Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1867-07-20
Poor Carloita =

loOt SSiiObs MaNlmhlan Was
shot faced 10 the front Hi, last words
were Poor CaTloua!' How tender and
touching IS the convincing illustration Of
'he manly and generous nature Of the ial
len Emperor Abandoned by France.
betrayed by Mexican follower, tried by
q military tribunal of his impIacable enc.
mics, condemned 10 death, and brought
out for execution, all inerPos;,ion in lis
behalf from the representatives. OF foreign
Powers having failed. this distinguished
victim Of NaIOleon's "grand idea" would
have been justified had he devoted his
last mouenls 10 G5nouncing the conlrivers
ofhis destruction and the barharians ihrs.
Ting for blood, and in deplcrng his un-
umely fall, in the strength Of his man
hood and hopes. But Msximllan was .
man of larger breadth Of mind and hero.
ism than this. He had deliberately cost
bis life into me scales III defence Of his
empire, he had pledged his sword in the
name Of his imperial house o. Hapsburg
tU fight il out with his enemies, and, like
a true soldier, he was prepared for lhls
last dlsisler. lie recognized his fate as
resulung from the fortunes of wsr, and
neither denuacialLapsinor regrets on his
accoun, to make. Like tue dying Gladl-
alor at Rome -
Il, rcckcl not OF hi7 lie, nor OF the prihc,
HIS h,ar. was Al home, and that was far away.
Face to face with his remOrseless exc.
cuuouers, awaiting but me word 10 fire.!
all thoughts Of his lost empire and bis
low estate gave away to those eudearlng
memories and sweet affections which had
linked his life, his happiness. his fae and
his ambition with "poor CaTlotta ~ As
to a drowning man events Of bis pasiIIIe
running ;hroueh many years OF tune are
vlylJIv reproduced in few fleeing sec.
onGs, so to this victim Of Mexican ven.
6eanco were, 90 doubt, recalled in the
last momens.oi his earthly exercise those
charming recoIEecIIons Of his young, beau
uful, gifted, accomplished and devoted
wife, whereby he had become SO fascina.
ted with his Mexican empire and his
hopes of the Mexican people that he could
only reInquish them with his life Poor
Carloua = Her triumphal journeys, her
floral receptions, her welcome charities,
her gracious ways, her catholic Piety and
her resisIless, womaGly geulIeHesS among
the susceptible Mexlcans, were oil so
faithfully devoted 10 his cuse rs to De.
ycIop in him the herosm OF the leudsl
as,o. &c was her gallant knight, equip
ped by her owa AR bspds fora glorious
crusade; sfa was his queen OF 'GYe and
beauty, - whom his word as a soldier
and his faith as devoice were pledged.
All these thoughts in the presence Of the
grave. doubtless, REQUIRED TO him as the
memories Of golden dream, and from
these and that other thought, that she
hopefully braved the dangers of the sea.
and the doubtful generosity Of France in
his behalf, only TO be repclled in despair,
and 10 be doomed to living death, came
the inspiration 10 MoXimllian which was
expressed in his last expressive words
"Poor Carlotia :"
Nor is there in The records Of history,
as the last words Of a dying saint or hero,
anything given which appeals so tenderIy
10 our better nature, 10 all that beauties
and soliens the human character. as these
dying words Of NaximIisn-"Poor Car
loua - They will crown in history this
fallen man. However misguided lie was
in his ambition or in his acts az ruler,
those two words, with all their impressive
and redSemng associations, will crown
him with the flowers OF affection and the
laurels Of the hero. Had he reclied and
eloquonly vIndcaied every step and eve.
~ act in his imperial career he would
have failed 10 reach the eloquent defence
embodied in his dying exclamation Of
Poor CailoUa !" 70 her they will be
the words of restoration or dissolution;
for him they are the wreath Of lmmorioli.
ty. Poor CaElOlIa !'-New York Her
a!d.