The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1863-01-27 00:00:00

DORSET COUNTY EXPRESS

DnRCHESTER, TUESDAY, JANUARY 27, 1863.

• THE FRENCH IN MEXICO.

Louis Napoleon is the most unselfish monarch
on reeord. Ho goes to war for an "ides," and
spends millions of money and the lives of thou-
sands of his subjects on Philanthropic Missions
from which he can, of course, derive no possible
advantage. At one time WO see him organising
a crusade against the enemies of Italy, simply
from the overflowing nbitmlauce of his goodness
of heart, whilst he continues todefend a decrepit
old msn at Home, a very ogre to his people,
merely to testify his veneration for the Church
of which he is the High Priest. Point out a
grievance to this chivalric Genius, and, with-
out calculating costa, without a;desire for profits,
he couches his lance, plunges his spun into the
flanks of his snorting steed, and rushes against
the miserable Ithiebearti who mocks the sorrows
of humanity and tortures the innocent in the
deep recesses of his weird castle. It was in this
spirit, wo were some months since assured, the
invasion of Mexico was undertaken. It was
from no desire of conquest; it was clove in per-
fect good faith and from the most Magnanimous
of purposes—simply to bring the inhabitants to
a proper understanding witheach other, and thus
enable them to form for themselves a Govern-
ment which should command respect, both at
home said Abroad. Unfortunately we were un-
able, at the time, to appreciate the fact that we
were living in $o golden an age. Perhaps the
affair of Savoy and Nice, and the subsequent
acts of the Emperor in regard to Romtr,so veiled
our eyes with prejudice that we could not per-
ceive or appreciate the disinterestedness paraded
before our faces, The covering, however, has
now been removed, and we are no longer left in
doubt as to Napoleon's intentious. His letter
of instruction to General Forey, the leader of
the Mexican expedition, has been published in
the M iteit r . The "choice" of government
which the Emperor proposes to offer the
Mexicans is of the pleasant nature proembially
called " Holman's" They are to have the free
choice of His form of government approved of
by Imperial Majesty, aud subservient of French
interests. " For this end," observes a contem-
Mrail, "113 soon as Mexico is occupied by the
nh army, the principle mimeos of all political
shades who shall have embraced the French cause
are to come to an understanding with General
Foray for the organization of a Provisional
Government. It is especially to be observed
here that the eligibility for the Provisional
Government is to be devoted not to any
national cause, but to the French cause.
The Provisional Government, so constituted
of partizans, is to form the basis of the
permanent Government, and, backed by
the French forces, to submit its plan to the
people, as the strong are in the habit of submit-
ting their proposals to the weak. The precedent
to be followed is that of the coup d' Etat, by
which Louis Napoleon seized on the sovereign
power, and then appealed to universal suffrage
to ratify his proceeding and self-election. The
object, explains the Emperor, is not to impose
an obnoxious Government on the Mexicans,
but to assist them to establish one haying a
chance of stability, and the certainty of securing
to Froxe the settlement of her claims. In
I plain words, the Government is to be subser-
vient to French interests. If it be not obnoxious
to the people so much the better, but be it what
it may, monarchial or republican,it must respond
to the wishes and bend to the behests of France.
And without that condition it will certaiuly have
no stability with a French army iu. occupation
of Mexico. So little of nationality is there to
be in the new government, that France is to
supply the capable men, who are to organize the
financial system ou the French model, and intro-
duce the regularity which in the instance of that
pattern management has consisted the disorders
and debt not yet dealt with by M. Fould, nor
likely to be if bis master is to indulge in inter-
vention like that in Mexico. In order to
bring about these blessed results, making Mexico
a province of France, General Foray is instructed
to feed, pay, said arm, according to his means,
the Mexican auxiliary troops, and make them
play PrinciPai parts in the neaten. Uriah the
Hittite is to be feasted and made drunk, and
then set in the forefront of the hottest battle,
to the end that David may obtain his Bath-
&hobs." But will Uriah, with his eyes open,
, take service under the man who covets his
Sheba, and proclaims se such? For months the

French force of about 30,000 men have been
lying in the lowlands, unable for want of means
of transport to penetrate further into the
country than Orizaba and Jalapa, two places
about equally distant, each on its own toad,
from Vern Cruz. By the latest telegrams they
were, however, advancindlon Puebla, a place
defended, we are told, by 160 guns ; and although
this will sooner or later be taken, when the
French get their reitloicements, the Emperor's
purpose will still be unachieved. lt is just there
his real difficulties are likely to begin unless he
is willing to double his force and achieve without
disguise, the military conquest of the entire
country. Whether he will be inure successful
than uleorge 111, was in the United States
remains to be seen ; but under any circumstances
we greatly doubt whether the cost and difficulty
of the scheme will add to the Emperor's popu-
larity among his own people at home.