The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-07-08

"Poor Carlotta 70 Maximilian was
shot faced to the front. His last words
were Poor oarlottap How tender
and touching is this convincing Illus
tration of the manly and generous ma
ture OF the fallen EmperorI Abandon
ed by France, betrayed by Mexican
follower, tried by military tribunal
of his implacable enemies, condemned
to death, and brought out forexecution, J,
all interpretations in his behalf from
the representatives. of foreign powers
having failed, this distinguished victim
of NRpoleon's grand idea" would
have been justified had he devoted his
last moments in denouncing the contri-
vers Of his destruction and the barba-
Tians thirsting for his blood, and in de-
plOTing his unumely fall, in the
strength OF his manhood and his hopes.
But MaNimilian was a man of larger
breadth, of mind and heroism than this.
He had deliberately cast his life into
the scales in defence OF his empire, he
had pledged his word in the name of
his imperial house of Hapsburg to fight
1t out with his enemies, and. like true
soldier, he was dprepared for this last
disaster. He recognized his fate as re-
sulting from the fortunes of wHr, and
had neither denunciAtions nor regrets
dying Gladiator ut Rome:
He recked not of his life, nor OF the prize.
HIS heart was home, and that WIS Tar away,
Face to face with his remorselessi ex-
ecutioners, awaiting but the word to
''firel" nlI thoughts of his lost empire
and his low estate gave way to those
endearing memories and sweet atfec-
tions which had linked his life, his
happiness, his fate and his ambition
with "poor Carlottaw As to drown
ing man numerous events OF his past
life running through many years of
time are Vividly reproduced in IA few
tleeting seconds, so to this victim of
Mexican vengeance were. no doubt, re-
called in the last moments of his earth
ly existence those charming recollec-
tions of his young, beautiful, gifted, ac-
COmplished and devoted wife, whereby
he had become so fascinated with his
empire and his hopes of the Mexican
people, that he could only relinquish
Them with his life. "Poor CarloTta ~
Her triumphal journeys, her floral re-
ceptiOns, her welcome charities, her
gracious ways, her catholic piety and
her reSistless, wOmanfy ygentleueSs
among the susceptible Mexicans, were
all so faithfully devoted to his cause as
to develop in him the heroism of the
feudal ages. He was her gallant knight,
equipped by her own fair hands for Il
glorious crusade: she was his queen
OF love and beauty, to whom
his word as soldier and his
faith Hs a devOtee were pledged.
All these thoughts IN the presence Of
the grave, doubtless, recurred to him
AS the memories of "A golden dream, and
from these and that other thought, that
she had hopefully braved the dangers
of the seas, and the doubtful generosity
of France in his behalf, only to be re-
pelled in despair, and TO be doomed to
living death, came the inspiration to
Maximilian which was expressed in
his last expressive words-"Poor Car
lottaP' -h
Nor Is there in the records of history,
as the last words of dying saint or
hero, anything given which appeals so
tenderly to our better nature, TO all that
beautities and softens the human char
acter, as these dying words of Maxi
milian-HPoor Carlottai" They will
crown in history this fallen man. How
ever misguided he was in his ambition
or in his acts as ruler, those two
words, with all their impressive md
redeeming associations, will crown him
with the flowers OF affection and the
laurels of the hero. Had he recited
and eloquently vindlcated every step
and every act in his imperial career he
would have failed TO reach the eloquent
defence embodied in his dying excla-
nation of "Poor CarlOtta 2" To her
they will be the words of restoration or
dissolution for him they are the
wreath OF Immortality. "Poor Car
lotta!n