The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-06-26
Maximilian,s Heir.

There is no American man or woman who
would not hail with pleasure news OF the en-.
forced departure of MaXimilian from Mexico, to
which consummation events seem slowly but
surely tending. But their qualification would
be as nothing in comparison with the Joy whicn
such intelligence would convey to one Amer-
can lady; as she might tnen hope for a speedy
reunion with a loved and only child from
which she is now cruelty separated. We refer
to Madame Alice Iturbde (tormerly Miss
Greene, OF Rosedale, near Georgetown, IN this
District, now wife OF the lineal successor to the
throne of Mexico), whose son was adopted C)
by Maximihan few months since, the child
being then about two and a half years old.
As the facts in reeard to this matter have not
been generally understood in this country, and
have been the subject Of much ignorant and
more or less intentional misrepresentation, we
propose to briefly review some of the attending
circumstances In this extraordinary case.
The child was already great tavorite with
many of the oldest and best tamllies-the 10y
alists-of Mexico. MaXimilian was rot The
adoption of this chlld, therefore, as bis heir,
would, he conceived, be a powerful element in
strengthening his waning cause, and would
enable him to form a native party friendly to
his interests. Whether the idea originated
with Macmillan or Napoleon is not known,
but it was promptly acted on. Extraordinary
means were used to get the parents consent
to part with the child. The father stead
tasty persisted III his opposition to the scheme
throughout; but the mother, overcome by the
promise OF brilliant future Tor her son, urged
by her husbands brother (Augustin Iturblde),
and others Of the family, goaded by the intima-
tion thai the child would be taken, with or
without her consent, and never dreaming that
the adoption of the infant by the Emperor
would lead to her immediate separation from it,
reluctantly signed document giving her con-
| sent. She thought her child would have a
| mothers care; at least until it was old enough
| to be sent to Europe to be educated Imagine
| her CONSERVATION and grief on receiving, the
| dav after her son was taken TO the palace, an
intimation from official sources that the air of
Mexico was unwhoesome for the Itu1bide
family, ano that speedy trip TO Europe might
! be beneficial to them.
The ban,shed family at once prepared to COM
| ply with the Imperial mandate, and hurriedly
| packing up such necessary articles as could be
| conveniently transported started without delay
| tor the seacoast, the mother almost frantic. At
| Puebla her grief became unendurable, and de-
| termined to make an effort to recover her child
she at once returned to the CITY OF Mexico and
! appealed to the Emperor to allow her either to
take her son, or to live with him at the palace.
| The only answer she received was peremptory
order to leave the country. Almost heart
broken she came to the United States, and ap-
pealed to the authorities here, but in conse-
quence of her written consent to the EmDerors
adoption of the child, no action could be taken.
| Resolved TO leave no stone unturned TO accom-
| plish the one object she had in view, she pro-
| ceeded at once to Paris to appeal to the French
| Emperor. She is still in the capital of France,
and has had from Louis Napoleon partial
promises from time to time which have
! encouraged her to hope for reunion with
her child at no distant period. Hope deferred
makes the heart sick, it is said, and Mrs.
Iturbide having lost all confidence IN Napoleon
| and in Macmillan, is now about to return to
this country with her object unaccomplished
The child is well cared for by Macmillan,
and receives the treatment of prince. 1t has
a suite of rooms assigned to il, and numerous
attendants, and takes an airing every fine day
in the royal equipaee. Americans writing from
the city OF Mexico describe the little one as
bright, intelligent, handsome boy, about three
wears old, with an unmistakable North Ameri
can-in other words Yankee-stamp of features
and expression. No matter what were the mo
| in itself unobectionable, but the Punishment OF
the Iturbide family, and the separation OF
mother and infant, were tyranuical and cruel;
and Mrs. Jturbide, who is nearly allied TO many
old and prominent families here and IN Mary.
land, has the entire sympathy of this commu
nifty in her trouble Washington Star.