American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1867-07-24
MAMMALIAN.

The French and Austrian empire in
inevitable from the morning at Appomat-
tox Couit House., Louis Napolecn's SUBJ
lime design of advancing the fortunes of
the Latin race was wholly contingent
upon the event of our war, which he had
entirely miscalculated Secretary Sew
ard had wisely left the question simple,
Without threatening he had been firm,
and Louis Napoleon knew perfectly well
that the Secretary's politeness meant
merely that if we remained o nation
France must leave this continent. Mr.
Seward bowed Louis Napoleon out of
| Mexico, and his majesty departed with
the loitiest phrases upon his tongue and
the finest air of condescension. He told
Maximilian to follow him. But the
young man, however deluded he may
have been by ambition, by the represen.
tations of Louis Napoleon, and by the
urgency of his father'in>law, King Leo>
pold of Belgium, who was, we imagine,
the one who originated the imperial cou7
spiraoy against Mexico, had certain
feeling of what he doubtless con-
sidered honor, which, compelled him to
remain true to the fortunes of those who
had summoned him to Mexico until they
we're wholly ruined, fs.,,,
Ruined they now arc, and finally
The young Austrian prin ce who, person.
ally, seems to have been an amiable and
mild man, has been put to death. The
event, after the many intercessions in his
favor, was unexpected, but it is not sur
.prising and in his grave is buried the
last attempt of any European Power to
meddle with arms in the politics OF this
continent. We say the event is not sur
prising. 1t could not have been so to
Macmillan himself unless no were alto,
gether less intelligent than his friends,
represent him. 1t is impossible that he
should not have known that any man who
undertakes to lead party in another
country during civil war, and who der
pends for success upon the arms of still
another power, if his party is defeated,
and if he falls into the hands of the vic,
tors, has less mercy to expect than a ma
tive leader might receive. But If, be.
sides being foreigner, he has ordered
the summary execution of his a1versa-,
ries taken in arms, his chances are much
less. And if the country in which he
temp:s all the risks is mexico, he has no
right to expect that if he fights to the
last against reason and against hope, ho
will escape the. doom which he has
awarded to others. When, therefore,
Maximilian refused to withdraw with the
French we have doubt that he fully
counted the cost and anticipated his fate.
Yet, none the less do we regret it.
However natural, however agreeable to
precedent such punishment may be, it
weakens a country to infiict it. Monkind
discriminate, and, we think, justly, be,
tween the deliberate murder of one man,
for instance, and battle in which many
men are killed, with a general political
intention, but without individual malice,
by those who take the risk of being
killed in turn. So, also, it distinguishes,
between snchsa foray as that of the Fer
mans into Canada, and participation ny
foreigner in civil war already engaged
as il was in Mexico. We do not. think
it would have been wise to hang. Jeffer-.
son Davis and Tor the same reason, IL
the English. Prince Alfred had been
elected the chief of the rebellion, and
had beeu supported by French arms, and
had fallen into our victorious hands as
Davis did, we should not have advised
his execution. Despicable obscurity
tempts no man, but a death which seems
heroic and illustrious invests the act
which caused it with immense attraction.
The fate of Jefferson Davis will make no
American Rebel; that of Robert Ems
met has made thousands of Irishmen
: Fenians
The Republican authorities Of Mexico
have judged differently, and their prob
able reasons must not be forgotten
They undoubtedly thought that if under
any pfetense whatever Maximilian es.
capped, the conclusion in Europe would
have been, either that the Mexicans did
not dare to harme Prince, or that an
other might be more fortunate But to
shoot an Austrian Archduke after court
martial like the commonest deserter would
be result about which there could be
no sophistication. We must suppose
also, that, among the ignorant and half
barbarcus population ofthe country, there
was clamor for the Princes execution
which would have questioned the loyalty
of the authorities had they used it.
So the Prince was shot. lie was only
thirty five years old, arniable, accomplish
ed, aud his wife insane from the horrors
of his position. YET, while ne pity him,
let us also pity his victims-pity tho
I other amiable and accomplished young
men, who. but for him, would be living
to-day. We will not judge him harshly.
He has paid the penalty Of his offenses,
whatever they were But when Theirs
or Jules Favres again arraign Louis Ma
: poleon, what thunder-bolt in their
, hands the fate Of Maximilian will be |