The Montana post., 1867-08-31
Wnnre,i-AP PnIIcr-

Mexico DeglnS WORK OF recOnStruC
ton with the civilized world array
ed against her. There is a morbid senti-
ment that might endorse the execution
of Maximilian, but with the exception
of the Eg6HiRg Post, the organ of Cal
craft and Jack Ketch, we see no news
paper supporting the policy which direc-
ted his death. Even in Congress, which
has always champiOned the cause of
Liberalism, it has thus far been impos-
sible TO pass resolution of congratu-
lation TO Mexico over her triumph. Had
Maximilian been sent out of the country
we believe such a resolution would have
been passed unanimously.
Our own part in this disaster, thanks
70 an imbecile and purPoseless policy.
has been humiliating. Macmillan was
executed in defiance of the United States.
We asked the poor boon of his life, and
il was denied Santa Anna, an exile,
and taken from an American ship, is
either dead or under sentence of death.
When America took great rebel from
the deck of an English vessel, we were
compelled to return him almost by the
next mail. The defiance that we dared
not offer England, Mexico offers US. Our
flag was no protection TO Santa Anna; ii
was even trampled upon by the Mexi-
can soldiers. Now we are told that it
was Mr. Stewards intercession for the
life of Maximilian that directly caused
his death; that, before the letter of Sec,
Seward was received, there was no in
tention of executing the Emperor; that,
upon its reception, the Liberal army in
dignantly demanded that he should be
slain, as if TO teach our government its
impertinence in interfering. If this be
true, the humiliation is complete.
The United States are pledged to op-
pose aggressive wars of European Powers
against American Republics, and for
this reason we are held morally respon-
sible by foreign governments for some
thing of the conduct of the nations we
protect After Mr.. Seward protested
against the French occupation of Mexi-
co, and, obeying the national will, de-
manded the withdrawal of the French
troops, it is not strange that Europe ex-
pected that our influence would be used
10 restrain Mexico from such acts as the
killing of prisoners of war, or that the
United States should be denounced in
the French Assembly as responsible for
the death of Maximilian. There is little
doubt that the United States could have
saved the life ofthe Emperor. for the
Mexican Republic owes it's very exis-
tencs to the sympathy of the American
people with the Liberals. But for the
attitude of the United States, Napoleon
would inevitably have finished his work.
Ii is certain that the Liberals understand
this, and that if Mr.. Seward had shown
as much energy in sending United
States Minister to Mexico as he did in
recalling one from Austria, they
might have been saved from this error.
A mistake it was, for though we ap-
preciate fully all the arguments in its
favor-the order of October for the exc
cution of captured Liberals as brigands,
the stern lesson taught foreign usuTpers
yet the young Republic is signally
unfortunate In opposing itself 10 the
spirit of all Christian nations. Mexico
has gone back 10 the days of Carthage
and Rome and crowned her victory with
barbaric laurels. When we say that
our action might have spared her this,
We remember Mr.. Campbell idling in
New Orleans without orders, the United
States absolutely unrepresented at the
Liberal headquarters, and the subse-
quent appointment of an unknown
foreigner 10 a position which none but
an American statesman should have
hlled. This is the pitiful policy which
resulted in the deliberate refusal of the
only boon we asked ofMexicO-the lives
Of the vanquished. We gave her sym
pathies which were stronger in the end
than their armies. and yet Mr.. Seward
can obtain US nothing in return but a
trampled hag.-N y. Herald.