Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1867-07-24
t.poor CarIbtta!n

"Poor Carlotta! u Maximilian was shot
a,ed TO the front. Hrs last words were
=. Poor Carlottar' How tender and touch
ing is this convincing Illustration ofthe man
iy and generous nature Of the fallen Empe-
ror Abandoned by France, betrayed by a
Mexican follower, tried bs military tribu-
nal of his impiacab!o enemies, condemned TO
death, AND. brought out for execution, all in
terpositiops in his behalf from the represen
-tatives of foreign Powers having failed, this
distinguished victim of Napoleon's grand
idea" would have been justified had he devo:
ted his last moments in denouncing the con
triyers OF his destruction and the barbarlans
thristiug for hi, blood, and in deplosinS his
untimely fall. in the strength Of his manhood
and his hopes. But Maxi.nllian was man
of larger breadth of mind aud herciSm han
this. lie had deliberately cast his life into
the scales in defence of his empire, he had
oledged his word in the name of his imperial
house Of Hapsburg to fight it out with his
enemies, and, like a true soldier, he was pre-
pared for lis last disaster. He recognized
ais late as. resulting from the fortunes OF war,
and had neither denunciations nor regrets on
mis- own account to. make. Like the dying
Gladiator at Rome.
lie rocked not Of his life, nor OF the prize,
His heart was home, and that was far away.
Face to face with his remorseless execu-
TONERS, awaiting bat the word to !" tire!' all
thoughts of his lost empire aud his low es
tate gave way TO those endearing memories
and sweet affectiors which had linked his life,
his happiness, his fate and his ambition with
8, poor Carlot,an as to. a drowning man
numerous events Of his past lille running
through many years of time arc wildly re
produced in a few heeting seconds, SO to this
victim of Mexican vengeance were, no doubt,
recalled in the last moments of bis earthly
existence those charming recoilections Of
his young, beautiful, gifted, accomplished,
and devoted wife, whereby he had become SO
fascinated with bis Mexican empire, and-his
hopes of the Mexican people that he could
oaly relinquiih them with his life. ".,PQor
CarIotta = Her ,riumphal journeys, her TO
raj receptions, her welcome charities, her gra
cious ways, her catholic piety, and her re-
slstless, womaply gentleness among the sus-
ccptible. Mexicans, were also faithfully devo-
ted to his cause as to develop in him the he
roism of the fcudal ages. He was her gallant
knight, equipped by ier own fair hands for
glorious crusade she was his queen Of love
and beauty, TO whom his word -as soldier
and his faith as devetee were pledged. All
these thoughts in the presence Of the grave,
doubtless, REQUIRED to him as the memories
of o golden dream. and from these and that
other thought, that she had hopefully braved
the dangers of the seas, aud. the doubtful
g .nero,ity Of France in his behalf, only to be
repled 10 in despair, and 10 be.doomed to q liv-
ing death, clmc the inspiration to Macmillan
which was expressed in his last expressive
words, -" Poor Corlota |"
Nor is there ia the records of history, as
.he last words OF dying saint Or hero, any
thing given which appeals so tepderly to our
better nature, to all that beauties aud softens
the human character, as these dying words
OF Maximiian-" Poor Carlotta !''' They will
crown in history this fallen man. However
misguided he was in hiS>acts as ruler, those
TWO words, with all their impressive aud re-
deeming associations, wall crown him with
the towers of. affection and the laurels of the
hero. Had he recited and oloqueptly vindi.
Gated every steptapd every act IN his imperi-
al career he would have failed to reach the
eloquent defense embodied in his .oying ex-
clansation of Poor Carlotta!" To her the
will be the words of. restoration or dissosu-
tion for. him they are the wreath of i'm
mortality. Poor Carlotta F-N. Y. Herald.