The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-03-10


when the means of living are exorbitantly high,
that principle applies very aptly to the police.
We hope therefore that the bill for increased
pay will pass in the Legislature.
| Imperial Atrocities fn Mexico and Impe-
riaI Chicanery About That Country.
| We have heard from time to time Of the in
famous slaughter of Mexican citizens taken in
war by the imperialists A decree was published
some time ago to the effect that these unfortu-
nate people should be shot or otherwise exc
cuted when captured. At first we were disposed
to think this decree was intended to frighten the
Mexicans, and that it would not be put in force
against any except well known banditti. We
could not believe that in this civilized age any
government, pretended government, or Invad-
ing army Of respectable government, would
venture to do anything SO much at variance with
the laws of war and humanity. Least Of all did
we suppose that the boosted humane and culti-
waited prince who assumes to be Emperor Of
Mexico would be guilty of 1t, or that the army
Of so highly civilized and chivalrous people as
the French would be made the instrument Of
enforcing such an Infamous decree. When we
heard that 1t had been put into execution In one
or two cases, and that the Belgian troops had
protested against such atrocity, we thought
these inhuman deeds had been done by local
commanders who did not understand the real
motive of the decree, and that their conduct
would be disavowed by Macmillan or the
French commander-in-chief. But we deceived
ourselves. The last news from Mexico not
only confirms what had been stated before, but
gives additional evidence that the barbarous
decree is enforced by the highest authority,
and is part Of the system laid down by Maxi
milan and his French allies to subjugate the
Mexicans.
Our correspondent in Mexico says that "al-
most daily newspapers are being suspended for
family critic'sing imperial actions, and in some
cases the editors imprisoned" He asks, "Why
is 1t that military officer at Tampico is permit
ted almost daily to hang some unfortunate Mexi-
can whom he deems it proper to accuse Of hav-
ing committed crime! Will some deny that
this is true! If so, appeal to the people Of
Tampico to sustain me. to those very people
there who open their doors in the morning but
to behold fresh victim dangling by rope.
The colonel who is in command at Tampico is
an old man he is between fifty and sixty years
Of age as years come upon him 80 do fears Of
many Kinds. For this reason, but two weeks or
so ago, he got scared and hung three Mexicans
without giving them any form of trial whatever.
n Mexico is to be left to the Mexicans why do
the French permit Mexicans to be murdered In
this manner? And whether 1t is TO be given up
peacesbly or not does II, under any circum-
stances, rebound to the credit Of an enlght-
ened nation like France to permit it's soldiers
abroad, in foreign land, to sustain acts like
these. Il will not do for Frenchmen to say
that France Is not responsible for this for
there is no other force worthy TO be called
Power in this country opposing the republicans
but the French. Still another fact II the
country Is to be given up peaceably, how hap
pened II that the French military commander
permitted liberal Mexicans TO be driven like
beasts, bound with pieces Of rope, through the
streets Of Vera Cruz but q few days past,
and at the same time that they were
carrying arms with fixed bayonets and loaded
The Mexicans were bound with cords. not
particularly to prevent them from escaping,
bat as O mark Of disgrace. The object in bind
ing them and driving them through the streets
| was to hold the natives Of liberal propensties
under the terror Of being eventually reduced
to the same situation. Immediately afterwards
these men were sentenced TO be shot, their
crime being that two Of the party were taken
while trying TO capture a railroad train, being
soldiers in the liberal army, and that the rest
were members Of liberal armed force Of the
regular republican army. Civilized nations
hurry or missionaries 10 the Feejec Islands to
Try and convert the savages there, but they had
better first send their missionaries to this part,
and 10 the court of Macmillan, TO convert the
savages in Mexico"
Such are the atrocities committed upon the
citizens of neighboring republic, with whom
we have friendly relations, and whose Minister
Is recognized at Washington. They are CON-
mitted, too, by an assumed government, which
we do not recognize. Itis not surprising that the
Belgian soldiers should refuse to serve under
one Of the officers who has been carrying out
Maximilian's barbarous decree to the letter
Their feelings revolted, probably, at such out
RACES; but they knew that by the accidents Of
war they might fall into the hands Of the
republicans, as some OF their comrades had
fallen and that the law Of retaliation migAt
be applied to them.
Some years ago similar acts Of cruelty were
committed in the Austrian dominions-in that
country Of which Macmillan Is . royal arch
duke. All who are familiar with the history Of
the Hungarian war will remember the name Of
Haynau. This man, the commander OF the
Auatr;an forcea e0o;rat tho uuo0o~ ;.c. ..toa