The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1863-10-09
Empire Of Mexico.


Elsevbcro wc mako mention OF the fact
,h,, tho Austrian Arch-duko Macmillan
has accented the throne Of the new empire
Of Mexico, which has its support only upon
IN, bayoncts of the French. II sounds deci-
dedly odd to American ears taught to reSaru
the Monroe doctrine that European nations
should have no allies on this continent 70
speak of Mexico as cut up and gwen away
20 European monarchies, and yet such Is the
fact. Whether our government will hcreat-
ter abandon that policy is simply question
of power, and always will be. IL is one
thing to put up with an empire upon this
continent when it assumes such form by
the direct action Of the people, and quite
another when the government OF the people
is overthrown to make way for n monarchy.
France had no more excuse originally for
making war upon Mexico, than she had for
bOmbarding the Fcejec Islands. Because tho
Mexican government would not allow the
Jcckcr claim for forty millions, which few
wandering Frenchmen had drummcd against
the government for alleged spoliations, Louis
Napoleon makes war upon weak nation,
and proceeds to overthrow its government
and establish another antagonistical to the
growth Of democratic institutions in North
America.
This aspect Of affairs in Mexico is one of
Importance to this country. A new regime
here exists which may seriously affect us as
n nation. Tho European system Of the six
tenth century in which nations are bought
and sold by their moro powerful ncighbors,
and rulers foreign to the people over whose
destinics they preside, arc set up, is by this
act inaugurated. We arc not Of those who
believe that this policy of Napoleon was in
its inception necessarily hostile to this nation.
The government Of France, though outward
ly and seemingly strong, is perhaps more OF
an equipoiso than that Of any other in Eu-
rope. This is partly owing to the largo and
powerful Orleans party, and partly to the
national characteristics Of the French peo-
pie, whose "bump" OF continuity is not
largely developed. So Napoleon wishes en-
ploymcnt for an oycrstocked population, an
outlet for its energies, and division of the
attention of the people, though war should
be necessary for that purpose, albeit tho war
should not be dangerous to him. The men,
tai and physical energies of people proper
ly employed arc the wcishsOn the safety
valve which keeps down revolution. When
thIs weight becomes too great in consequence
of accumulation, disasters always follow
And so tho idea must DO held out to the
Gauls that French influence upon this conti-
nent, which ended with the death Of Mont
calm, must be rc-cstablshed.
But why is tho French Emperor so gcner-
Gus? No sooner does no acquire his new
possessions than he makes an Austrian prince
his lcgatc in Mexico in order to ally himself
with Power not unlikely to DO uniricndly
in the complications growing out of the Po-
lish question, "iorcstalling opinion for opin
ions sake" If peace is preserved in Eu-
rope for five years to come, and in the mean
time the government of France remains sta
bic, Napoleon may not have launched his
Mexican boat against that tide which flows
from visionary seas; but in that case he will
no, need his new ally. These promises are
altogether improbable, and it is not mat
ter Of even conjecture that the United States
would DO friendly to the Mexicans endcavOr-
Ing to throw of the yoke of French despot'
ism, which now weighs heavily upon them.