The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1862-07-26
OF THE FRENCH EN-
PEROR.

reasons why his English and Spanish allies
deserted him. IF he did not break faith
with his allies, be attempted to hoodwink
them, and inveigle them into an undertaking
contrary to the spirit of the London Con-
vention, inconsistent with his own profess
sions, and subyersive of Mexican independ-
ence. 1t may we'll be believed, even with
out any examination of the particular facts,
that the case must have been strong one
which determined General Prlm and Sir
Charles Wyke to assume a responsibility
with which they had not been clothed by
their respective governments, and refuse
their cooperation and withdraw their aid in
the very midst of an expedition which had
been undertaken in pursuance of joint
convention, prosecuted for several months IN
concert: The conduct of the commission,
ers in taking this bold responsibility has been
fully approved by their governments. Earl
Russell, in his letter to Sir G. Wyke, in
dorsing his action, speaks of all hope of
agreement as completely extinguished,"
and says that an end has been put to the
joint action of the three powers.
Of course all Americans will rejoice that
the designs of the deceitful ruler of France
were so early unmasked; that his craft has
over-reached itself; that his allies. shocked
| by his duplicity, have abandoned him; and
that he is left to incur tue risks and hazards,
and bear the expense and obloquy of the
Mexican expedition alone. The very in
ception of his design was an afront to this
country. He was conscious of this, and
fortified himself by the alliance, in the ex-
pectation that if we should be disposed to in
terfere, we would stand back appalled, at the
prospect of war with three powerful ma
tons at ouce, in addition to our internal
difficulties. It is certain that he entertains
no friendly feelings toward this country,
and his false pretenses and double dealing
in the Mexican expedition give US key to
his character, and warn US of the possible
designs of this uily and ipsidious poIentate.
In this Mexican expedition the cloven foot
first protruded from beneath the folds of the
imperial drapery in January. His allies
then, as throughout, were acting in good
faith, and aiming to accomplish the profess
ed object of the expedition-the collection
Of the debts due to their subjects. They
were astounded by the extravaganza and
injustice of the claims which the French
commissioner insisted on having enforced.
We give specimen in the language of Sir
Charles Wyke, the British commissioner:
1.-The next point General Prim and my
self objected to in NJ. de Soligny's ultima
/ tum was the demand founded on the claim
of the Swiss house of Jecker q Co., in
Mexico. This will endeavor to explain in
! as few words as possible, and, I think, your
lordship will agree with me that the claim
is an extraordinary one, to say the least of it.
When the Miramon Government were on
their last legs, and totally penniless, the
house of Jecker lent them $4,000, and
received in return therefor, the advance
bonds, to be payable at some future period,
to the amount of 100000.
''Shortly after this outrageous proceeding,
:, Miramon was upset, and succeeded by his
rival, Juarez, who was then called on by M.
Jecker, who was under French protection,
to pay the above-named enormous sum, on
the plea that one Government must be held
responsible for the acts and obligations of the
other. Juarez refused to do SO, and in this
resolution was supported by the opinion OF
ways understood that his Government was
willing to repay the original sum lent, OF
$3.50, 900, with five per cent. interest there
on; but repudiated the idea of their being
liable for the $15,O0O,OOO. need hardly
say that such terms as these could never
have been accepted, and any attempt to en-
force such demands must have brought on
immediate hostilities between the Mexican
Government and the allies
This claim, was of course, put in in the
expectation that it would be resisted. What
the Emperor wanted was a pretext for
marching to the Mexican capital. When
the English and Spanish commissioners OBJ
, lected to so monstrous demand, Persigny
coolly told them that the allies were not to
Judge of each others claims but that the
commissioners were bound to sustain each
others demands without inquiry into their
justice. The effect of this extraordinary
. principle would have been, if admitted, to
r enable France to lead England and Spain
into an aggressive war on Mexico, at his
sole option. Thouvenel, the French Mn
lister for Foreign Affairs consented that this
gigantic Jecker swindle should be with
drawn, together with other similar causes
= of disagreement, and thus the January diff
fculty was got over.
There was subsequent dissension about
General Miramon; but the rock on which
the alliance finally split and went to pieces
was General Almonte, who had been in Eu-
, rope, where he was treated with confidence
) and consideration by Louis Napoleon, and
on an understanding with whom he had Of
fered the Mexican throne to the Austrian
Archduke Macmillan. The French En-
peror declared Almonte under his proctec-
ton, and sent him back to Mexico in the
character of a paci6cator, to reconcile the
Opposing parties and prevent civil war.
This extraordinary mission was as respect
full to the Mexican Government as it would
be to ours, if Napoleon should intervene In
Iour country as mediator take Mr. SlidelI