Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1895-03-29

settles and Toulon and Nice, IN the far
southeast, caught the Intelligence with
doubt and luminosity E.
On men themselves the news fell from
week to week with varying effects accord
ing to their personal characters and preju-
dice of race. In general, they who had
imbibed the principles Of the new French
philosophy either went after the Revolu-
ton or ran before it waving flag. Such
a mind was Bonaparte's. No doubt ne
was born neutrality-suspicious. always
he could himself control the revolution.
His nature was fitted in every part for
that state of fruitful anarchy which tends
again to order. He was essentially man
for the storm and hurricane, but suited
best the after stages Of the tempest.
Would not this revolutionary fire In
France leap the sea and kindle itself In
Corsica? Does not occasion now offer Tor
the recovery of Corsican Independence
Does not the path of destiny open by way
of Ajaccio rather than b5 'ay of Parish
Or If tho 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-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'h cautiously kept his
bearings, became practical rather than
theoretical, and impatiently awaited the
opportunity to become great.
Lieutenant Bonaparte remained with
his regiment at Auxonno until the 10Th
of September, 1890. The Revolution had
now been in progress year and four
months. The movement had become more
and more portentous at every step. The
ruined Bastile was already hateful but
glorious, "reminiscences At this time Cor
sica was represented in the National AS
sembly by two moderate patriots, named
Salicetti and Colona. Tho royal delegate
from the island was that Buttafuoco whom
Choiseul had used in establishing the
French protectorate 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-
ernment." Secondly, there was moder-
ate party favorable to liberalism, but sup
porting the French protectorate. In the
third place, there was 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 Marseilles,
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
only Frcnchman in the island possessing
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
among the popular leaders, wholly dis
trusted by the few aristocrats, and, identi-
fed with the moderate liberals only at the
risk of his commission as 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 sentiments to the extent that al
most every sword might be said to have
Republique dimly etched on the blade.
The history of this period at Corsica Is
small treacherous, chaotic. from Septem-
Der Of 1890 to the LIST of June, 1871, Ma
poleon remained in the island, committing
himself more and more (but ever cautious
ly) to the motions of upheaval. Had 1t not
been for the universal dissolution he must
at once have suffered arrest and dismissal
from the army. From the middle of Octo-
Der until the following February, he over
staid his leave of Absence working all
winter at the various intrigues which were
rife among his turbulent countrymen. He
then devised plausible excuse which was
accepted at headquarters, and the meat
day procured another extension Of his
leave! Nor did he cease to flourish among
the agitators of Ajaccio until his final de-
parturo to rejoin his command in May Of
1871.
Such had been the shifting connection
Of Lieutenant Bonaparte with the Iron
Regiment that he was almost an unrecog-
nized force in his own division Of the
army. His absences from the command
had far exceeded in duration his presence
with it. On returning to France, he was
assigned to the Fourth Regiment of artil-
lery, stationed ut Valence. His irregulari-
ties as an officer had not SO far prevailed
ovor the opinion of his great abilities and
solid requirements as to prevent his pro-
motion at this time to the rank of lieuten-
ant en- premier.
On the political side, Napoleon was now
drawn with great force towards the Revo-
lutionary party IN France. Perhaps the
notion dawned in him that with the suo-
cess Of the Revolution and the rebuilding
Of the nation on new republican basis,
Corsica herself, by like revolt and renova-
ton, might join in the common move
ment to greater advantage than could be
gained by naked rebellion This sentiment
was famed by proposition made at this
time in the Assembly to enlarge the titles
Of the king Of the French" by adding
the names of the Navarrese and Corsicans
formally to the list of his subjects. All
such intermediary projects came to naught
with the onrushin9 of the Revolution.