New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-02-07
Correspondence Of the New YORK news
Letter from John Mitchell


continent Does that, or does 1t not, REFER TO
Mexico and Maxmilian's empire! Does 1t midi
cate or does it not, an intention az some future |
time to treat the new Empire as such an
intervention by an European power-establlshing |
a monarchy on the remains OF REPUBLICANS will |
call upon the United States to Put an end to it in
the interest of republicanism2 Most French peo- |
ME ACCEPT the document as o proclamation not
onIv of peaceable intentions but of absolute in
difference to the future of Mexico. They take Mr..
Johnsons declaration as simple statement that the
government of the United States will always de-
fend its own form of government, within Its own
borders, against any attack upon it by European
power which, they say, is perfectly fair, though
needless to announce, inasmuch no European
power, that they know Of meditates any assault
upon repubiicansm in the United States.
Others, however, supposlng, not unnaturally,
that the President would scarcely give himself
the trouble to declare so solemnly that the United
States prepared to defend itself from aggression
IA thing which is matter of course,) violently
suspect that he means, in equivocal sort of
way, to claim protectorate over all American
republics, and to intimate though not directly nor
very clearly, that the Austro French establishment
in Mexico must some day be taken up by the
roots.
Others still have third theory on the subject.
1t is this That Mr.. Johnson has expressed him
self in that somewhat enigmatical manner chiefly
to satisfy public opinion in his own country, In
order one the one hand, to please the party
which desires peace and rest and material re-
cuperation after the war, and, On the other, 10
keep hold of the Monroe doctrine by dubious ex-
pressions which may hereafter be interpreted as
the interests of the country and party eXigencles
may require. This view Of the case implies that
the President, feeling himself obliged to have GER
tain paragraphs in his message touching upon the
knotty question: has successfully prachced the art
of utterng a good many words, and putting them
dramatically into sentences, and saying nothing.
The last of the three interpretations may turn
cut to be not quite destitute of foundation There
is, however, most unquestionably, some uneasi-
ness among the official people here; the Liberals
or Republicans of this country openly declare
their wish that Mexico and Macmillan were left to
themselves, and the French forces Withdrawn; IN
which case the empire would not stand month.
But then these Republicans have the habit of at
lacking everything the government does, and OF
wishing for the things most opposite to that which
the government wishes. Probably the govern
ment of the empire will soon resolve upon taking
one of two courses in the matter of Mexico; the
one to withdraw all French soldiers and Macmillan
with them-the other to reinforce the army in
Mexico largely, and prepare to make good the
empire against all opposition. If war ARISE out OF
this affair, it will not be confined to Mexico.
There has been some little disturbance among
the students of Paris on account OF the academl-
cal authorities having deprived seven young men
of their right to take degrees. These youngsters
had attended some sort of convention" at
Liege, in Belgium, and had poured forth some
barney about the black flag, and the, red tag
and their determination to live no longer as
slaves, etc. The rigmarole was printed in Bel
gian newspapers, and having attracted some at
tention the University authorities telt called upon
to notice it by expulsion from the classes. Com
notion of course, in the Latin quarters. One
of the Faculty Professor Tardieu, had refused
to concur in the severe measure. Thousands OF
students sign address to M. Iardleu, felctatlng
him on his noble stand. Some newspapers pub
lish this address; they receive first warning
(dreytisSenlent) on the spot. Several lecture
rooms are the scene of disturbance-not rlotlng,
but only loud and excited outcries and interpola-
tons whereupon the police march into said lee
| 11n Than
door. So are matters going in the Latin quar-
tiers at this moment. Posts of police are doubled,
there is active surveillance over the student world
and indignant youths have to talk over their red
flag in private apartments. No serious trouble is
expected to arise out of this. Such things often
occur
There is, however, a powerful and think, a
growing Republican party in this country, al
though the Emperor is rising in personal popu-
larity. Every circumstance that takes place Is
sure to be laid hold of to make sort OF party de-
monstration. For example--Alexander Bixio
died the other day; he was t an old republican
he was wounded in Paris in 1913; he was much
connected with the anti-Papal party in Italy, and
was Familiarity known to leading literary people
in this country. Further-M BiXio was a steady
atheist, and he and his friends made his death
bed scene a species of anti-regious manifesto.
He died without priest without prayer or unc-
ton, and neither he nor any OF his enlightened
friends around his bed made, the slightest alu
sion to religion or future life. This was CON
sidered capital, especially as the Liberal news
papers paraded that scene in its minutest details
Here was the death of a ylrtuous man and true
philosopher! Here was a SOcratc death-bed-ta
mistake, this last ausion, for Socrates sacrificed
cock to Esculapus) and, as for the great merit
of dying without religious consolation the Liberals
forgot to advert to the fact that dogs die So
However, a great funeral for poor NJ. Bixio was
| determined on; it was to be regarded, in some
Sort as parade of the Republicans; it was to
mean Italian unity, and no Pope, and protest
generally against the Emperors policy, if not
| against the Emperor's existence. Of course, the
| Emperor's amiabe cousin, Prince Napoleon,
| would not fail to attend; in fact, he made a long
Journey to Paris, and it was announced that he
| had followed the body of NJ BiXio from the house
the whole way to the cemetery on foot Not that
| he loved NJ. BXO more, but that he loved his
cousin less; and, if the thing was to spite the En-
peror little he was very certain to stand bare
headed in damp cemetery as long as required for
| the purpose.
Americans, think, find it hard to understand
the intense interest excited in Europe by the death
of King Leopold, of Belgium. 1t is because Leo
pold was the most successful practitioner of the
| trade of King in modern times. Beginning with a
small capital of high German blood, he has allied
himself as son-in-law and father-n-law with all the
greatest royal houses; he has been King himself
for five and thirty years. amassing vast fortune
all the while, and has died millionaire That
| family seems to have wonderful aptitude for the
royal business. How exemplary King was Leo
| pod How illustrious Prince consort was Albert
Leopold always professed himself perfect Bel
| gian, and as to Prince Albert, he not thu
model of an EngIishman? Coburg is always
| ready to reign anyWhere--lf the situation be
| eligible has no objection to town country, and
is willing to make himself generally useful. Greece
now, is too small a concern, is too far away from
| Paris and London, and does not afford the bes
| chances of tirst-rate royal marriages. Leopold
therefore, had to decline to reign over Greece blu
| when Belgium offered he thought it might suit.
| J. M