The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-12-17

Tine Mexican Questfom-Freuch RelRa
forcemcnts 60 Maximtlfan.
The resent arrival at Vera Cruz of over two
thou sand French troops for the reinforcement
of MsSimilian's constantly diminishing armies
naturally suggests the inquiry, what does all
this mea n? The landing day after day on tho
Mexican Scoast Of French soldiers-Algerines.
Arabs, tn. ccos, Nubians, Austrians, Belgians
and what a,ot-together with mortars, Siege
guns, fixed a, umunition, wagons and supplies.
surely looks n ke anything but contemplated
evacuation on the part Of Louis Napoleon.
And then from ur Vera Cruz correspondent IL
appears that the French officers talk as though
sent there, not 70 fight the Mexlcans, but tho
United States tlA t they are "down on the
Yankees !" that che. y boast they can whip tho
United States all to pieces;' that the South
ern people will rise again when they get tho
chance" and that aeA chance the French pro-
pose to give them by ds 'claring war against the
United States" and so GA. i
Now, how did these I'm snch officers get these
silly notions into their silly heads! They must
know that such observaNpA may be made with
out the fear Of mourning, e 'ispleasure OF Maxi
milan or his master, or;ASel would not be ut
tered. Are we then, to infer til Vt Louis Napoleon
is preparing for an irropressA lie conflict" with
the United States, while soothiA our Secretary
Of State with his fine promts IS Of an early
evacuation? Looking at the simple fact OF
these French reinforcements and, French boast
ings, together with Maximilian's var OF exter-
mination against the liberals, 1t A's difficult to
avoid the conclusion that nothing bl t the diplo-
macy of General Grant will re-esk ablish the
Mexican republic in The Mexican cap ital.
We find, however, from his late M essage to
Congress, that President johnson rema 'ins IN
shaken in his faith in the Monroe doctrine, and
from the recent proceedings in bota no uses 1t
is apparent that Congress is not in the mood
for granting en- indefinite term Of grace to
Macmillan. II is as certain as the rising of TO-
morrow's sun that he must make up his mind
for voluntary retirement or forcible expul-
sion from Mexico He cannot stay there His i'm
perial usurpation, as APPLY described by Cen.
Logan, is an ofshoot Of the late rebellion, and
Intended for the same purpose-the overthrow
Of the political, military and commercial power
of the United States-and his empire will not
much longer be tolerated. That it cannot bo
recognized by our present administration Louis
Napoleon has been officially informed; that
the republic still is recognized at Washington
is patent to all the world. Why, then, do
French troops continue to go into Mexico, in
stead Of going out, if Louis Napoleon has not
resolved to hold the country, peace or war;
This is delicate question and difficult to
answer We, however,, are not prepared to
relinquish the idea that Louis Napoleon will
in good time quietly withdraw his man Maxi.
milan and all his imperial household and trap
pings and gewgaws from Mexico. The Prest'
dent says that the correspondence with tho
French government on the subject will, at tho
propentime, be, laid before Congress, meaning
that the proper time has not yet come. Why
not Because, perhaps, the high contracting
parties may be engagedi In negotiating peace
able settlement, the exact terms and details OF
which have not yet been agreed upon. Ma
poleon, in consideration of his withdrawal Of
Macmillan, may have asked some commercial
concessionsand some equivalents for his con-
tingent expenses, and these matters may be
under debate. AT all events, in the very sig.
nifcant remark Of the President that at tho
proper time the correspondence with France
on this Mexican question will be laid before
the two houses, we are satisfied that something
is going on through tho Department of State
which promises satisfactory settlement with
out an appeal to the Department Of War. We
look for the confirmation Of this opinion in the
Presidents answer to the late Senate resolution
asking for the correspondence in question. We
attach the highest importance to the hint COZ
veyed in his Message that the information de-
sired will be forthcoming at the proper time