The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-11-28
TIL. Aba.oatlOn of Macmillan.

The AbdioatIOn of Macmillan.
From the Times.
Whether the advancing shadow OF Sherman's
rim figure may have affected the imperial
erves of Maximilian, we cannot tell. Whether
hind that shadow his imperial eye fancied it
L held the apparltion of hundred thousand
American soldiers, we do not know. But at all
ents, if IL be true that he has abdioated the
exican throne, it would seem that the act was
y,ry nearly contemporaneous with his know
ledge of the departure of General Sherman from
this country for Mexico.
There were reasons enough why Macmillan
should abdicate independently of any action on
the part of our Government. When the French
bayonets which first raised, and for three
years have upheld his thronel were with.
drawn, it was perfectly sure the throne would
tail. 1t was neither intrenched in the history
't the people nor in their affections. He saw
Jnat neither native arms nor the native courage
b., OUld support 1t. He was under no obligations
70 the Mexican people nor the French GOV
crnment
In act, there is every reason to believe that
the power which forced him upon Mexico was
as anxious to undo the deed as were the people
upon whom he had been forced. Napoleon had
been no less disappointed In the business Inan
Maximihan. French hopes had been blasted as
well a. dynastc prospects II one emperor PER- ptbor 9aq
Emperor had failed TO place Its external or inter-
national relations upon pacific basis. Ii one
Emperor had been disappointed In his revenues,
the other had been no less grievously disap-
pointed In the same vital concern. In fact, the
Imperial Government, as whole, and In all It's
parts, had been such a pltiable conspicuous,
and ruinous failure; that the attempt to main
tain it would have been at once blundeT, a
CRIME, and farce.
Macmillan is not fool. 1t was assuredly
foolish act In him to mount Mexican throne;
and it was continued folly in him to remain
there after he had learned the basis on which it
necessarily rested. But, in taking the step
originally, We have no doubt that, along with
the ambition which actuated him, there was
genuine desire to deliver from anarchy people
which had so long been its prey, and to confer
the blessings OF fixed Government and a legIti-
mate dynasty upon country which had so ter
ribly suffered through pretenders and usurpers.
In estimating Macmillan, we must remember
the political ideas which came to him by his
position and training in Austria. We must re-
member the blood in his veins, and the facts of
his life. He was no. vulgar adventuTer, like
many of those who have been more successful
IA history. He was no falsider or hypocrite TO
in the purple to which they were not born. He
Was no needy organ-grinder seeking a chance to
enrich himself, and no schemer pursuing his
own ends at the expense Of others ruin.
In leaving Austria, even to be an Emperor he
surrendered much to his convictions and in
resigning, as he did before going to Mexico, all
right and claim to the Austrian succession and
the imperial crown of the Hapsburgs, he showed
his resdiness to make sacrifices such as are in
the power of few men in the world to make.
Those who assail him personally as being guilty
of criminal part in the Mexican affair lose
sight of the facts; but that the part was one of
UNCONSCIOUS folly, weiimagine that he himself
would now be very ready to acknowledge. II
probably took him some considerable time to
reach this conclusion, though one might think
1T must have begun to grow on him very soon
after he reached Mexico. But doubtless, pride,
character, then began to affect his determine
tions and plans, and he fixed his mind to adhere
his position till Fate itself should force him
from 1t.
He has found out now that all the fates are
against him. The Emperor WHO sent him has
turned back upon him. The Pope who blessed
his mission frowns at his course. The people,
whose affections he hoped to inspire, still con-
tinue to turn their arms against him. The
great republic looms up before his fancy as an
enemy with menacing sword. Not friend, OF
all his former friends now stands by him. His
domestic Affections and the humiliation Of his
house In Austria fill the cup of his woes What
could he do but abdicate with such honor as
was possible, and leave country and CONT
nent where he had lost all and had nothing to
hope for? The act comes late, but it is the
wisest act he has done since he set foot on Mexi-
can soil. .-....
What effect such an act as the abdication OF
Maximilian is calculated to have on the further
movements of the French in Mexico or on our
relations with th at country and the Imperial or
Napoeonic agents who are still there, remains
to be seen. There is no reason whatever why II
should interfere with the French evacuation.
That was not made contingent on the move.
ments OF Macmillan, but was pledged to us on
grounds entirely independent of such accidents.
We see no reason whatever to doubt that it will
be faithfully carried out in any event. We see
every reason to believe that the letter of Napo
Icons promise will be kept. And as for our own
immediate dealings with Mexico, such an event
as Maximilian's departure is of little conse
quence Were he in the way of any purpose o.
ours, he would be brushed off without a moments
thought. But he could not, and lcould not, stanC
Mexican question IhprafOrp
stands very much as 1t did. We shall learn in
few weeks what Sherman has had to do with it
and what he has done with it. ..# ...
tH.