The New York herald., 1867-06-02
Our Position In Mexico-The Murder o
WnxiniIian.

| Our Position In Mexico-The Murder oI
Mnxim,Iiau.
The letter OF Sehor de Tejada, the Mexican
Minister for Foreign Affairs, must go far to
destroy the last hope that the liberal govern
ment had sufficient moderation in it's success
to spare Maximilian's life. II must confirm tho
fear that be was, in fact, shot when taken, as
we have had il vaguely reported from several
sources. Sehor de Tejada justifies the act In
advance; ne gives us the official argument for
it-conveys in some sort the atmosphere Of
passion that prevailed in government circles
and made the act possible. He answers Mr..
Seward's request on the part of Maxmilian by
stating the Mexican view of the ill-starred
rulers position. He pictures the Archduke as
one who 'has desired to continue shedding the
blood Of Mcxicans after the departure Of the
French has made hopeless the cause of the
empire; who has kept up the business Of desc.
iation and ruin without object, surrounded bv
men notorious for plundering and their grave
as'assnations' He then succinctly declares
IN case there DO captured persons on whom
rest such responsibilities, il does not appear to
ME ihat they can be considered as simple
prisoners Of war; He describes Macmillan,
and tells US that il such man be taken the
liberal government cannot treat him az a
prisoner Of war, but must in his case consider
"the duties which it has to perform for the
welfare Of the Mexiran people," He informs
as, with all the circums!ance Of diplom .tic
civility, that, our request to the contrary not
withstandipg Z, his government will, when 1t
catenes Macmillan, do what it chooses with
n'm- -intimating clearly that it will choose to
root him at the fest crossroads. His govern
mcnt has caught Maximilian; and whoever
indulges the hope that that hapless gentleman
has no. been dead for many days must suppose
that Senor de Tejada was no. well informed as
to the purposes Of his government, or that the
government had at tho last moment relin-
auished a bad intention in favor Of good
one-an event not known to have ever oc,
Cured in the history of any Mexican ruler.
This official answer shows the oxaoI weight
Of our influence with the liberal government.
That government will not forego even one
single opportunity Of gratifying the brutal and
bloodthirsty instincts Of q barbarous peopl,
though requested In grave and digniied man
ner by the only respectable friend it has on
earth. We are responsible before the world
fer this semi-organized atrocity called the gov.
eminent OF Mexico. We are disgraced by thai
responsibility. Our protests drove out o.
Mexico the enemies of her freedom. She Is in
debted to us to-day for her existence as an in
dependent nation--and she throws In our fac,
the insult that sh, will not keep our good. will
though at 90 chap rate as The life of one poo
fugitive II was because tho shadow Of the
Stars and Stripes fell across Mexico that III,
troops Of France went out; and now in tha
shadow are consummated butsheries that recall
the human sacrifices Of former Mexican wor
ship. Our national standard protects, cover
and gives immunity TO these horrors. France
With the power OF q million bayonets benin
her. respected our ulterancc, and admitted
went out Of Mexico, accepting great humilis
ton, in Difference to the expressed will OF N
American people. But we make request
] Mexico. aud see how quietly she scorus /.
We ask her what! Not TO relinquish a va
expedition that has cost many lives and mi
lions Of money--not to abandon great politics
purposes and projec;s--but simply, trivially,
iorego a brutal revenge; and she insults 7
with refusal. Can we stand any longer in Il
position we now hold before the world Of qua
dian and next friend to such disgrace TO 20
ernmcntg