The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-07-04


the death Of Maximilian, who was undoubtedly
shot on the 10th Of June With Macmillan
were shot Miramon and Mejia, the former q
soldier of fortune, who within the past year,
offered his services to the republic and had
them refused, and a leader whose desperate
acts Of Wholesale plumber and throat cutting
did much to give argument to Europe for in
tervention in Mexican affairs. Thomas Mejia
was Queretaro Indian, firm and consistent in
his support of the retrogade element Of his
country. A bold and desperate enemy Of
liberal ideas, he might have thrown himself
into the Queretaro sierra, as he has before
done, and waged long and exhaustive warfare
against the republic, after the style of the
Indian Lozada in Western Jalsco. The Mexi-
cans, in Kidding themselves of Miramon and
Mejia, have thus disposed Of two Of the worst
revolutionary firebands in their country.
There is now, salient among the few remaining,
the "tiger" Marquee; and probably General
Diaz, who captured the city Of Mexico on the
Goth of last month will dispose Of him in &C
cordance with his former crimes and present
treason to his country.
In calmly considering the fate Of Macmillan
we desire to do justice TO all sides Of the ques-
ton. Personally, the Austrian Archduke lad
many and noble qualities to recommend him.
He was hightoned and educated gentleman,
with all those accomplishments due to a
schooling in the most arisfocratlc court of
Europe. We are speaking of him as man
and as we would speak Of any man of any
nationality; and in thus treating of him we
shall do more honor to European royalty than
by considering any merits Of family, which,
have but light weight in our young republic.
With all the brain polish that no may have
possessed he still saw the Mexican question
through n,oharvhioai oyos, and failing. in com
mon with other European leaders, to take into
consideration the progress Of republi-
can ideas upon this continent, even in
the poorest nationality 70 DO found
here, no made the great mistake of
picking up doomed and virtually lost
cause In Mexico, and endeavored to reinstate,
in the face of the progress Of the nineteenth
century, the obsolete ideas Of the sixteenth,
which, more than to any other civilized Power,
cling to the House of Austria. Had Macmillan,
when he landed in Mexico, thrown himself
entirely into the hands Of the liberal party, and
at the head Of forty thousand French troops
proclaimed himself President, not Emperor
for that title will kill any man in Spanish Amer
ica-he might have crystallized about him all
the progressive elements Of the country. As
it was, by the most outrageous election, forced
by Marshal Bazaine at which nine-tenths of the
votes were obtained at the point Of the bayonet
he virtually took up the cause Of ancient against
modern ideas, and naturally failed. That the
attack against the republicanism of Mexico was
also an onslaught against the progressive ideas
Of all the republics of the continent
is universally conceded; and in showing our
opposition to 1t as nation we were not 50
much lending our moral support TO Mexico as
we were defending ourselves against the march
Of royalty which boldly threatened US from the
southwest.
The great and most telling point against
Macmillan, in his military trial. was his famous
decree of October 8, 1865. This decree held
within itself such atrocities that even the acts
of Haynau, in Hungary, by order Of Maxi
milian's brother, Francis Joseph, are merciful,
in comparison to what resulted in Mexico from
Its PRONUNCIATION. We reproduce It for con-
sideration, together with the protest Of our gov
eminent to France and the insulting reply we
received from the French Minister. In the pre.
liminary proclamation Of Macmillan to the
Mexlcans he stated that President Juarez had
fed the soil Of Mexico. This was gross mis-.
statement; for during the Intervention Juarez
had not left Mexican soil, not even to accept
an invitation to dinner, extended to him by
the United States officers while he was at FL
Paso del Norte In the second paragraph he
stated that "the honorable men had assembled
under his banner" the empire. We ask what
Is the history Of the honorable" leaders, such
as MARQUEE, Miramon and the one who betrayed
the Archduke at Quere!aros "Clcmency will
cease now" said the preamble, "for 1t will only
profit the mob, who burn villages, rob aud
murder peaceful citizens" &c. Yet, after this,
sixteen populous villages were laid in ruins by
the imperialists In Coahuila, and their inhabi. |
tants driven to the mountains. In Article 1 of |
the famous decree Macmillan declared death |
to any Mexican who dared to proclaim any |
political principles or defend his country In |
any organization, even II II numbered one hun
dred thousand men--death within twenty-four
hours following the sentence, Article Q gives
even corporal right to try and shoot any
Mexican general for offences under the decree.
Article Is prevented any demand for pardon.
Throughout the document there Is a barbarity
evlnced that is strangely incompatible with the
civilization Of the age, and its effective opera
lion could not fail to exasperate the Mexican
people to any deed Of retaliation
Under this decree, only ten days subso.
luont, there were executed in Michoacan two
LIBERAL generals, four colonies. Eve lieuicnant