The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-05-26
Santa Anna.---He Defines the Object of His Visit
---He Repudiates Macmillan and the French.

i
yesterday publishes the following account of
an interview between one of its representa-
tives and the General. In reply to a question
as to his real object in visiting the United
States, he said
You wish to know the object of my unex-
pected visit, and l also wish to have it we'll
and clearly understood by the great mass of
Americans who sympathiZe with the strug-
Cling republic of Mexico. In leaving my
tranquil home at St. Thomas to help restore
the republic of Mexico, which created over
forty years ago, have no sorClid motive no
ambitious aim to satisfy l hope however
to have the qualification of seeing the backs
of the Frech in hasty flight, as 1 once saw at
Vera Cruz, when 1 drove the invaders from
the city. For months past, in my quiet re-
tirement of St. Thomas, 1 have been receiv-
ing letters from all parts of Mexico, not only
friends and quOn6lam adherents, but even
from Mexicans who have been antagonistic
to me, complaining of the futility of the eff
forts made by Mexican republicans to throw
off their foreign yoke and drive Macmillan
and his French usurpers from my native soil,
and urging NE to once more present myself
as the champion of the Mexican people and
the republic. There are many reasons why
did not at once respond to those appeals. In
the first place there was the expectation that
the Liberal government, jud ging from the OBJ
stinate resistance offered by them to foreign
intervention at the first, and their frequent
successes, would prove strong enough to
maintain the integrity of the Republic. Then
there was the probability that the govern
ment of the United States, by Il re-assertion
of the Monroe doctrine, would diminish the
question to one of pecuniary indemnity. But
the Liberals-and all Mexicans ARE Liberals
except those who are in the service of Maxi
milan and the pay of Louis Napoleon-being
weakened and demoralized by previous in
the rest of the world, and, owing to the Sc
cession war, deprived of all aid from the
United States, after battling long and val
iantly against superior forces in number and
superior in arms, discipline, and supplies,
have at length become exhausted and dis
heartened, until they are now scattered over
the country in small detachments, some of
them being in favor of this Liberal general,
and some of another, while the usurper's
forces are concentrated and united. Without
unity there is no strength. President Juarez,
a man whom l highly esteem and respect, as
one deserving of all praise for his efforts to
restore the Republic, is unable to preserve the
Liberal party as unit but there is Ortega,
who disputes his RI ght to the Presidency, un
der the existing constitution, and Escobedo,
Cortina, and others are warning among them
selves while a powerful enemy is at the
throat Of republican Mexico.
Here we inquired" Well, General, how do
you propose to harmonic them"
SANTA ANNA.-It is my profound convic-
ton that can conciiiate an. concentrate all
the dissentient elements of the Liberals and
Conservatives, and unite them in powerful
front against the French invaders. [ am
ready to cooperate with JuarcZ, and take
the field at the head of Il united army against
the Imperialsts. Bah - the old General
exclaimed, enthusiastically. slapping his cork
leg, Il lost this leg in driving the French
from Vera Cruz, and am willing to lose the
other in driving them out of the City of
Mexico. can sit in the saddle yet twenty
four hours on stretch, l warrant you" he
continued, with flashing eyes, lin the next
campaign against the French
but, General" we queried, " supposing
you could thus unite all the loyal Mexicans
under your banner do you think you could
carry on campaign with more success than
the Liberals have had during the past two or
three years? You must have money to COM
pete with your well paid, well-armed, and
wel-fed foes"
SANTA ANNA-If the war for Mexican lib
erty is to be conducted as it has been of late
you might spend hundreds Of millions with
out achieving any important result.
Still" we interrupted, you must have
money in order to carry on war. and that
money must be derived outside of Mexico,
must it not 2
SANTA ANNALS matters HOW SldQu
Mexico is evidently in great need of money
for war purposes, and that money, to GER
tain extent. may have to he raised outside of
Mexico but l am convinced that there are |
many loyal MeXicans who are able to and |
have not subscribed funds to the cause, see
ing of late that the money would produce no
good. With vast consolidated republican
party and Il strong army these men would |
feel confidence and render all the pecuniary
aid in their power to the cause. Then, |
again, there are vast natural resources lying
dormant in the country because the natives
are unable and foreigners unwilling to devel |
op them in the present unsettled state of at
fairs, when town or a State is occupied
often one day by the Imperialsts and the
next by the Liberals, and Cice rersa. All
these would be speedily developed by the
introduction of American capital and labor,
and the consequent stimulus that would be
given to native enterprise the grand ma
tional army marched forward, sweeping
away the foreign invaders before it.
"sAre you aware, General" we asked, that
by many you are supposed to have endorsed
Maximilians monarchy, and that you are al
so charged with aiming at the Presidency of
Mexico and the control of the $50,00O,OOO
loan lately introduced into Congress %
SANTA ANNALS to the letters, attributed
to me setting forth that 1 accepted Maximil-
ian as Emperor of Mexico, they are false
ttlPV are mutllaIcO anu ulScOnLeCleu pOTtlOHS
of private correspondence which my enc
mics have construed to do me harm; but in a
few days L shall supply the missing parts,
and restore the incorrect sentences in state
ment which l am now preparing for the
press. The insinuation that 1 have an eye
to the loan you mention is absurd for in the
first place my private fortune places ME be-
You'd the thirst of wealth; and, secondly,
there does not appear to be much probability
of the loan being endorsed by Congress.
Our next remark was: " General, you do
not seem to be in favor with the Mexican le-
CATION at Washington they characterize you
as French spy"
SANTA ANNA, [excitedly.] A French spy,
indeed! I'll tell you, senior, am so much of
French spy that l am willing in my old
on the sword again in response to the call of
my oppressed countrymen, and fight at their
head until I see the last Frenchman and the
last Austrian driven into their boats. Gre
ated the republic of Mexico forty years ago,
and wish to see it restored before die. Let