The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-05-03
n.tnlintIon In a1e1Ico.

An the condition OF affairs in Mexico. Mr..
D'sullivan visited Mexico in 1854, was cour-
leously received by Macmillan, succeeded in
obtaining from him certain valuable grants
and the object of his mission; and he very
naturally and properly expresses his favor
able opinion OF the Austrian Prince. We
will take Mr.. O'Sullivan's word for il that
Maximilian Is polite and cultivated gentle
man. So were Bulwer's highwaymen, Of the
"Paul Clifford" school. But that did not
make their calling lawful and it is with the
calling Of the would-be Emperor Of Mexico
that we have to do, and not with his personal
character.
What brought him there The Emperor of
the French, as early as July, 1862 wrote Off
cially to General Forey informing him why
he wished "to found a regular government in
Mexico" II was not to recover paltry debt
of few millions: no one believes that; IL was
as with wonderful candor he avowed, ''to re-
store TO the Latin race on the other side of the
Atlantic all its strength and prestige" He
explained to the General also that it was not
for the interest Of France that the United
States "should take possession Of the whole
Gulf Of Mexico and be the sole dispensers Of
the produce of the New World" To carry
out these ideas was Maximilians calling in
Mexico. What were the Mexican people about
when Louis Napoleon, in violation Of solemn
treaties, broke in on their domestic tran
quillityS They had just got rid of the over
shadowing temporal power of unscru-
pulous churohmen; they had rebel
lion; they had elected the Chief
Magistrate of their choice Every
thing looked WELL Our Minister Corwin,
wrote to Mr.. Seward:-"The present Govern
ment, so far from being in danger of falling
at this time is, in my Judgment, stronger than
at any former period of its existence" 1t
showed its strength. 1t was a year and
half after the invaders landed before they
reached the city of Mexico. II was a raid on
large scale. The troops were too numerous,
and the leader who sent them of too high
rank, to be called buccaneers. In May, 1868,
General Forey issued decree ordering confs-
cation of the real and personal property of all
"citizens of the republic who bear arms
against the French Intervention, whether in
the regular army or in bands of guerillas;"
and this was strictly carried out. During the
same month Forey issued a military order re-
citing that French Zouave had been killed in
Tlalpan, village within sight of the city of
Mexico, upon what provocation is not stated;
and commanding, first that fine Of
$4,000 be levied on the inhabitants; second,
that number of Liberals be imprisoned as
hostages, who, If another murder occur,
"shall respond for it with their heads;" third,
declaring 'if that is not sufficient the village
will be destroyed" But this was before Maxi
milan arrived. He had been but little
more than year in Mexico when, in October,
1865, he published formal decree, signed by
himself and his Cabinet. Articles / and
provide that all persons found in arms against
the Empire, "whether they proclaim or not
any political principles, and whatever their
number, organization, or character" shall,
within twenty four hours after their capture,
A. IL L.wa - ksal hyy Ia,
officer who captured them, and, 'if found
guilty, if even only of the fact of belonging
to the band, >" "shall suffer death
within twenty-four hours of the cap
ture." And Article..15 prohibits,,any request for
pardon being made. Then there is another
article providing that any person who shall
supply the Liberals with money or other
means, or ''put within their reach subsist-
ence," shall suffer death as in article l pro-
vided. Were these mere paper menaces Far
from it. Mr.. Seward, under date November
%, 1865, wrote to our Minister in Paris, that
of the prisoners taken by the Imperial forces
under General Mendez at Santa Anna Amat-
Ian, there were put to death Generals Arteaga
ard Salazar, Colonels Diaz Paracho, Vita
Gomez, Perez Miliena, and Villanos, five lieu
Aenant-colonels, eight commanders, and num-
Der of subordinate officers, all of the regular
army of Mexico. This was one of many
cases. There is additional proof that these
DEGREES were not issued against thieves and
robbers; for a separate Article (l2) treats
specially of them, providing that "thieves
shall be tried and sentenced in conformity
with Article l, no matter what the nature and
circumstances of the theft" A man driven
to despair by hunger may steal twenty-five
cents worth of bread; he is to be summarily
tried by court-martial and put to death in
twenty-four hours
All this is ofiicial-of record. We could fill
a dozen columns with stories of Outrages said
to have been committed by the INVADERS
stated as circumstantally as Mr.. O'Sullivan's
complaints of Liberal cruelty. But we doubt
their accuracy. Such pictures are usually over.
drawn-always, when vindictive feelings exist
in the minds of the narrators. OF what Were
not Northern troops and Northern Generals
accused by the Confederates2 twas not Beau
regard alone who talked Of "beauty and
booty" No crime so infamous but was sad
died ON to the hated Yankees. Do we say al
this to excuse the cruelties which seem Il
have been recently exercised against lmperia
nrisoners By no means. There is no eX
euse for cold-blooded murder; none, in oui
view of it, even when it takes the respectabl,
name of capital punishment. If the Mexican
liberals desire to win the respect of civilize,
nations. they must learn that to initiate wrong
doing is to be oneself a wrong-doer. Blu
we say it to show how terrible the provoca
tion under which these Liberal leaders hay
sinned. How should we feel if foreign troop
were to overrun and desolate our country
and then to condemn every patriot take
in arms in her defense to a felon's death
How did the Rebels feel when they considere
their country invaded and pillaged by wha
they called Lincoln's Hessians Is it certai
at afrOqttiag 4 hon, nh; oI ~