The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-03-23


The effects Of the extraordinary move
ment thus begun for the reform Of the
French nation were strikingly diverse In
the different parts Of the kingdom. France
was as yet homogeneous in nothing The
towns of the South, Under the loyal senti-
ments Of the old ProyeDcal race, received
the news In one spirit and the towns of
the North In another They OF the Gironde
In the far southwest heard the tidings as
proclamation of good news to men: while
they of Lyons and Montpelier and Mar
seilles and Toulon and Nice, In the far
southeast, caught the intelligence with
doubt and animosity.
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-
tion or ran before 1t waving flag. Such
a mind was Bonaparte's. No doubt he
was a born evolutionist-proyided 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 tho 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 for
the recovery OF Corsicnn Independence
Docs not the path of destiny open by way
OF Ajaccio rather than by way OK Parish
Or If the cause indeed lies by way Of Paris,
docs IL not first extend through the native
island9 The patriot Paoli resides in Eng
lish exile; perhaps he may return TO Cor
sica, and we as his lieutennnt-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 than
theoretical and impatently awaited the
opportunity to become great.
Lieutenant Bonaparte remained with
his regiment at Auxonne until the 18th
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, reminscence. At this time Cor
sica was represented in the National As.
sembiy by two moderate patriots, named
Salicetti and Colona The 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 royal faction. very few in
number composed Of the petty Corsican
mobiles and the higher ecclesiastics. These
virtually constituted the insular gov
ernment." Secondly, thc.s vas moder.
ate party favorable 10 loSscAi IN, 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 bomeward, he stopped at
AK; and there he found his brother Luz
cien. That obstinate parsonage had with
drawn from the military academy at
Brienne, but had failed to secure admis-
sion TO tho theological school at AK.
There he was ia poverty and hopelessness,
when Napoleon came and conducted him
back to Ajaccio. The latter at Marseillos,
visited the Able Raynal; but there is no
record of what occurred. Once at home,
the young French officer was recognized
as man Of importance; for he was the
only Frenchman In the island possessing
thorough military education.
The project was now on for the organi-
zation of the Corslcan mill tia; and Napo-
leon was necessary for success. He entered
into the revolutionary intrigues of the
day, moving obscuroly and dangerously
among the popular leaders, wholly dis
trusted by the few aristocrats, and identi-
fled 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 tho 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 lst of June, 1891, Ma
poleon remained I'm the island, committing
himself moro and more (but ever cautious.
ly) TO the motions OF uphcaval Had it not
been for.the universal dissolution no 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 Mt the various intrigues which were
rife among his turbulent countrymen. lie
then devised plausible excuse which was
accepted at headquarters, and the nert
day procured another extension Of his
leave Nor did he cease TO flourish among
the agitators of Aiaccio until his final de-
parturo TO rojoin his command in May of
1871.
Such had been tho shifting connection
OF Lieutenant Bonnpartc with the Iron
Regiment that ho was almost an unrocog.
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 60 France, no was
assigned TO the Fourth Regiment of artil-
lery, stationed at Valence. His irrcgulari-
ties as an officer had not so far prevailed
over the opinion Of his great abilities and
solid requirements as To prevent his pro-
motion nt this time TO the rank OF licuten-
ant en- premier.
On the political side Napoleon was now
drawn with great force towards the Rovo-
lutionary party ia France Perhaps the
notion dawned In him that with the sue.