The Sun.
London, England, 1867-07-10 00:00:00

soon as the existing dynasty was swept away there
would be only a repetition of those scenes of vio-
lence which years ago called forth the active inter-
ference of European Governments, and made
Mexico a byeword and a reproach. The
unsettled and unhappy condition of the coun-
try afforded, in fact, a substantial ex-
cuse for AIAXI3IILFAN'S experiment. But what-
ever the circumstances attending the French occu-
pation of Mexico, and the gift of the throne to a
foreign prince, there can be but one opinion of the
conduct of the so-called Lilrrals. Popular sym-
pathy is always on the side of heroic resistance on
behalf of a failing cause ; and the picture of MA XI-
MILIAN and his few faithful adherents holding out in
Queretaro against desperate odds for the sake, not
so much of the chances of success as for the hope
of protecting those Mexicans who had

cast in their lot with the Emperor, is
one which no one can regard with indifference. The
circumstantial account of the EMPEROR'S last hours,
published in a French journal, is, some think, apo-
cryphal, but we know at least the leading features
of the mournful story. We know that Qeretaro
was lost by an act of treachery, that the EMPEROR'S
fate was sealed by a man whom he had known and
trusted, that he and his two chief generals were
captives for a month, and that they must have
given up hope long before they actually fell
under the bullets of the soldiers. We know,
too, that the EMPEROR met his fate with a
courage and a dignity worthy of his imperial race,
that while his kinsfolk must mourn over the un-

timely close of what promised to be a brilliant and
prosperous career, they are spared the deeper grief
of thinking that his honour was sullied or his mis-
fortunes deserved.

For Mexico itself we may well believe that the
crime will be as disastrous as it has been unpar-
donable. We can hardly doubt that the European
Governments will combine to make some protest, to
mark their sense of this outrageous conduct in some

tangible form. If a reward were offered for the
surrender of the principal actors in the tragedy of
LOPEZ, of ESCOBEDO, and of JUAREZ himself, it
might teach the Mexicans the estimation in which
their leaders are held by Europe. They have put
themselves beyond the pale of civilisation by au act
which no civilised Government would have dreamed
of contemplating. As for their nearest and most
powerful neighbours, it remains to be seen
what course they will pursue. The Americans
are usually very careful of their national dignity,
and they are besides far from being deficient
in humanity. The fate of the fallen Prince
has excited great interest, and they have through
their representatives exerted themselves strongly on
his behalf. It is not likely that they will continue
to accord to JUAREZ the moral support they have
hitherto given him. They will feel themselves in-
sulted by the outrage, and implicated in some
degree in the crime. We hope before long that in
both Houses of the English Parliament we shall ob-

tain some expression of opinion, some unanimous
condemnation of an act committed by a people who,
while they claim to be free and self-governing,
would throw back the cause of civilisation and
liberty to the darkness of the middle ages.

The Sheffield Commission has fairly ended its
labours, and has delivered the desired certificates to
most of those witnesses who applied for them. They
laid down very simple and comprehensible principles
for their guidance. If a man came forward and
gave his evidence, and made his confession unre-
servedly in the first instance, he was allowed not
only his certificate but his costs. If he prevaricated
or perjured himself at first, and only confessed at a
second examination, he was allowed a certificate
without costs. To tkis class belong the notorious
BROADHEAD and CROOKES. Thirdly, if the state-
ments of the witnesses were not satisfactory, no
certificate was granted. It would have been more
consonant with the public feeling, and more appro-
priate to the circumstances, had no costs whatever
been allowed. The criminals might have been

thankful to escape with protection from the con-
sequences of crimes the least of which would have
doomed them to many years' penal servitude. It
is too bad that such men should, under any circum-
stances, receive public money.

We hope the matter will not end here, but that
a thorough and searching investigation Rill be
made into the whole position of these unions. The
working men of Sheffield held a large meeting last
night, to denounce in unmeasured terms the
offences of which these persons have been guilty,
and we have no doubt they meant sincerely. Half
the energy shown in denouncing the crimes, when
confessed, would, if used at the time of the offences,
have long since detected the criminals.