The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1895-03-27

be cautiously Kept his bearings, Decalno
practical rather than 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 more portentous at every step
The ruined Bastile was already a hate
full, but glorious, "Reminiscences. At this
time Corsica was represented IN the Ma
tional Assembly by two moderate pa
triots, named Salicetti and Colona me
royal delegate from the island was that
Buttafuoco whom Choiseul had used IN
establishing the French protectorate IN
Corsica II
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 Cor
sican mobiles and the higher ecolesiastics
These virtually constituted the insular
government. Secondly, there was a
moderate party favorable to liberalism,
but supporting the French protectorate.
In the third place, there was q powerful
revolutionary party, favoring absolute
independence, and seeking by the recall
of Paoli to overthrow all foreign author
ity. This condition Of affairs, as we'll as
the deplorable state Of his family, In
duced Napoleon to obtain another leave
Of absence and to return to his native
country.
On his way homeward, be stopped at
AK; and there he found his brother
Lucien. That Obstinate parsonage had
withdrawn from the military academy
at Brienne, but had failed to secure adj
mission to the theological school at AK.
There he was in poverty and hopeless
ness, when Napoleon came and conduct
ed him back to Ajacoio 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 man of Importance;
for he was tho only Frenohman in the
island possessing thorough military
education.
The project was now on for the or
Ranization Of the Corsioan militia; and
Napoleon was necessary for success.
He entered into the revolutionary in.
trigues Of the day, moving obscurely
and dangerously among the popular
leaders, wholly distrusted by the few
aristocrats, and identified with the mod
crate liberals only at the risk Of his COM
mission as an officer in the French
army. That army was still the Kings
army; but the officers were nearly all,
like Napoleon. infected with revolution
airy sentiments to the extent that almost
every sword might be said to have Re-
publique dimly etched On the blade
The history Of this period at Corsica
Is small, treaoherous, chaotic From
September of 1890 to the lst OF June,
1871, Napoleon remained in the island,
committing himself more and more (but
ever cautiously to the motions of up.
heaval. Had it not been for the univer.
sal dissolution he must at once have suf-
fered arrest and dismissal from the
army. From the middle Of October IN
til the following February, he overstaid
his leave Of absence, working all win
ter at the various intrigues which were
rife among his turbulent countrymen.
He then devised q plausible excuse
which was accepted at headquarters,
and the nent day procured another ex'
tension of his leave! Nor did he cease tc
flourish among the agitators Of Ajaccic
until his departure to rejoin his com
mand in May of 1871.
Such bad been the shifting connection
Of Lieutenant Bonaparte with the 1ro1
Regiment that he was almost all unrec
ognized force In his own division Of the
army. His absences from the command
had far exceeded In duration his pres
ence with It, On returning to France
he was assigned to the Fourth Regimen
of artillery, stationed at Valence. Hi
Irregularities as an officer had not so fal
prevailed over the opinion Of his grea
abilities and solid requirements as tt
prevent his promotion at this time tt
the rank of lieutenant en- premier.
On the political side, Napoleon wa
now drawn with great force towards thu
Revolutionary party In France Perhaps
the notion dawned in him that with thu
success Of the Revolution and the re
building Of the nation on new repub
lican basis, Corsica herself, by like re-
volt and renovation, might join in thu
common movement to greater advantage
than could be gained by naked rebel
lion. This sentiment was famed by ,
proposition made at this time in th'
Assembly to enlarge the titles Of tn
liking of the French" by adding tn
names of the Navarrese and Corsioan
formally to the list of his subjects. Al
such intermediary projects came t.
naught with the onrushing Of the Revo
luton They were soon swallowed u
with the King himself and all kingl..
things in the deep hell throat that open
ed.
But ever and anon the Corsica tren'
was strong on Lieutenant Bonaparte
Hardly had he god his place in tn
Fourth Regiment, at Valence, until h
broke away again for his native island
There the stage Of actual tumult ha'
come. Napoleon was elected lieutenant
colonel of the Second Battalion of tn
Corsican army. He cautiously accepted
the post, but at the same time kept hi
eye fixed on France Then, after hold
inc his nlaca in the army Of insnroent