Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1867-07-25
"POOr Carlotta,p

"Poor Carlottai" Maximilian was
shot faced to the front. His last
words were ''Poor Carlottal" How
tender and touching is this convln-
cling illustration Of the manly and
generous nature of the fallen Empe-
ror! Abandoned by France, be-
trayed by Mexican follower, tried
by military tribunal of his impla-
cable enemies, condemned to death,
and brought out for execution, all
interpretations in his behalf from the
representatives of foreign Powers
having failed, this distinguished VIC
tim of Napoleon's "grand idea"
would have been justified had he de-
voted his last moments in denOuncing
the contrivers of his destruction and
the barbarians tbirsting for his blood,
and in deploring his untimely fall,
in the strength of his manhood and
his hopes. But MaXimiliau was q
man of larger breadth of mind and
herOism than this He had delibe-
rately cast his life into the scale in
defense Of his empire, he had pledged
his word ia the name of his impe-
rial house of bapsbnrg to fight it
out with his enemies, and like true
soldier, he was prepared for this last
disaster He recognized his fate as
resulting from the fortunes of war,
and had neither denunciations nor
regrets on his own account to make.
Like the dying Gladiator at Rome
"He recked not of his life, nor of the prize,
His heart was homs, and that was far away"
Face to face with his remorseless
executioners. awaiting but the word
to ''lifer' all thoughts of his lost en-
pire and his low estate gave way to
those endearing memories and sweet
affections which had linked his life,
his happiness, his fate aud his ambi-
lion with ''poor Carlottal" AS to
drowning man numerous events of
his past life, running through many
years of time, are wildly reproduced
in few feeting seconds, so to this
victim of Mexican vengeance, were,
no doubt, recalled in the last mo
ments of his earthly existence those
charming recollections of his young,
beautiful. gifted, accomplished and
devoted wife, whereby he had be-
come so fascinated with his Mexican
empire and his hopes of the Mexican
people, that he could only relinquish
them with his life. "Poor Carlottal"
Her trlumphal journeys, her floral
receptions, her welcome charities,
her gracious ways, her Catholic pie
ty, and her resistless, womanly gen.
tleness among the susceptible Mexi
cans were all SO faithfully devoted
to his cause as to develop in him the
heroism of the feudal ages. He was
her gallant knight. equipped by her
own fair hands for glorious crusade;
she was his queen of love and beau
ty, to whom his word as a soldier,
and his faith as q devotee were
pledged All these thoughts in the
presence of the grave, doubtless, re-
Cured to him as the memories of
golden dream, and from these and
that other thought that she had hope
fully braved the dangers of the
seas, and the doubtful g generosity of
France in his behalf, only to be re-
PEELED in despair, and to be doomed
to living death, came the inspira-
ton to Maximililian, which was ex-
pressed in his last expressive words
-"Poor Carlottar'
Nor is there in the records OF his
tory, as the last words of dying
saint or hero, any thing given which
appeals so tenderly to our better ma
ture, to all that beauties and soft
ems the human character, as these
diving words of Maximilian-"Poor
CarIottap' They will crown in his
tory this fallen man. However mis-
guided he was in his ambition or
In his acts as ruler, those two words,
with all their impressive and redeem
ing association, will crown him with
the flowers of affection and the lau-
rels of hero. Had he reeited and
vindicated every step and
every act in his imperial career he
would have failed to reach the elo-
quent defense embodied in bis dying
exclamation Of .sPoor CsrlettaP' 10
her they will be the words of restora-
tion. or dissolution, for him they are
the wreath Of immortality. foer
Carlotta!" a!"--Nsw York. Herald.