The Fate of Maximilian—Was it Just ?
At the outbreak of the late Amer
ican war, our weakness afforded the
Europeans an opportunity for erect
ing a Monarchy in Mexico. Europe
would not have thought of the like
had our country been strong and able
to resist. This was the long and
short of it.
But Mexico appeared unwilling to
receive a crown, and the liberal or
Republican party of that country
made a stubborn resistance to Max
imilian whom Europe had pompously
styled Emperor cf Mexico, and pledg
ed the men and money to enthrone.
The liberal party were firm and
plucky, and the Maximilian party —
composed of the priests and church
adherents in Mexico, with some 20,-
000 or 30,000 French and Austrians
sent over from Europe to coerce the
Mexican liberals, were at last driven
into a heap and centered in a strong
place for defense. And soon the Max.
imilans fell—by liberal strategy and
the treachery of an officer attached
to bis staff. They all fell into Liberal
hands, Maximilian was shot, his offi
cers were sentenced to imprisonment
and his men paroled.
We go back a step or two; during
ing the administration of Lincoln, the
rebel party of the South offered Max
imilian all the aid and comfort they
could. They were in constant treaty
with the monarchs of Europe, and
perhaps planned the whole scheme
of European intervention for the
Mexican monarchy. It is well under
stood everywhere that the Jeff. Da
vis dynasty received the support of
all rebels and their sympathisers in
America and Europe—whilst the Lib
eral party in Mexico had the sympa
thy at least of President Lincoln, the
American government and army, and
their friends throughout the world.
