The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-06-18
Mexico and its Ever-Changing Rulers.
Et,orn Lhe Times.

Mexico and its Ever-Changing Rulers.
From the Times
Mexico is the political riddle of the world.
Outside Governments now confess that they
have failed as completely in their dealings with
il during the last five years as the Mexicans
themselves had failed during the previous forty.
As formerly, faction ceaselessly fought faction.
President struggled with usurper, military chiefs
with each other, the army with the people, the
Church with the Liberals, and anarchy dom.
mated also, latterly, the disjointed Trlpartte
Intervention gave place to the resstless French
usurpation, which now voluntarily gives way to
the dubious dynasty of Macmillan, which will
be followed IN turn by-nO political prophet can
tell what; but we know that anarchy il still
all but alldominant. There is no doubt
whatever that the Emperor Napoleon has
given up a project which he is said TO have
once pronounced the 'most important OF his
reign" as much because he has discovered the
intrinsic h1pelessness of its success as because
of the vigorous protests of the Government OF
the United States, He has gained absolutely
nothing a return for his costly Mexican
experiment Instead of yielding surplus reve-
nues, Mexico has been sinking deeper in his
debt Instead of the enormous returns that
were expected from the scientific working of the
gold and silver mines, there has been no advance
upon the old system, or Ia the returns of other
times. Instead of furnishing fields tor French
enterprise, it has furnished only graves for
French soldiers and adventurers Instead of
proving the opening that was anticipated for
French commerce and trade, its fruits in
that direction have been SO limited that,
to make even respectable, show. the
statistics had to be magnihed by adding
to those that were legitimate the provisions
and material sent from France to supply
the French army OF occupation. Napoleon has
not obtained the cessiOn OF Mexican territory
which he coveted, nor, in short, has he Obtained
any of the material advantages which were the
main object that induced him to undertake the
intervention. In respects other than material,
he has been no more fortunate He has done
nothing to advance the "Latin racen and has
put no barrier in the way of American destiny.
He has not succeeded in establishing political
order, or in founding strong and stable Gov
ernment, or even in obtaining friendly ally on
this side OF the sea; and 0hen his soldiers and
his flag disappear rom Mexico, be will receive
with them neither ''glory" nor gold, and they
will leave behind them naueht that contains
even a CLEAN OF hope for the future.
The friends of MaXimllGn claim that he will
not leave Mexico because of IT'S desertion by
the French army. That army brought him to
Mexico, and has sustained him there until now.
But it is claimed that his power Is so well
consolidated that he can sustain 1t without
difficulty; or, II not eoa6oW difficulty, at least
against it. We see nothing like evidence of
this. Where is this strength, and in what
does it consist! Does 1t not reside in his
finances, or iu his army, or in the attachment
of the people! Through either, of these may
GOVernDoDG De strong. but u0aQClallY the
Mexican Empire is on the verge of bankruptcy.
There is not means in the treasury to supply
the most pressing wants of the Govern
ment and the monthly expenditures eX
ceed by millions the monthly returns. On
frequent occasions recently, they have been
in the greatest straits to raise sums such as
could be raised from hundred private for
tunes in this city, and have had to resort to
expedients partaking of those resorted to bv
both the highwayman and the beggar. AS
regards the army, MaximiliaU has some ten
thousand native Mexican troops in his SER
vice, besides the foreign mercenaries who
may have been recruited. But can he
confidently rely upon either the MeXicans or
the mercenaries How can either of them
have any trustworthy devotion to master of
his antecedents There are no more personal
than there are hereditary attachments in this
case, and we would net give nickel for all
there is of either. Let his Mexican troops
get fired by some means with the old cry of
"GOd and Liberty" and let il operate with
their fierce hate of the foreigner" in all
shapes and positions, and they would turn on
him III style such as only Mexico can Illus
trate. As for the foreign mercenaries in his SER
vice, from Austria and Belgium, they are bee )m-
ing so enervated by the climate, and so demoral.
lied by their surroundings and by the conditions
of their service, that they must soon be alto
gether worthless as soldiers or defenders of
MaXlmians crown. And concerning the
attachment OF the population of Mexico to
Macmillan and his Government-which, alter
all would be the surest and best support of his
crown-we hear of 1t in official documents now
and then; but if its extent may be Judged by
their practical dealings with him in these rela-
tions in which they have the best opportunities
of showing it, it is even less worth taking into
account than either of the other frail supports
we have mentioned
As tor the future of Mexico, we confess the
question to be an embarrassing one. All at
tempts to maintain civil order and political
conference by the native population have failed.
The attempts Of the most powerful of for.
eign nations to introduce fixed govern.
mental institutions ON an Old World basis have
been utter failures. And it is not presumption
10 predict like failure from the hybrid so-called
Govern ment which henceforth finds its centre
in Maximiian. We believe, however, there are
more elements of hope for Mexico in the ascend
ancy of the Liberal party, of which Juarez is
the able head, than can be discovered anywhere
else.