Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1867-07-06

/ 1882; and, consequently, at the time Of
| he reported shooting, he was thtrty-hve
Wears Of age. Ten years ago the present
month he married Maria Carl0ttai a
| daughter Of Leopold, the late king Of
Belgium.
Macmillan, before being induced to
undertake the government Of Mexico,
| keld the rank of archduke, and was also
| the commander of the Austrian navy.
| His prospects were Of the most dazzling
kind: for he not only occupied a proml-
uent position In u Of the oldest and
most powerful n~aliOnallties Of Europe,
but there was a not remote probability
/ that he might some day succeed TO the
throne Of Austria.
Not merely was his standing high, his
| future promising. but he occupied a
marked position In Europe on account of
his superior abilities, his great cultIva-
ton, and, above all, his liberality. He
/ did not share in scarcely q single partlc-
ular the naughty and unyielding adher-
euce to traditions 50 characteristic OF the
Austrian house Of Hapsburg. On the
contrary, he was progressive n demo-
cratic. and was an ardent supporter Of
the reforms and concessions which were
being forced from the unwilling Austrian
emperor. What Francis Joseph unwH-
lirglv yielded TO escape bankruptcy,
MaZimilian favored granting as a matter
of right.
His connection with the unfortunate
Mexican enterprise is well known, al
though occurring &c a time when this
country was absorbed in the civil war
which began IN 1861. It's not, however,
so well known as 10 should be tIajl IN bis
acceptance OF the MeEicsn throne moth
ing was further from his thought than
the idea CT usurpaiiOn. lie was too dem
ocratic, too liberal, too generous 70 at
tempt TO overthrow the liberty OF any
4 people; and hence the term Austrian
usu7per.n which vas so universally
applied 10 him i'm this country,
however correct in respect to
his position. was entirely incor-
rect when referred TO his iBtegtiOns.
When the French, Spanish and Eng
lish people projected an expedition
against Mexico, il was OstensiOly 20 col
lgcg unpaid claims, and as such, the
movement was approved by the United
States secretary of state. How the Eng
Iish and Spanish Withdrew from this
tripartite alliance how the French,
backed bv the influential church party
Of Mexico, gradually changed their pro-
gramme from the collection Of French
claims into one having for its object the
" regeneration " of Mexico and how
the victorious French army Of Bszaine,
early in 1858, after routing Che opposing
NeHicaus, reached the capital in tri-
umph-are all matters Of well known
history.
Two months later-iust four years
agO-au assembly Of uotahies composed
of Zl5 NeNiclus met ia Mexico and de-
&c., 70 A- a-H.-.HH A.H#.HH#HHALH rHrfL
only two dissenting votes. A deputation
at once proceeded 10 Europe and offered
the crown TO Macmillan.
Now, it cauuqi be charged that, in
thus accepting what was offered him by
what appeared 90 be the unanimous
wish Of the Mexican people, NaXimiisn
was assuming the role Of a usurper, nor
is il true that the French emperor was
wholly to blame. He started the eXpe-
ditiou against Mexico simply to collect
French claims aud 70 preserve the Gber-
ties OF French subjects the subsequent
material alterations in hls plans were
made at the ilstigatiOu OF the church
party in Mexico. Tt is this party upon
whom rests the chief responsibility Of
organizing an imperial government. 1t
Is usual % term MaEimiiian the dupe Of
Napoleon. Perhaps he was so; but he
was, 81 the same time, q much greater
dupe st the hands Of an Influential party
Of native Mexicaus.
It VIII be remembered that it was a
year after the deDUtaJi3u Cf HOtabies
visited Macmillan that he concluded 10
accept the Mexican throne, and then
only after repeated and pressing assur-
ances that the acceptance was ardently
wished by the vast majority of the Mex
lean people. Il will also be recJllecteJ
that enc of his first ac,s after his tri-
uilphal entry into Mexico was TO pardon
all prisoners who had been condemned
for political offences q moreover, tina.
in attempting TO invite a consultation
with some of the Mexican liberals. his
messengers were shot in accordance with
the usages OF Mexican civilization.
Il should be remarked here that the
failure OF Macmillan is not 6ne whit
owing to JuareZ and the liberals, but to
the very church party by whom he was
invited 20 the Mexican throne. Failing
to st0p the sale of the church property
which had been ordered before the
French occupation, he brought himself
into collision with the powerful church
element, and theTetr0m dates the begin
ming of his downfall.
Sufficient has been written TO show
that Macmillan was no UsIrper, in in-
tent; and that, from his autecedeuts,
and his actions while upon the Mexican
throne, he was deserving Of a better fate
than assassination.
Ii he be dead, there IS yet p f1u7e 10
the affair, whose beginning and end
exist among the crowned heads Of.
Europe.
Il is urged that the execution of the
Emperor was j~ustifable, Ola account Of
an order issued by him, directing That
all gUegiUergs taken with arms in their
hands should be shot. That penalty has
often been denounced against persons
who violate the laws and ussges of war
OF who, belonging to no regular com
mand and forming no part of any regu-
lar force, engage In private assassination.
This was done by WELLINGTON, when
he entered France from Spain in 1914;
and the United States followed the ex-
ample in the late war.
The contest in Mexico seems 10 have
been carried on with the same ferocity
as that between he French and Spanish
in the Peninsular war, and the Carlistg
and Christinists in 1892, with bloody re-
prisals on each side aud the greatest
atrocities. But nevertheless, il the III
dian JUAREz has put MAxDmIAN to
death, he has made himself aud Mexico
infamous.
As to the struggle ITSELF it was not for
popular freedom, against oppression.
The people Of Mexico have in reality no
voice in public affairs. They have al
ways been the mere tools Of ambitious
who have only sought 10 gain
power for themselves. Constitutional GOV
eminent in that country has never been
anything more than a sham and a farce:
aud it is the greatest possible misfortune
Mexico that NAPOLEON did not main
tain MANrNmIAN on the throne. Yet
DO not see why be should be accused
)f abandoning him. He certainly never
promised that he would abrams s~usta;n
him by French ~bayOnets. He plsca5
him on the throne 10 which he was
.ormally invited, and was certainly in no
undue haste TO withdraw he Frapch
roops. Is be had kept them Iougar IN
he country, he would have been Justly
,ceused Of imposing upon the A~IeXicanz
government against their viii. q FOREIGN
monarch only maintained on the throne
foreign bay0nets. When the French
retired, it was for MAxnuLIAN to
mine whether ne could rely on the
a q viii Of the Nexicans themselves, or
best isndsr a throne which he could not
s9ia a. , inst their viii. Was NAPOLEON
d L ~ higher obligations to main
I-re than Austria was ? II is
$1,000 MACMILLAN believed he
SALOON i himself ana %, but for
, PLEASURE ply would have done.
and e1uaciaig a-
spd =, 9ss en-, lingHaESr :
\ Tie dftves the partieu- ,