The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-07-04
European View Of the Mexican Tragedy

European
The news of the death of Macmillan in Mexi-
co was received and published In Paris yester-
day. We are specially informed by the Allan
tic cable that Napcciiaon immediately ordered
tho French Court in mourning. A grand mil
tary review, which was to have taken place
to-day, with the imperial fstes In honor Of
the Sultan of Turkey were, countermanded.
The preparations made by the Americans, at
very great expense, for a fine celebration Of
the Fourth Of July in the Pre-Catalan, Bots
de Boulogne, were at once suspended, and the
matter brought to final close on the announce
mens Of the confirmation Of the sad intelli-
gence.
There are many points of view from which
this Mexican tragedy may be looked at. Not
the least important are the attitude in which 1t
presents the government Of the United States
and the light in which that attitude will be
contemplated by the various governments of
Europe. We do not hesitate to say that If
MaAimilion hos boon shot-and we have no
reason to doubt that he has been-it will
always be possible to affirm that there was one
government which might have saved his life,
which ought to have saved his life, but which did
not The government here indicated is the gov
eminent of the United States. There can be no
doubt that this is the light in which our govern
ment is now seen by every nationality in
Europe. Tho opprobrium which attaches to
Juarez and the barbarians who have acted
with him will be shared by the government Of
the United States. The judgment thus pro-
nounced may seem severe, but it is just 1t
was in our power to save Maximilian we were
bound by every principle of honor and dignity
to save him but we have failed to do 80. We
have been guilty, and the charge lies at our
door.
civilized world for so thinking and speaking
of uss Reasonably we cannot. The United
States were powerful enough when they
espoused the cause Of Mexican liberalism
to compel Napoleon to withdraw his troops
from the Western continent The United States
were powerful enough, all the world knows, to
save the life of Macmillan, had they chosen 10
interpose with equal vigor and determination.
If Macmillan has been shot II Is because the
vigor and determination which were successful
In the former instance have beea wanting in
this. On whom, then, does the blame chiefly If
not entirely rest. II would be absurd to blame
the American people I; for their sympathies
have been with the unfortunate Prince since
the moment his life has seemed in danger. II
would be scarcely less absurd to blame the
whole American government. The blame, in
fact, rests with one man, and that man Is Secre-
tary Seward. 1t is to him-to him chiefly, to
him aloue-we owe It that this great republic
has been snubbed, as she never was snubbed
before, by party OF cutthroat banditti. Him
and him only have we to thank for It, II at the
present moment, In Europe and wherever hui
name and intelligent men do congregate, our
miserable policy is spoken Of with loathing
and disgust. A Prussian and British Minister
could find their way to Juarez Strange that
an American Minister could mott Looked at
from European point of view, matters as they
now stand are bad enough. They will not GER
tainly be presented In more attractive light
II 1t turn out that Secretary Seward has actually
been consenting party to this bloody bust
ness. II will be well II he can satisfactorily
account for tho course be has followed. Mean
while, the American public have right to de-
mand explanations