Napoleon Bonaparte and his historical significance

Napoleon Defense

In Defense of Bonaparte:

Napoleon's actions have made him appear to be a threat to the sovereignty of our monarchical system but they have proven him to be a friend of the people. Certainly, this is felt by all the peoples of Europe, whose outpouring of sympathy for him indicates a status with which we would be unwise to trifle. Therefore, to exile him to such dire isolation as on the St. Helena is to isolate that which he represents to the people of Europe. Were we foolish enough to reverse the patterns of doctrinal freedom and equality which he so boldly proliferated as the Napoleonic Codes in force and fashion through Europe, we would certainly feel the now demonstrable power of the popular movements in France and elsewhere. (Rank, 1) Greeted as a hero both by public and by military escort, Napoleon has proven himself a benefit even as we must regard certain actions made by him as a nuisance to the stability of our leadership.

Thus, his service as sovereign and his industry and governor of Elba, if protected by the good faith of your lordship, should be seen as sufficient to protect European rulership from his obstruction but also fitting to the balance between crime and service to humanity reflected in Bonapartism. (Higonnet, 1) Quite to the reality of our future, that which he has produced in the defense of the rights of man will not be retracted. Nor will be his association to these accomplishments. Therefore, both to protect ourselves from the righteous indignation of a public who will not bear to see the disgracing of its champion and to serve with justice rather than with arbitrary defensiveness the legacy of Napoleon Bonaparte, this statement is to implore your judgeship to disregard St. Helena as a suitable place to exile any human being so much as one whose may be regarded as having so gracefully served those in his public.