Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1867-07-10
miscellaneous.
Tur HTsTORy on MAMMALIAN


Ferdinand Maximilian Joseph, Arehduke of
Austria and sometime Emperor OF Mexico, was
born at Seh1nbrun on the Och OF July, 1882. His
father was Francis Charles Joseph, Archduke Of
Austria, and his mother Sophie Dorothea, daugh-
ter Of Maximlian l.. King Of Bavaria Maxiuiil-
ian received his education at Vienna then, as now,
one of the gayest and most dssolute capitals Of
Europe, He did not, however, indulge in the
frivolties common to the nobility of Austria,
but appears to have spent great part OF his youth
in study and travel At an early age he entered
the navy OF the empire and saw considerable sery-
ice at sea, sailing about the Mediterranean, AMI
visited all the adjacent oountres-Greece, Italy,
Morocco, French Algeria, Spain and Portugal. -
At the age of twenty-five he was placed at the head
of what is termed by courtesy the Austrian marine,
aud with a squadron visited the coasts OF Syria and
Palestine lie went also to the Red sea, and took
great interest in the works of the Snez canal which
weN then just beginning In 1856 he paid vs-
it % Paris and spent fortnight at St. Cloud with
Louis Napoleon. The year following he was ap-
pointed viceroy of Lombardy and Venice, and in
the exercise of the powers attached to the position
soon made himself quite layOrlte among the ltal-
ans. This popularity was, however, displeasing
to Francis Joseph, and in 1898 lac was removed.
lie is said to have exhibited great courage and
decided administrative abilities while yiceroy 1t
is related that he used to walk about the streets of
Milan and Venice quite alone during the fetes and
and among the crowd, and would never allow the
police to be on the watch One day at Venice
when the Italian mobiles had plotted TO make
hostile demonstration against him on the Plaza St.
Marco, he discounted and quite converted them
to his side by tucking his wife under his arm aud
coming among them unattended, and on foot, with
a courage aud frankness that disarmed every one.
Another time, ust after Orsinis attempt at Paris,
his life was said to be also threatened, and bis
friends begged him not to expose himself; but he
Immediately ordered his carriage to 90 up to the
A. t.l-t Ill
he said, laughing, - If | am to be blown up it
shall at least be in good company"
Nj uNimilian remained idle alter his removal from
the goyernorship of the Lombardo-N v enetan king
dom until 1868, when Napoleon decided upon ma
king a catspaw of him in Mexico. Tho crown of
Mexico offered TO him by Napoleon in August,
1868, and the diplomats were put to work TO ar
range for his acceptance and occupancy Of the
throne Nearly year was occupied in this work,
aud it not until the 10th of April, 1864, that
he formally accepted the proffered crown. by the
terms OF the acceptance he made conditional re-
nunciation of the right of eventual succession TO
the throne of Austria and an unconditional renun-
citation of his share of the family estates amount
ing to 10000 OF ilorins. The condition reserved
in the remuneration of the right to the succession
was that such renuneiatiOn might be revoked,
should Maximilian, 6uding his foothold in Mexi-
insecure, choose to resign within SIX years from
the date OF his acceptance OF the crown OF
Mexico.
The career of Maximilian as the so-called en-
peror OF Mexico is well known to the people OF
this country. His first official act was to offer
terms to Juarez looking to the submission of the
latter. These were rejected and then followed
the past years OF war and bloodshed with alternate
success, and the present final defeat of the impe-
rialists. His efforts to attract emigration aud to
develop the resources of the country are well
known, as are also his personal sacrifices for tho
success OF his cause. That he failed was only
natural and expected result. But it is doubtful If
he would have met the terrible fate to which Jua-
rcz assigned him had he not isgued his famous or
der declaring the republican president and his
supporters bandits and outlaws. The entire res
possibility Of his death must rest upon Napoleon,
who first induced him to accept the proiIered
crown and afterwards deserted him Personally
MaXimian had the reputation of being most ao-
oomplished gentleman and scholar. That he was
kind hearted and humane we are assured from
the frequency with which he saved the lives of
many unfortunate liberals who fell into the hands
OF his generals and were condemned to death.
Hon. s. Mckee, late Representative in Con-
gress from the 9th Kentucky district has published
letter notifying Hon John ID. Young that he
will contest his seat a member Of the fortieth
Congress from that district. lie gives ten reasons
for his course, amounting in Substance 10 the
claim that a large ina oniy Of all the legal votes OF
the district wercscast for him