The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1866-04-03
SKETCH OF EMPEROR MAXI
MILAN.


the head of the Mexican branch of the Haps-
burgs, was barn at the Austrian Imperial resi-
dence at Schonbrunn, on July 6, 1882, and is
consequently in the thirty fourth year of his
age His father the Archduke Francois
Charles Joseph, Archduke of Austria, and his
mother Sophie Dorethee, daughter of Maximl-
ian l, King of Bavaria. He had the misfor-
tune to be second son. and has in consequence
become sort of royal adven.urer. His father
was never Emperor of Austria, as has been
stated, but being like Max, second son, was
only Archduke. 1t Maximilian's uncle,
Fedinand, who was the predecessor of Francis
Joseph. When his uncle abdicated, in 1913,
the father of Maxiuilian and Francis Joseph
renounced his place in the line of succession in
favor ot the present emperor. The abdicating
Emperor, iu giving up his throne unequally di
vlded his dover, and gave advantage to the
Archduke Maxnlian, to the detriment of his
elder brother. Such is the origin of the con-
slant, and at times very warm differences which
have arisen between the two.
Maximilian was brought up at the cayest
capital in Germany, but does not appear to have
much taste for frivolites. Tie spent greater
part of his youth in travelling He has been
sailor and has seen a good deal of the world of
waters, at least for Austrian Archduke In
his early years he sailed about the Mediterane-
an, aud visited all the adjacent couutries-
Greece, Italy, Morocco, French Algeria, Spain
and Portugal-wlth great zeal aud activity? At
the close Of twenty-five he was placed at the
head of what is termed by courtesy the Austrian
Marine and with squadron visited the coast
OF Syria aud Palestine He went also to the
Red Sea, and took great interest in the works
of the Suez Canal, which was then just begin
ming. ln all this he showed himself young
man of proper manners and active habits, de-
sirous of emancipating himself from the tetters
of worn out and obsolete habits and the narrow
minded principle aud punctIlos Of his race and
family. It is related of him that when at
Trieste, in 1852, he heard by telegraph of the
elevation Of Napoleon to the Imperial throne,
and immediately assembled all the foreign Con-
sus there at "a sort of banquet, placing the
French Consuls at his right hand, and propos-
ing the health to Napoleon III, before be had
been recognized by asingle European sovereign
Perhaps the above incident has not been with
out effect upon his present fostunes.
Besides being Archduke of Austria, Maxi
milan held several other titles and diSnities.
He was as has been stated, Vice Admiral Of the
Austrian Navy, or commander Of the Imperial
marine; commander Of the Slh regiment Of Aus
trian Lanccrs, add chief Of the Sd prussian regi
ment Of Dragons
In 1855 he went to Paris, and'spent fort
night with the Emperor at ST Cloud very prob
ably confdng to him his troubles with his bro
ther Francis Joseph The consequence Of this
interview was that Louis Napvlean took the
young under his protecting wing, and in
the following year he Was appointed Viceroy
of the Austrian possession in Italy, known as
the Lonbardy Venetian kingdom. This gov
ernorship--it nothing more-lasted until
1859. Maximian made himself highly popu-
lar with the Italians, and in consequence still
more unpopular with bis brother Flaucis Joscph,
whose action eventually resulted in Max in.
ian's removal. 1t is related Of the latter, that
while Nlceroy of Lombardy aud Venice, he
used to walk about the streets Of Milan aud
Venice quite alone during the Jetcs and among
the crowd, and would never allow the police to
be on the watch One day at Venice, when the
Italian mobiles had plotted to make hQs,iIe de-
monstration against him on the Plaza ST. Mar
CO, he discontinued them and quite converted
them to his side by tucklng his wife under his
arm and coming among them unattended and Oh
foot, with courage and f'ankncss that disarm-
ed every one. Another time, just after Orsins
attempt at Paris, his life sand to be also
threatened, and his friends begged him not to
expose himself; but he Immediately ordered bis
carriage to go to the theatre, to whom he said,
laughing, eff am to be blown up, it shall at
least be in good company"
Maximli;n remained idle after his removal
from the govcrnorship Of the Lombardo Veni-
tian Kingdom until 1868, when Napoleon deci-
ded on making cats paw of hin, in Mexico
The crown Of Mexico offered to him Oy Ma
poleon in August, 1862, aud the dip piomas were
put to work 10 arrange for his acceptance and
occupancy of the throne. Nearly year
occupied in this work and it was not until the
10th Of April, 1861, that lie formally accepted
the preferred crown. BY the terms Of accept
ance he made conditional Remuneration of the
right Of eventtul succession to the throne OF
AUSTRIA aud an unconditional renunca1Un OF
his share oi the family estates amounting to
about 30 100000 OF forins The condition re-
served in the renuuciation of the ri Sht to the
succession was that such renuucla'lon might be
revoked should MaxmiliaD, finding his toothold
in Mexico insecure choose to resi- IN within SIX
wears from the date Of bis acceptance OF the
crown Of Mexico.
Soon after his acceptance Of the crown Max
niiian left Austria for Mexico His entry into
the city of Mexico took place on June II, 1864,
when he Immediately assumed the dlsF
pcople. His first official act was the offer Of
terms to President Bento Jaurez looking to his
submission; but these were rejected. Since
that his efforts have been devoted to putting
down the Republican or Liberal Government;
but bis. success has not been very brilliant. One
of his principal schemes for strengt gthening him
self in Mexico has been by efforts of attracting
emigration of Southern men thither; but bis
projects is already looked upon as failure.
Every day makes his position at home still more
insecure, while the late demonstrations IN this
country and in Congress will be understood by