Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1867-07-16
The Fate of Maximilian-Was it Just ?

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would not have thought of the like
had our country been strong and able |
to resist This was the long and |
short oft.
But Mexico appeared unwilling to |
receive a crown, and the liberal or
Republican party of that country
made stubborn resistance TO Max>
imilian whom Europe had pompously
styled Emperor Of Mexico, and pledg-
ed the men and money to enthrone.
The liberal party were firm and
plucky, and the Macmillan party
composed of the priests and church
adherents in Mexico, with some 20,>
900 or 10000 French and Austrians
sent over from Europe to coerce the
Mexican liberals, were at last driven
into u heap and centered in a strong
place for defense. And soon the Max.
lmilans fell-by liberal strategy and
the treachery of an officer attached
to his staff. They all fell into Liberal
hands, Macmillan was shot, his off,
GERS were sentenced to Imprisonment
and his men paroled.
We go back step or two; during
ing the administration of Lincoln, the
rebel party of the South offered Max
milan all the aid and comfort they
could. They were in constant treaty
with the monarchs of Europe, and
perhaps planned the whole scheme
of European intervention for the
Mexican monarchy. II is we'll under-
stood everywhere that the Jeff. Da~
Wis dynasty received the support of
all rebels and their sympathisers in
America and Europe whilst the Lib
eral party in Mexico had the sympa,
thy at least Of President Lincoln, the
American government and army, and
their friends throughout the world.
In fact, the Mexican conflict and the
rebellion in the American Republic,
was alike understood in all parts of
the world, being o grand combined
war of slavery and despotism against
Republication and liberty. And the
sympathisers of slavery and despot-
ism everywhere marshalled as unit
for Mexican despotism and American
slavery. The battles of both forms
OF tyranny were lost, and true de-
mocracy and freedom won, all
they claimed-being the right of all
men to own and govern them1
selves. AS we understand it, Maxi.
milan, being the standard bearer or
head ofthe party of Europe and Am
erica for fixing despotism upon the
people of Mexico, should have been
dealt with capitally, by shooting or
hanging-.just as JEFF. Davis, being
the chief head Of the rebellion for sla
very in the United States, should
have been shot on the spot when ta>
ken, no difference by whom shot,
with or without trial-bcing public
outlaw and an enemy to the human
race-to all of whatever color or
degree.
Perhaps we should have noticed
the change made in our government
upon the death of Lincoln. Johnson.
coming into power as sympathiser
with the Southerners, though per-
haps not secessionist at heart, took
up at once for Observation-Disclosures
betraying to the world his friendship
for despotism and slavery. 1t was
an easy matter for him to seduce Sew
ard and others in power, for the spirit
oftrno democracy was already adjudg-
ed to have gone out of them, and they
we'll knew the people had rightly
suspected their integrity as patriots
and friends Of democracy.
We have set up the righteousness
of the Liberals in shooting Maximil>
ian, supposing his war to have been
conducted according to civilized us
age. But there was one act of Max
imilan's beyond the line of civilized
warfare which alone justified the
Liberals in shooting him, and would
justify the shooting ola thousand of
his adherents-perhaps also as many
of his European sureties; we allude to
the order of Macmillan raising the
black flag, and numbering all prison.
ers and chief Liberal sympathisers
who fell into his hands. 1t was Of
peace with despotism and slavery,
which respects no moral or humane
law. Jeff. Davis, no doubt under
heaven, gave the same orders, though
privately, thereby meriting q lower
damnation and fate. And as thous,
ands of Union prisoners persisted I'M
der the black flag and code of Davis,
such was the fate Of the Liberals
under Mcmillan, and thousands of
the best Mexicans, upon whose heads
a price was set which sealed their be-
trayal and delivery, persisted from
despotic bullets.
They had seen foreigner land on
their shores ana raise the "Diack t1ag.
There was not a Mexican family but
cried vengeance for murdered rela,
tive. Had Macmillan the advan-
tage OF fighting as filibuster, with his
head secure upon his shoulders, while
he dealt death to the citizens of the
country he invaded. There was no
other justice for Me Alco but his blood.
Was he to be respected for his roy
ally? Europe must learn that blue
blood grows bluer as it crosses the At
lantic until it reaches the republican
standard of purity. We speak Of
what should have been the policy of
Mexico in the case, but, to my mind,
when a nation is sunk so low that,
on the score of policy, it dares not
do itself justice, it had better sink
from the list of nationali ties.
Suppose foreign prince should land