Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1867-06-18
MAMMALIAN.

lug IL Us y WeAL-IhdluESu review VI inc nlStO-
~ of the times, when republicanism has re-
eeived shock from which it will hardly re-
cover, We have no apology to make for the
space which it occupies in our columns It
furnishes abundant food for thought, and will
doubtless command reflection =
With the downfall of the late Confedera-
cy, the certainty of success by France in
Mexico was most assuredly gone; whether
there was still probability VIC will not now
discuss; enough, from that day, the imperial
promises of Napoleon to Maximilian were
but scantily fulfilled; chivalry had left the
French people and its ruler France forgot
her sacred obligations and was now only in
tent upon withdrawing, with the least posi-
BILE loss in money and in men; her prestige
was already gone in Mexico for the eZactions,
bombast and vanity of the French had cons
verted already, in a few years, her best
friends to bitter opponents. That the deci
sion of France to abandon Mexico was mainly
owing to her fear of the United States, is
amply shown by the subsequent docilty
which was paid by the successor of Napole- F.
on the Grsat to the epistolary orders Of our
Mr. Seward. How exalted Maximiliana
conduct when contTasted with the puslanim-
ity of the French Emperor. Refusing to
leave with the French expoditionary corps,
he said to his last faithful followers :"I have
linked my fate to yours; l will not leave you,
but remain with you unto the bitter MD.
BY this heroic act, which shows not love of
crown, for to limit must have been crown
of thorns, but the most exquisite and rarest
sense Of honor, he inspired the tainting
hearts of his followers orce more; but what
could his scauty resources do against the aid
layishly bestowed upon the Mexican bandit
ii, Under Juarcz, from the United States p
Brave rs lion he put himself at the head Of
his soldiers, and struggled manfulIy and well.
His army is now dispersed, and himself
captive, with no security of life.
We said, probably in the midst Of our own
! disorganized and fevcrsh condition as a pco-
| pie, we undervaluc or do not perceive the
consequences which the murder Of Maximil.
| ian would have upon the world. The near
| est and most obvious result affecting us must
j.. BE still greater horror of Republican pas
sons, still greater doubts whether any hui
mainly at all can be displayed in Republican
warfare, or that the slightest regard for honor
and international obligations could be shown
under Republican nsttutions-whose ten
dency towards brute force we are ever called
| upon to check. MaXmiliGu has treated his
.captives with the greatest possible kindness
| under the circumstances in which he was
/ placed, and he has therefore the strongest
| right to demand that he be considered a SOL
| der and not an outlaw. We would quote u-
! ternational law in his defense, were there the
| lnorest chance that that noble monument of
natiOnak1noderatiOn and torbearance toward
! another nation in times Of excitement con-
! hict and war, be appreciated or that it be
! known by Mexican banditti. The faith Of
mankind in the justice and durability of Re-
| publican institutions has received the rudest
! shocks Of late, not alone abroad but even in
| this country. In Germany, in France and
! other countries not many years since liberty,
American liberty and institutions, were the
rallying cry of Liberals How is it to-day?
| Has not the current turned strongly in favor
OF Conservatism, and is not at this day IA
! matte on the subject of American liberty
! looked upon with dcrisiCn and disuust?-
| With US, both North and South; the question
has been agitatcd in the breasts Of many Is
not Republicanism a vast failure the idea
that man can govern himself Gclusivc phan-
tom, and is not monarchy TIE most stable and
the best form of government! The very
| fact that such questions be entertained
, by any considerable portion of our people,
shows but too plainly doubt, uncertainty and
| gloom. Those, then, who pretend to be real
| friends Of liberty. should stcruly frown down
and discountenance any excuses of rcpub-
! licanism, lest the hearts Of the people be still
more alienated and open to the first military
| tyrant-and Of all human excuses the great
| est and most terrible is-murder. If ind-
viduals have devolving upon them this grave
responsibility, how much greater is that rest
ing upon the Government Of the United
States in all its brancncs-and should now
.AIaximilian meet with the sad fate threaten
ing him, the question will be asked here and
! abroad after the excitement of the moment is
over: What have Congress and the Execu-
tive Department done in this matter to pre-
vent the catastrophe and to guard the honor
! and interests of Republican institutions p
No, not merely for humanity's sake, and for
n noble man, who, we are sure, has more ad-
mirers than detTactUrs in these United States
but for higher and farther reaching con-
sideTation, neither more nor less than the
maintenance Of Republican influence over
the world. The fact that Maximilian occu-
pied toward the United States quasi hostile
position has nothing to do with the questions
he is fallen and not an outlaw; a noble and
unfortunate enemy chivalrous people will
quietly suffer to perish, when he may be
saved by their word from ignoblc end
And more than one word, we contend, it
would not have cost the Government Of the
United States to do it-that IS a word of COM
moad. For the honor Of this whole country
we hope that word has been spoken.
While The United States have only an
interest, as far as Republican institutions are
concerned, in the preservation Of Naximillan's
life, to Trance it is 4 question of national
honor. Called by her Emperor, mainly for
without the support ola great European power
he would not have followed the cal! Of a mere
party, the l.mPeror's act warmly seconded by
the people Of France, he accepted the trust.
{ tFTnlrrh III Iii ,r