The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1866-01-17
FRANCE AND MEXICO.

lens, an interesting question presents Itself
" Will the Emperor of the French withdraw
from Mexico ?" Will the nephew of his I'M
cle,' the man who has been supposed to in
herit the iron will of the inhexible Napoleon
l., take up the foot which he has deliberately
6 put down" in this hemisphere, and acknowl-
edge himself overcome and outwitted."
There are those who think that he will
Indeed the rumor is prevalent, and obtains
credit in various quarters, that on the assem-
bling of the French Chambers, the Emperor
will announce his purpose to recall the army
from Mexico, and leave that beautiful coun-
try to the enjoyment of happiness and the
parental Monroe doctrine Should this prove
to be true we might we'll exclaim
How are the mighty fallen
The strongest Imperial argument that we
know is the bayonet 1t is that which found
ed the French Empirs, and made it apparent
y strong 1t is that which brought convic-
ton into Mexico, after the outbreak of the
American civil war, and babe fair to be en-
tirely convincing, until the Confederate sur
render. Should Napoleon now withdraw
from the New World, be would stand convict
ed by his own argument the Republican
bayonet would establish the @. ED
When the French Emperor made his first
development towards Mexican ascendancy,
and exhibited a purpose to establish an aux
Al. Il &c Al
rican gulf, he did not scruple to tell Mr..
Seward that the conditions of soil and climate
in the then Confederated States were such
that he (Mr. ST. could not hope to reduce
them to subsection 1t looked like a rebuff to
the snubbing that Mr. Seward had unneces-
sarily undertaken to give him short time
previously, in which Seward declared that
French empires were shortlived in comparison
with the greatest of republics And every
body appeared to think that the Emperor in
tended to make his word good, and that Mr..
Stewards Republican eagle would be dished,
But alas for royal pride, the aspect of
things is changed, and it looks as if the gallo
the gourmettes in the science of modern poll
| tics
1t must be indeed a bitter pill for the great
European autocrat to swallow the fruits of his
famous Italian campaign turning to ashes on
| his lips, the blood Of his veterans failing to
produce the expected harvest even the glory
| ~, h.,
And the bitterness of the Imperial expert
ences must be increased by the consciousness
| that all this humiliation might have been pre-
vented by timely action on his part When
the blockade Of Southern ports was proclaimed
by the United States in 1861, then was the
| time for the Emperor to have made his great
coup, either with or without the cooperation
Of England. Had he prevented the North
from making its blockade effectual, the South
could not have been subjugated, and he would
have succeeded in all his designs upon Anne
rican soil
England would have lent him a helping
hand at that day--she could have been tolled
in--and he would have had her as fast ally
in his plans. Now, she is looking on with I'M
concern at the prospect of his withdrawal
perhaps Laughing in her sleeve" at his NOR
tifying want of success, while the Yankee
Eagle is. Tapping her wings wickedlyin his
| face, rras she orders him out of the pit
Should Napoleon be menaced out of Mexico,
it would prove his first great political failure
after taking prominent character in the great
drama of affairs Is it likely to prove the turn
ing-point in the career of this mighty favorite
of fortunei The downfall of the mighty Bona
parte may be traced to his Russian invasion,
and his hapless retreat from that unwelcome
country. Will the future chronic.sr have to
to record an ignominious retirement from a
conquered Empire in the West as the first step
in the downward career of the Napoleon of
1866? 1--WE shall see what we shall see
l