, 1866-05-15

overturning of Maximilian's throne by the
Mexican people the moment his French
ally turns his back. And finally we have
Mr.. Seward sending his compliments to
the Austrian court, with the bIandest OF
possible assurances that it will be a very
serious matter indeed if Austrian recruits
arc sent over to assist the archduke IN
demonstrating that he is the idol and
saviour of his people.
We must confess that for our national
pride these simultaneous reports are
among the most pleasing fruits which
peace has brought thus far. 1t is peace
and Union which have made 1t possible
for Mr.. Seward to speak SO plainly TO
France and Austria, and which has in-
clined one of those powers at least to
listen to his words. We have no fond
ness for international bullying, but it is
gratifying for once to feel that the judg-
ment and not the weakness of our
government must be its rule for measur-
ing it's words to Others, and that when it
speaks others are likely 10 find it con-
|venient TO hear. The Monroe Doctrine
has been a fruitful theme for buster and
vaporing, but there is a rational enjoy
meut to be had in seeing it at last laid
down quietly but with the firmness of
conscious strength, and as a rule for ac-
ton and not a theme for diplomatic or
literary diversion.
Mr.. Seward is especially to be congra-
tuIated for the skill and success with
which he has brought the long and ardu-
Gus discussiowwith France 10 an honora-
BILE conclusion. For no small part of the
4;,,o a., a;,T1 .-Or =, .onr avn oo,pNr
made it hardly possible for him TO do
more than keep alive the claim of our
goGg@ment to a right of authoritative
p~roteSLagainst foreign Intervention, and
even this had to he done with circum-
spec'ion, and not too obtrusiyely, lest
something nearer to us than the indie
pendence of Mexico might be e%ndanger-
ed. The temptation was great, more
overland those were not wanting who
limited that the Secretary had yielded to
ito purchase non-interyention in our
w aft IRIS by the Abandonment Of Mex
leo TO a foreign power, In these multi
piled embarraSsments, Mr.. Seward has
carefully maintained the position which
has now enabled us, at the earliest mo-
ment of recovered strength, TO bring for
ward decisively the traditional views of
this country with respect to all Europe
an propagandiSm among its neighbors.
Mr.. Seward has very wisely abstained
from any attempt to impress upon the
record anything which should give TO the
French withdrawal any appearance of an
involuntary character. The pride of
such ruler as the French Emperor must
be saved by those who would. influence
his action, and the Secretary according
ly, with better judgment than has been
shown by some of his self-constituted
advisers, has forbornc all discourteous
attempts to hasten the departure of
the French troops, while it has in a hun
dred ways been kept before the French
government that their departure was re-
garded as an assured event. What as
sured it, is a question on which the re-
cord therefore may not be very explicit,
but the future student of history will
have no trouble in compromising the
transactions, we believe, when he reads
also the account of what took place in
the domestic affairs of the United States
in 1865. Certain that the time for an
nouncing o definite withdrawal had come,