The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-03-24

y
ing 10 their personal characters and preju-
llce OF race. In general, they who had
iuiplDeu the principles OF the new French
philosophy either went after the Revoiu-
lioh or ran before it waving a flag Such
mind was BOnaparte's No doubt he
was born OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES always
ne could himself control the revolution
ms nature was fitted In every part for
that state of fruitful anarchy which tends
ssllh 10 order. He was essentially a man
LOT the storm and hurricane but suited
best the after stages of the tempest.
Would not this revolutionary FIRE in
| rance 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 yyav
OF AJacc-o rather than by way of Paris2
vt II the cause indeed lies by way of
fadls, does II not first extend through
the native island? The patriot Paoli re-
sioes IN English exile; perhaps he may re-
turn to Corsica, and we as his lieutenant
lh-ehef may yet lead the patriots to in
dependence and glory. To sum I'D all
Napoleon at this stage was whirled along
py the coming storm; but he cautiously
kept MS bearings, became practical rather
IMAM theoretical, and impatiently awaited
the opportunity to become great.
Lieut.. Bonaparte remained with his reg
liheht at AuXonne until the 18th of Sep
been
III progress year and four months The
movement had become more and more nor
tehuous at every step. The ruined Bastile
was already hateful. but glorious rem
lnlscence At this time Corsica was rep-
resented in the national assembly by two
moderate patriots. named Salicetti and
Colona. The royal delegate from the is
land was that Buttafouco whom Choiseul
mad used in establishing the French pro
tectOrate in Corsica
Inc people of the island We're 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. bur SIM
porting the French protectorate In the
thlrd place, there was a powerful revolu-
uonary party, favoring absolute indie
pendence, and seeking by the recall Of
Paoli to overthrow all foreign authority.
Ihis condition of affairs, as well as the
deplorable state of his family, induced
Napoleon to obtain another leave of an
sence, and to return to his native coun-
try.
On MS way homeward, he stopped at
AK; and there he found his brother Luz
Glen. That obstinate parsonage had with
drawn from the military academy at
D4+t4i4ies Jul Adu Idllea 10 secure aQmis-
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 man of Importance; for he was the
only Frenchman in the island possessing
thorough military education.
rha
ganization of the Corscan militia: and
Napoleon was necessary for success. He
entered into the revolutionary intrigues
OF the day, moving obscurely and dan
gerously among the popular leaders.
wholly distrusted by the few aristocrats
and identified with the moderate liberals
only at the risk of his
French army. That army was still
the kings army; but the officers were
nearly all. like Napoleon, infected with
revolutionary sentiments to the extent
that almost 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 Sep
TENDER of 1880 to June ], 1871. Napoleon
remained in the island, committing him
self more and more (but ever cautiously
to the motions of upheaval Had it not
been for the universal dissolution he must
at once have suffered arrest and dismiss
sal from the army. From the middle of
October until the following February.
he overstaid his leave Of absence, work
ing all winter at the various intrigues
which were rife among his turbulant coun>
trymen. He then devised a plausible ex-
cuse which was accepted at headuuar-
tiers, and the next day procured another
extension Of his leave! Nor did he cease
to flourish among the agitators of Aiac-
clio until his final departure to reioin his
command in May of 1871.
Such had been the shifting connection
of Lieut.. Bonaparte with the Iron Regi-
ment that he was almost an unrecoenized
force in his own division of the army.
His absence from the command had far
exceeded in duration his presence with
it. On returning to France he was as
signed to the Fourth regiment of artiI-
lery, stationed at Valence. His irregu-
larities as an officer had not so far pre-
vailed over the opinion of his great abiB-
ties and solid requirements as to prevent
his promotion at this time to the rank
of lieutenant en- premier.
On the political side, Napoleon was now
drawn with great force toward the reyo-
lutionary party in France. Perhans the
notion dawned in him that with the sue
cess Of the revolution and the rebuilding
of the nation on new republican basis.
Corsica herself. by like revolt and renova-
tion 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 onrushing of the revolution
They were soon swallowed up with the
king himself and all kingly things in the
deep hell-throat that opened.
But ever and anon the Corsican trend
was strong on Lieut. Bonaparte. Hardly
had he got his place in the Fourth regi-
ment at Valence until he broke away
again for his native island. There the
stage Of actual tumult had come. Napo-
leon was elected Lieutenant colonel of the
Second battalion of the Corsican army
He cautiously accepted the post, but at
the same time kept his eye fixed on France
Then. after holding his place in the army
of insurgents for less than a month, he
suddenly sped away to his regiment on
the Rhone. Arriving, he found himself
dismissed from the service!
John Clark Ridpath.
The McAIIisfer Forfunc