The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-01-23
Correspondence Of the Ne,o York Ne,os.
Letter from John Mitchell.
PARIS, December %, 1865.

No subject is discussed here with
such Ivacity as President Johnson's
message; and especially. of course,
that part of it which expresses his
views and policy in the matter of Re
publican institutions in America, and
European Intervention upon that con-
tinent Does that, or does it not,
refer to Mexico, and Maximilian's
empire Does it indicate, or does
it not, all intention at some future
time to treat the new empire as such
an Intervention by an European power
establishing a monarchy on the
ruins of a republic-as will call upon
the United States to put an end to it
in the interest Of Republicanism
Most French people accept the docu-
ment as a proclamation, not only of
peaceable intentions, but of absolute
indifference to the future of Mexico.
They take Mr.. Johnson's declaration
as simple statement that the Co.
vernment of the United States will
always defend its own form of govern
ment, within its own borders, against
any attack upon it by European
powers which, they say, is perfectly
nounce, inasmuch as no European
power, that they know of, meditates
any assault upon Republicanism in
the United States.
Others, however, supposing, not
unnaturally, that the President would
scarcely give himself the trouble to
declare SO solemnly that the United
States is prepared to defend itself
from aggression Ia thing which is o
matter of course), violently suspect
that he means, in an equivocal sort of
way, to claim q 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 a third theory on
the subject. It is this That Mr..
johnson has expressed himself in that
somewhat enigmatical manner chiefly
to satisfy public opinion in his own
country, in order, on the one hand,
TO please the party which desires
peace and rest and material recupera-
ton after the war, and, on the other,
to keep hold of the Monroe doctrine
by dubious expressions which may
hereafter be interpreted as the ipte-
rests of the country and party exi-
gencies may require. This view of
the case implies that the President,
feeling himself obliged to have GER
tain paragraphs in his message touch
ing upon the knotty question, has
successfully practiced the art of utter
ing good many words, and putting
them grammatically into sentences,
and saying nothing.
The last of the three interpreta-
tions may turn out to be not quite
destitute of foundation. There is,
however, most unquestionably, some
uneasiness 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 q
month. But then these Republicans
have the habit of attacking every
thing the Government does, and of
wishing for the things most opposite
to thatwhich the Government wishes
Probably the Government Of the en-
pire will soon resolve upon taking one
of two courses in the matter of Mexico;
the one to withdraw all French sol
diers and Maximilian with them-the
otlesid dAreinforce the army in Mexico
la1pok pnd prepare to make good
tbs b. Re against all opposition. If
ny out Of this affair, it viii not
d to Mexico