The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-06-27

government II should be recoected that when the de-
cree was issued Juarez had sd leaving no force IN the
neld which could be acknowledged being entitled
me ben"nt OF the laws OF war 10 make this quite in
teilgioe-if, say year ago, the sx.King Of Naples
mad headed an Instruction In his former kingdom,
and, in the conflict which ensued, captured the
King OF Italy, like question might have arisen
out OF the DEGREES ordering brgands TO be shot
such. Az the time Macmillan was. u would appear,
Justined In treating the hostility OF desuory bands OF
greri.ias az brgandage; and H. which may be. tina,
owing 70 the intervention OF France he ought be
borne in mind did bring the French troops to Next
Co II Is not as Juarez had the Emperor Napoleon In
MS power Maximian IL must be said, was AN instru
ment 10 the hands OF the French government They
made the Mexican empire and they morally rcspon
Sole Tor the actual catastrophe The reflection Is sad
caused intense grief and dlsappoinlmsn, but in ths
interests OF truth, justice and humanity the cir
cumstances under which the bro her OF the EN-
peror OF Austria accepted the improvised Mexican
throne should not BIO lost sight or II wholly unne-
ccssary to affirm that the French Emperor was
ceivsd- The mistake be accounted for-tke dis.
sembed twofod object OF the expedition and the agon.
ces that we're employed TO promote II are evident
enough What must ever be matter of regret that the
spell was not broken before the honor OF great nation
and tho happiness Of an iusrious family compro-
missed and wrecked The former admitted OF reparation
,ne latter IS We roar rreparaole Those who induced
Latin race on the American continent have inflicted
heavy blow on the House OF Hapsburg. but failed b
shake ne foundation of the French empire They played
high tho stake was heavy. but they rsked nothing
and the loss not OF fe or all that makes
NE worth preserving falls upon the Austrian Prince and
II is plain, too. that Macmillan wavered when firm
ness was mperIousiy required he had been advised
retire with the French army, and had appears
solved to return TO Europe but the wires again
pulled and in an evil hour he persuaded 70 appeal
TO the Mexican people possible that the chiefs and
partsans by whom he was surrounded and swayed ex-
pected tho success which they boldly promised. II Ia
moro probable that they anxious 10 misc op
porunity which offered certain advantages and
dotdl influence contributed 10 he fd,oi decision. But
that as It may, tue courage which Macmillan dis
played was worse than thrown away II simply
GOV cred deception which should have been exposed He
could not but be aware that his hold tho country
gone; he conscious that the Mexicans were ncapa
bic OF approaching good government; he knew that q
bridge had been thrown the Rio Grande by Amer
can sympathy: and yet he determined TO abide tho
ISSUE which was dubious after the French flag had
been fured Here, in the crisis Of tho conuncure be-
tween last Christmas and the hrst days OF the
year, Maximilian endorsed . scheme which hts
judgment must have long before condemned,
and the rash act, which may have cost him his
life, VIII doubtless serve to screen, not the mistake
but the interested misrepresentation which doated the
expedition This, then, Is apparently the end or the
saddcst story OF the present epoch and forboar to
point the moral that exscts attention. not because
England stands clear OF offence, for that circumstance
likewise claims consideration. and cannot forget the
discretion which Sir Charles wyke exercised in an
But the instruction, which written line
upon line explains itself with impressive severity and
force, and, though Mexico not the Mos
COW OF the second Empire, may be regarded OF
the errors which the First Napoleon free admit,
and as anording further evidence OF the mischiepous
dc,ivty " party thai habitualy abuses it. peculiar
pricie0eS.