The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-02-04
Max Proposes But God Di.pose..

Late advices from Mexico announce that
Maxim'iian's Cabinet had decided that the EN-
peror should not abdicate OF quit the country
favor of fighting out the question with the
liberals. We do not exactly see, however
how the past strengthens him. 1t will neither
give him men nor money, and without these he
is powcrless against the swelling tide of libe-
ralism. There is not one of the men by whom
the Emperor is surrounded that will not aban-
don him the moment Juarez gets within few
miles of the capital. 1t seems to us, therefore,
that he is playing a very hazardous game. An
overstrained sense Of honor, which, by the by,
should have prevented him from ever entering
Mexico, is keeping him there against every
consideration Of dignity and prudence. # he
does not take care he will be caught in q trap
and shot or hung, as the within Of his captors
may dictate. The Mexican liberals have
heavy scores to settle with him for the barba-
rous manner in which prisoners from their
ranks have been treated. They have never
been very great respectors of persons, and if
they should lay hands upon him they will
think only Of their sons and brothers who have
been summarily executed by his orders.
In counselling him to remain, therefore, after
the departure of the French, the members OF
his Cabinet have given him very treacherous,
or, to say the least Of it, very iujudicious ad-
vice. They will desert him to man as soon
as danger presses him, and leave him to pay
the forfeit OF the imperial experiment We
should be sorry if anything Of this kind were
to happen to him. He has shown some excel
lent qualities. and deserves o better fate than
to be shot or lassoed by some scurvy guerilla.
What is to be done, however, with a man who
refuses to accept the evidence of facts, and
who clings to decisions that have been proved
to be utterly baseless!
The only chance for the empire after the de.
parture Of the French rests in the divisions oil
the liberal party. With Ortega and one OF
two other partisan leaders in the field against
Jnarez there might have been prospect Of
the imperialists maintaining themselves. But
Ortega is prisoner in the hands Of his rival
and the other elements Of opposition to the
rule Of Juarez are melting away II is true
that in the chronic tendency to revolution
which Mexico has always exhibited these will
be revived; but they viii operate too late fol
the purpose of the imperialists. Their chances
are gone forever. The monarchical expert
ment has had its last trial and will not again
enlist an adherent. No other form Of govern
ment is possible in Mexico save the republican
either under improved independent condition;
or in conjunction with our own. In the mean
while we sincerely wish the poor Archduke out
OF the scrape. If he were wise he would stick
to Bazaine's skirts and get ont Of Mexico while
there is yet time. II he remains after the
French we can promise him that he will have
bat little chance of falling back upon the vice
royalty which his brother offers him atCracow
in the hope that IL will eventually enable him
10 win the throne of Poland.