The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-03-12
MONDAY. MARCH 70, 1866.
French Atrocities in Mexico.

thority there, he and his allies tried to make
the world believe that he was going TO relieve
the Mexican people from state of intolera-
BILE anarchy, and at their invitation. In order
to anticipate any possible question of the
solidlty OF this pretension, especially by the
United States, a Mexican delegation waited
upon him in Europe, and assured him in ad-
dresses, afterwards published, that they were
commissioned by a competent number of their
countrymen to express their desire to change
the constitution of their Government from
that of a republic to a monarchy, and to ten
der to him the position of imperial head of
the administration. In all this there was we'll
s udied bit Of diplomatic cunning. The right
Of people to freely alter their political insti-
tutions, and substitute others deemed more
suitable to their condition, and likely to pro-
mote their social happiness, is very generally
recognized by all civilized nations, and is ex-
pressly avowed in our own Declaration of
Independence. II, therefore, it could be es-
tablished that the present Government in
Mexico, or what is claimed to be the Govern
ment, is the result of the voluntary choice of
majority Of the Mexican people, manifested
in some regular and authoritative manner,
no foreign power would be justified in inter-
fering in the matter.
1t has, however, long been sufficiently appa-
rent that MAxIMILIAN's rule is fragrant
usurpation, which has been steadily resisted
by the Liberalsts ia that unhappy country up
to this time; and thai France and Austria are
employing their military power to destroy a
sister republic Immediately adjoining the
United States, and whose people have con-
tinually appealed to us to aid them in their
efforts to defend and preserve their civil libar-
ties and national Independence. There can
be 10 doubt that this Government, under the
ACTUAL circumstances of the case, has clear
right, on every principle oflaw, policy, and bu-
manity, to intervene in these Mexican trou-
bles; andit is more than probable that the Eu.
ropean powers are.somewhat amazed to find
that we are permitting that to be done, right
On our own borders, which we long ago de-
clared, in the enunciation of what is known
as the Monroe doctrine" should not be
done with our consent anywhere on this con-
tinent While, however, the Washington
Administration was engaged in putting down
formidable Rebellion at homs, it was not
altogether convenient to interfere in behalf of
Mexico, nor are our internal affairs even vet
so completely and permanently settled as to
make it expedient for us to rush with unneces-
sary impatience into foreign war.
Nevertheless, if we mean to help Mexico in
her struggle at all, the execution OF that pur-
pose cannot safely be much longer delayed
We want no stronger evidence not only that
the Austro-French alliance are waging in
Mexico war Of subjugation, but are waging
it also with barbarity that is violative of all
the rules of Christian warfare, is needed than
the news now reaching this country from the
sceIe Of the conflict. A private letter Just re-
ceived from an American citizen of high intelli-
gence and respectability, now in Mexico and
from which we are allowed to make the fol-
lowing extract, says :-"This country is get
ting rapidly into a most horrible state The
French have taught this people how to be
savage, and to disregard human life entirely.
The daily sight of scores of Liberals led out
to be shot; the torture to which they are
subjected before execution; and the absolute
disregard to all considerations of Justice or
humanity, are circumstances that are rapidly
producing their legitimate effect on all classes.
destroying in them those amiable and humane
qualities which ever distinguished the Mexi-
can race, and which even made their civil con-
tests comparatively bloodless. Times are sadly
changed within two years. The Mexican of
to-day scarcely at all resembles the Mexican
knew three years ago. Guerrilas formerly
summoned to surrender before firing. Now
they have adopted the French plan of butcher
ing first, and inquiring afterwards. You
have read the account of the taking of Bag.
dad. Compared with what passes here, that
was civilized warfare 1 am excessively
anxious and impatient to be off,"
The above is fully confirmed by a cores
pondent of New York contemporary, who
in late letter says:--
''lf the country is to be given nm peaceablv
how happened it that the French military com
mander permitted liberal Mexcans to be driven
like beasts, bound with pieces OF rope, through
the streets OF Vera Cruz but a few davs mast
and at the same time that they were guarded
by soldiers in the French service, carrying arms
with fixed bayonets and loaded? The Mexicans
were bound with cords not particularly to pre.
vent them from escaping, but as a marx OF dis.
grace. The object In binding them and driving
them through the streets was to hold the natives
of Liberal propensities under the terror of neing
eventually reduced to the same situation I'm.
mediately afterwards these men were sentenced
to be shot, their crime being that two of the
party were taken while trying to capture a rail.
road tain being soldiers in the Liberal army,
and that the rest were members OF Liberal
armed force of the regular renublican arnnv