The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-07-25

of war. If we may trust the recent news. the
viotors are now without the least desire 10
establish atrue peace enough blood has not
been shed to make Mexico free: her new Gov
ernment, like the Palaces of the Fiis r1st
be built upon the bones of human victims or
the foundations will be insecure. Mexico
scorns the sympathy 80 freely given nv the
American people, she resents as an insnit our
plea for mercy to her conquered foes. bnt this
should not lessen our profound regret that the
triumph OF republicanism should also be the
triumph of barbarism, and that the first act of
the Liberals should be the proclamation of
Reign of Terror throughout the unhappy land.
a reign OF terror it has been since the Em-
pire fell. What were the executions of Maxi
milan, of Meja, of Miramon, but terrorism
They were justified upon the ground that it
was necessary to teach European usurpers a
stern lesson. France was to be frightened
Austria humbled. That justice demanded
these executions was an after-thought and
whether the cruelties of Macmillan be true or
false, il was not for them that he was shot.
He was killed in the rage of semi barbaric
people. Mexico said to Napoleon, "You sent
us an Emperor we return what remains of
the Empire, and threw the corpse of Maxi
milan at the foot of the throne. This was an
act OF absolute terrorism. So it was with the
executions of Miramon and Mejia, intended not
as pure acts of justice, but as threats to
other ambitious Mexicans who might dare
to become the rivals of the victors. Pre-
cisely such terrorism was employed by Louis
Napoleon when, in the coup d'6tat, his troops
poured volleys of death into crowds of inno-
cent citizens in the streets of Paris. 1t was
his policy to strike such blow as wond
appal France, and he succeeded. But it is
not certain that Mexico will succeed for
though despOtism may be based on a policy
OF murder and fear, republic must rest upon
principles of magnanimity and Justice; and if
success should be thus obtained, it will be
like that of Napoleon-but for time. The
Liberals intend to crush the Church power. as
the ally of the foreigner and the traitor to
the nation, and here again is the Reign of
Terror. To destroy the political influence of
the priests, they desecrate the churches
because it is necessary to make the State free,
they destroy the converts and assault the
nuns. Everywhere the strong, rough hand;
undiscriminating revenge; the frantic rule of
terror, instead of the calm, inexorable sway of
justice. But we may rest assured that those
WHO would succeed by making others fear
tremble themselves, and the moral is one
which Mexico might proftablv study.
Mexico has shot MaXimilian, and chills for
ever the ambition OF European Archdukes and
Emperors; she may shoot Santa Anna as she
did Miramon, and silence for time domestic
faction; she may massacre her nuns and
priests, and so break the political power of
the Church. The Reign of Terror may extend
thus far; but we submit that it cannot reach
the United States. 1t may be true that Esco-
bedo has raised the cry of death to all
strangers" " and predicted that the time will
come when Americans will be begging for
their own heads, instead of for the lives of
Austrlans, but we do not shudder at the an
nouncement. We know that the civilized
and Christian sentiment of the United States
is resented by the MeXicans, and that all the
moral and diplomatic aid we gave the
Republic is considered worthless compared
with our horrible effrontery in asking for
the life of Maximilian. This unexpected
return from people to whom our warmest
sympathies We're given, does not lessen
but increases our wishes for the success of the
republic, yet it adds to our doubt of its sue
cess. We do not believe that one threat of
Escobedo will be carried out; for were such
policy adopted, there is danger that those who
first began it would longest feel it; but its
mere suggestion shows what dangers Mexico
must meet. The republic has begun badly; it
has already lost the respect of Christian
nations, and threatens to challenge their
enmity. Liberalism is no sooner triumphant
than it assumes the form of tyranny; the
republic becomes despotism; the victory of
the nation is the defeat of its civilization;
peace, after long struggle, is won, and,
behold, 1t is established as revengeful and
barbaric war. For the republic thus begun
the future is dark; and unless wiser counsels
than those OF Escobedo are to govern, there is
grave reason to fear that Mexico will forfeit
every advantage she has gained, and will
renew those fratricidal wars, those disgraceful
rivalries, which in the past made her
nationality a mockery.