The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1867-07-19
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
OBITUARY.
ARCHDUKE MAMMALIAN OF AUSTRIA,
LATE EMPEROR or MEXICO. 80

4 =
LATE EMPEROR OF MEXICO. el
Ferdinand Macmillan Joseph, Arch
duke OF Austria, and brother of the
reigning kmperor Francis Joseph, was
born July 6,ls82, and consequently was
nearly thirty-hye years of age at the
time Of his tragic death. Little known
even outside Of the, European aristo-
cratic circles, the people of this conti-
nent would have taken but slight inter-
est In the career of this Austrian Prince,
but for the exciting events which during
the last four years, brought Maximilian
so prominently before the American
public as Emperor of Mexico. The
troubles of that country are Of too re-
cent date, and are even continuing at
this writing, that their successive recital
in this instance would be entirely su-
perhuous. AS matter of record, how
ever, it should be stated here that it
was under the direction of the French
Commander, acting under especial or
ders Of Napoleon, that the Assembly of
Mexican notables sent, in 1868; depu-
tation of their number to offer the
Mexican crown to the Archduke Maxi
milan, then chief in command of the
Austrian navy. Their address was pre-
sented to him on the Sd OF September,
1868, to which he replied on the Sd of
the succeeding month, accepting the
crown upon condition that the people
of Mexico should express their willing
ness to acknowledge him as their En-
peror by giving him majority of their
votes, which should be cast for that
purpose. On the 10th of April, 1864,
Prince Maximilian again received the
Mexican deputation at Miramar, and
formally accepted the crown of Mexico.
Full of hope, and determined to raise
the fallen fortunes Of that unhappy
country, Maximilian, and his wife Car
lotta, Leopold ii. King of Belgium,
soon set sail for their new empire, and
after brief interval the fleet reached
Vera Cruz towards the end of May. 1t
was, however, not before the I'd Of June
that the Emperor formally made his
entry into the capital of Mexico. The
successes and reverses of the French
army, while battling with the numer-
Gus bands Of dissidents, who never
ceased to oppose the new empire, are
now matters of history, and would, no
doubt, have eliminated in their entire
overthrow, but for the withdrawal Of
these French troops just at a time when
Maximilian though with a depleted
treasury, was doing his utmost to revive
trade and commerce; and was applying
all his energies to develope various re-
sources which could not have failed in
course Of time to increase the material
welfare Of the Mexican people. Aban-
doned by France-Or rather by Napo-
leon-Maximilian bravely, but reck
iessly, endeavOred with his small band
of warriors to oppose the constantly
Increasing Liberal army, until finally,
through the treachery of a man named
Lopez, whom he had ladencd with hon
ors, the city of Querataro, which he Wen
valiantIy defending, fell into the hands
of Esco eeto, and he himself was made
prisoner Of war, subsequently "tried'
by court-martial, and, as the telegraph
announces, found guilty, and executed
on the 10Th of June. His widow, Carr
lotta, now in Europe at latest dates, had
been informed of the critical situation
in which Macmillan found himself ;
, and there can be but little doubt the
sick and at times deranged eX-Empress,
l when made aware of the fate which has
l befallen her unfortunate husband, will
2 be unable to withstand the shock to her
o nervous system, and perhaps succumb
even before the body of the executed
t Emperor reaches the shores of his native
q land.