The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-07-19
Excitement IN Europ. over the murder
of Mnximfliam.

B1citement I'm Europe Over the m"h"oN
of maximfllan.
IRON, ne Herald.
When Intelligence Of the fate oil maxi
milan first reached us we foresaw anu ue
scribed the fierce outbursts of indignation ana
the deep and unfeigned sorrow with "hioh
news of the sad event would be certain to be
received all over Europe. Each successive
mail. as IL arrives, confirms the accuracy of
the views then expressed. The papers are
literally full Of Macmillan and Mexico. 1t is
the all-prevailing topic of discussion; and
with scarcely a single exception, grief over the
untimely fate of the unfortunate Prince is
mingled with unqualified reprobaton of the
brutal conduct of his murderers. No event
at all comparable to the execution of the Mexi-
can Emperor has occurred since Louis XVI
perished by the guillotine; nor has any event
since that occasioned such deep and general
sorrow; and unless we greatly mistake history
will pronounce it equally unnecessary and
equally barbarous The murder of the King
neither secured nor quickened the life of the
French republic; and we speak mildly when
we say that we wait for evidence to be con-
vinced that the salvation of Mexico has been
secured by the murder of Macmillan.
We publish letter from the pen of our
special correspondent at Vienna in which the
feeling in the Austrian capital is ably de-
scribed. We publish also an article from the
Pail Mall Gazette, together with numerous
extracts from other European journals, in all
of which the prevailing feeling is truthfully
reflected.
1t will be seen from an examination of those
papers that while ample justice is done to
Juarez and his friends, there are others who
come in for a fair share of blame. Chief
among the latter is the Emperor Louis Napo-
leon. This is precisely what we expected.
We have ever been convinced that the more
thoroughly this Mexican business was studied,
and the more completely it was mastered, the
more fully manifest would it become that the
chief offender, the real originator Of all this
mischief, was the Emperor of the French.
There are others who have grievously If not
wilfully erred, and whose conduct in the
matter must ever remain inexcusable; but
Louis Napoleon must continue to bear the
burden of the guilt.
A Latin empire on the American continent
absurd and impossible to all who know the
material out of which it was to be created, was
a grand but ridiculous conception, traceable
to the imperial brain alone. Filled with
vanity because of success achieved on the field
of Solferino, desirous to propitiate the House
of Hapsburg, whom he had greatly humbled,
and not unwilling to do a kindness to an am
bilious and high-spirited Prince whom he had
robbed of his province of Lombardy, it was
milan visions of empire, and encouraged him
| to indulge the hope of yet sitting in pride and
splendor in the halls of the Montezumas. No
one can say that the glittering prize was
eagerly grasped at. On the contrary, the
whole project was viewed by Maximilian with
suspicion and distrust; it was seen to be
fraught with great and serious peril; it was
discouraged by the Emperor, his brother; il
implied the abandonment of his position
and prospects as Prince of the Austrian
empire. What was there that Mexico could
give that Austria had not already given
In what sense could he be a gainerl
worthless crown and an empty name would
be poor rewards for the sacrifices which i
would be necessary to make. The influence
of Napoleon alone overcame these scruples
1t was his urgent entreaties, his glowing pic
lures, his liberal promise of help, which at las
Wrung from Macmillan a reluctant consent
and it was the bayonets Of France which won
and for time maintained, for him his sceptrt
and his crown. 1t is unnecessary to go int
the history of later movements to illustrat,
Napoleon's guilt. The crowning ofense wa
committed at the outset. The grand crime o
the whole affair was the bartering away of th
rights of people over which the would-b
trader had no control That crime was com
mitted by Napoleon. We do not say tha
Macmillan was innocent; but Macmillan
whatever his faults has died like true maj
! and made ample atonement.
Z We have again and again, in the pages @
l the Herald, spoken of the execution of Maxi
, milan as a piece of unnecessary cruelty. w
have spoken of those who ought to have save
him, who were able to save him, but who di
d: not, and who must continue to bear the sham
and disgrace which attach to their conduct.
! will be difficult for Mr. Seward, in any numbe
of volumes which he may choose to publish, t
convince an intelligent public that he ha
L acted in this matter either in the interests
: humanity or in the interests of the America
a people. But Mr.. Stewards ofGense is sma
: when compared with that of Napoleon. Th
ghost of Maximilian cannot be an agreeabl
> companion; but the loss of popularity,
> power, of prestige, the loss of everythin
: which he cares to live for, and which he ha
: fought so hard to win, will be a punishmer
less easy to bear.
b. The Legion of Honor.
t From The Tribune.
= We do not know whether the Decoration {