The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-11-08

the Union arms in our late struggle, he would
either have abandoned his project altogether or
else have chosen native Mexican, instead of
Macmillan, as his imperial tool, thus avoiding
any conflict with our Monroe doctrine. and
basing his action upon the right of the peOple to
alter their own form OF government. However,
II II too late now to speculate upon what might
have been. Napoleon's idea was brilliant one,
but II has proved impracticable and with his
usually good sense the French Emperor quietly
wl1thdraws his troops and his puppet, and grace
iully yields to the United States the manage
ment OF affairs upon this continent
But although we may admire the breadth and
the cleverness OF Napoleon's scheme, we can
MOI, not deny inat Maximians attempt to put
INTO practical execution was a mere farce,
relieved only by the graces, the virtues, ana the
misfortunes of Carlotta, and ending, like all
iarces, with the ignominious and laughaDle exit
OF the low comedian. When Maxmilian came
to Mexico he was siDgularly in earnest. One
would have thought that he expected 10 round
an empire that would outlast the day OF Judg-
ment. He resigned all his heIedltary rights TO
the crown of Austria, and cut himself OIL, so far
as was possible from everything connected with
the Old World. He tried to persuade himself
and his people that he was Mexican. He
sported q soanbTey0 and p0nohoT, and discarded
the European style OF costume.
In his speeches and proclamations he spoke
of "Our" history and 'ourn heroes-meaning
those OF the Mexican people-as if he had been
to the manor born. Quietly ignoring Juarez
Santa Anna and the Mexican republic. he pro.
iessed to regard himself as the direct successor
of Yturbide, and in order to link himself stilI
more closely to Mexican traditions, he arranged
that llneal descendant of Yturbide should be
his heir in case he should die without ISSUE
This was all very pretty very dramatic, and
very romantic; but unfortunately the world
refused 10 believe 1t real. 1t was just like a
scene at the theatre, which seems quite like
reality, but which everybody knows is mere
mummery. Macmillan dressed his part we'll
ana played 1t with great show of earnestness;
put ne never could persuade either the Mexicans
rn of Qplri ind hal ha
more than an actor, and his empire ANYTHING
more than theatrical sham.
And now the farce is over. At a hint from
the United States Napoleon has rung down the
curtain. When 1t rises once more we shall have
very different sort of performance, with Sher-
and BaZaine, Campbell and Castelnau.
Iuarez and Ortega as the leading actors. Mean
whlle 1t IS impossible not to pity poor little
who packs his portmanteau in a
hurry and steals away to Vera Cruz by cross.
roads and roundabout route, his heart
Utmost broken at his own disgrace the loss of
MS empire, and the illness of his wife. He did
ms best in the imperial role, but the audience
PISSED him instead OF applauding, and the
management stopped the supplies Until the
1ery last moment he kept up the pretense
Of prosperous royalty. His last circular
MS subjects happy and c0nteuted. How grimly
napoleon must have smiled as he read those
words and compared them with Carotta's tear.
ul story But at length even Maximilian saw
'u1C 'hC lalCe was playeu out, ana nad ceased
o be either interesting or amusing. He learned
roc' reliable source that Castelnau was on
lis way to the capital with orders that the
government should be handed over to Marshal
5azaine. Rallying the poor remains of his for
ner dignity, Macmillan refused 70 await Cas-
elnau's arrival, refused to meet him on the
road, and declared that whatever was to be
lone he would do without orders from any,
)cdy., Thereupon he appointed Bazaine as
'eGent, announced that he was going to Ori-
aba, so as 10 be nearer to Vera Cruz and the
european news, and then he and his personal
etinue stole silently away, leaving the crown,
ne sceptre, the sOmbrerO, the royal robes, the
'onchon, and all the paraphernaia of the en-
)lre behind, like troupe of Thespians sneaking
'ut OF country town where their efforts had
'een unappreciated and their wardrobe seized
by the landlord. In history, In poetry in
'omance, and in the drama, the attempt to
establish a foreign empire in Mexico may be.
come favorite and picturesque theme; but
MaXimlians inglorious exit has great injured
the effectiveness of the subject. Had he abdi-
Gated months ago, like statesman, or had he
insisted upon being assassinated, like hero,
Il would have been much better for future
authors and his own reputation.