New-York tribune., 1867-07-25
ERANCE IND MEXTCO.

IL is, of course, admitted by the French Gov
ernmcnt and its blindest partisans that the
Mexican Expedition was terrible failure.
What was to be the brightest page in the history
of the third Napoleon, and u turning in
the history of the Latin race in America, has
proved to be the greatest of all the disasters
that have yet befallen the Empire. II its con
sequences have not yet been as great as those
of Moscow, the failure is at least rs universal
ly admitted. 1t was an easy task, therefore, for
Thiers and Jules Fayrc to expose the error
which had been committed by the Government,
and the disgrace which had been the result.
To their main charges NJ Rouher made no re-
ply whatever. He only wished to defend his
Government against the ono cl'"rgc OF Dau
faith. And even ON this point he brought for
ward no fact to invaldate the powerful aIYu-
ments of Theirs. The great historian made
the Government feel what the final verdict of
history on this Mexican intervention will be.
The prosecution, in this case, was not yet III
possession of all the really important facts.
Future historians are likely to know OF
Other and, perhaps, more discriminating charges
against the author OF the Intervention, even if
it should not be true as has been asserted,
safe keeping of the Duke of Aunale for future
use. The defense at all events, had at its
control, and was fully prepared to use all that
can be said in the Empcr0rs favor, and II was
undoubtedly its interest, if possible, 10 prevent
public opinion from prOnOuncing against him.
If the Government hIs produced nothing that
really speaks in its favor. if it has hardly been
able to plead an extenuatng circumstance, the
world must naturally take il as an acquiescence
in the sentence of condemnation which history
will pronounce against the French intervention.
1t is difficult to say what influence this de-
feat of the French GOveTnment-tirst In Mexico,
and now in the Legislative body-may have
upon the condition of the Empire and the
prospects of the Napoleonic dynasty. Candid
observers, however much they may regret the
misrule tO which France has fallen a prey can
hardly deny that Louis Napoleon has really con-
troll of the votes of the immense majority Of
FrencImen. If wholesale frauds at the elections
were as easy as some imagine. the French Gov
ernment would hardly have resisted the tempta
ton of securing some representation III Paris. The
political sentiments Of cities and provinces show
themselves nowadays on many other occasions
than election day and all the information that
we get from the rural districts of France con-
ours in showing the people tO be, if not ardent
NapOleOnists, at-least seTvile adheTcnts of the
existing Government Before we can expect
the French peasants to be influenced by the
speeches of Theirs and Fayre, they must learn
to read. Diffusion of elementary education
must precede the progress of liberal opinions,
and it would therefore, we believe, be unreasOn-
ab1a 10 ayuecf frnn, Iphafoa like fhnsa IN the
Mexican expedition any sudden and radi-
cal influence upon the state OF public
opinion. On the other hand, however, We by
no means, intend to assert that such humiliat-
ing defeats remain without effect. The high
est intellectual circles of France have always
been antagonistic to Imperialism the Academy
selects its members from the declared Opp0-
nents of the Empire, and the press, the most
powerful sovereign of modern society, is over
whelmingly on the side of the Liberal Op
position. Defeats like that on the Mexican
question dsarm many of the. tirnid champions
of the Empire and ernsh out or oyerawe I'm
perialist sentiments among the population of
the cities. This portion OF the French
people devours with avidty the adj
dresses of the great. leaders OF the. Lib
eral opposition; it learns that its present
ruler has been terribly mistaken; that his fav-
orite enterprise has failed that his star be-
gins to set that his dynasty is not likely TO
last. 1t becomes excited, unmanageable, reyO-
lutionary it stoops not to inquire whether
it is a majority or IA minority; it waits
for an opportune moment to overthrow the
unpopular government and without hesitation
DluD1eA into a revolution When IL dsemA tla