelessness,
when Napoleon came and conducted him
back to Ajaccio. The latter, at Marseillcs,
visited the Able Raynal; but there is no
record of what occurred. Once at home,
the young French officer was recognized
as a man of Importance; for he was the
nm II lIc al lDDSStSSlllS d
thorough military education.
The project was now on for the organi-
cation of the Corsican militia; and Napo-
leon was necessary for success. He entered
into the revolutionary intrigues of the
day, moving obscurely and dangerously
j among the popular leaders, wholly dis
trusted by the few aristocrats, and identi-
5 fled with the moderate liberals only at the
: FISK of his commission; DIS an officer in the
French army. That army was still the
Kings army; but the officers were nearly
all, like Napoleon, infected with revolu-
tionary to the extent thai al
$ most every sword might be said to have
G R%epublique dimly etched on the blade.
The history of this period at Corsica is
small, treacherous, chaotic. From Septem.
t Der of 1890 to the lst of June, 1871, Ma.
poleon remained in the island, COMMITTING
himself more and more (but ever cautious
: ly) to the motions of upheaval. Had it not
+ been for the universal dissolution he must
= at once have suffered arrest and dismissal
0 from the army. From the middle of Octo
Der until the following February, he over
Q staid his leave of absence, working al
winter at the various intrigues which were
: rife among his turbulent countrymcn. He
Q then devised IA plausible excuse which was
accepted at headquarters, and the neTl
t ddy procured another extension of his
leave! Nor did he cease to flourish among
$ the agitators of Aiaccio until his final de.
parture to rejoin his command in May oil
. 1871.
Such had been the shifting connection
of Lieutenant Bonaparte with the Iron
Regiment that he was almost an unrecog
S nized force in his own division of thu
S army. His absences from the command
: had far exceeded in duration his presenc,
with it. On returning to France, he wa.
t assigned to the Fourth Regiment of artil
V lery, stationed at Nalence. His Irregular
n ties as an officer had not so far prevailed
over the opinion of his great abilities an(
: solid requirements as to prevent his pro
t motion at this time to the rank of lieuten
l. ant en- premier.
, On the political side, Napoleon was nov
drawn with great force towards the Revo
r lutionary party in France. Perhaps thu
g notion dawned in him that with the sue
o cess of the Revolution and the rebuilding
T. of the nation on "a new republican basis
Corsica herself, by like revolt and renova
u ton, might join in the common move
/ ment to greater advantage than could b.
o gained by naked rebellion. This sentimen
was famed by a proposition made at thi
time in the Assembly to enlarge the titlei
g of the king of the French" by addin.
II the names of the Navarreso and Corsican,
formally to the list of his subjects. AL
such intermediary projects came to naugh'
with the onrushing of the Revolution
: They We're soon swallowed up with tn,
King himself and all kingly things in TIN
deep he'll throat hat opened.
r But ever and anon the Corsican trent
was strong on Lieutenant Bonaparte
Hardly had he got his place in the Fourtl
g Regiment, at Nalence, until he brok'
away again for his native island. Their
the stage of actual tumult had come. Ma
poleon was elected Northumberland o
tho Second Battalion of the Corsical
army. He cautiously accepted the post
z but at the same time kept his eye fixed OIL
a France. Then, after holding his place il
a the army of insurgents for less than
month, he suddenly sped away to his regi
ment on the Rhone. Arriving, he fonn'
himself dismissed from the service!
JOHN CLARK RIDPATH.