The national Republican., 1867-05-31
s.- Nosic..-rhs DAnr NATIONAL RnrusLIo
THE DOWNFALL OF THE MEX
ICAN EMPIRE.

Will uV Weil W pOnuer. In an evil nOur
he listened TO the promptings Of mis-
guided ambition, but more especially to
the willy and perfdious advice Of that
crafty and unprincipled man, LOUIS NAro-
LEON. He staked his all, as it were, upon
the hazard Of q die, and he has lost. 1t
was not possible it should have been
otherwise. All attempts to found govern
ments upon wrong and usurpation must
sooner or later prove futile, and the Arch
dukes attempt in this instance has had an
ignominious failure. 1t will be recollected
just how this project Of establishing q
monarchy in Mexico upon the ruins of re-
publicanism had its beginning. In 1861
England, France, and Spain entered into
treaty stipulations for the avowed purpose
of compelling the Government of Mexico
to grant certain protection to persons and
property Of foreign residents, and also to
collect certain moneys said to be due those
Powers from the authorities Of Mexico.
They agreed to send naval force into
the gulf and to seize Vera Cruz and Tam
pico, and, if necessary, to march upon the
capital OF the country, and thus compel
the adjustment Of these trumped-up claims
Accordingly Vera Cruz was captured-in
April, 1862, we think it was. This part Of
the programme having been carried out,
quarrel ensued among these high contract
ing parties, and England and Spain backed
out, and their transports containing the
soldiers Of these two countries withdrew,
leaving the French alone in Mexico. And
now NAPOLEON, seeing that the United
States had on its hands gigantic civil
war, concluded this was the opportune mo-
ment for him; and that by seizing Mexico
he would be in position, when the South
obtained its independence, to propose q
consolidation with these Southern dis.
severed States from the American Union, |
and thus a grand empire, occupying the
central portion Of America, might be con-
structed, and republicanism existing in
the Northern States would be shorn Of its |
power, and go to speedy decay. This was
the scheme of NAPOLEON III. We now
see how completely it has been frustrated.
We believe it was General AIMosrE, a |
Mexican officer Of some note, and consid. |
erable power and influence man who |
had once been President of the Republic,
that first proposed the ovsrthrow of repub.
licanism in Mexico, and the establishment
of monarchy in its stead, and he named
the Archduke MAMMALIAN, of Austria, as
the proper person to come to the throne
of the Empire, and called upon the allies
to establish his right to reign.
The prosecution Of this business of es-
tablishing Mexican Empire, under the
direction and guidance Of LOUIS NAPOLEON,
went forward for time swimmingly.
French troops were sent into the country
TO reinforce the exhausted forces already |
there, which had been depleted by small
pox. In May, 1868, Gen. FoREY, after
having routed CoMoNEoRr's troops, made
q triumphant entrance into Puebla after
a siege OF two months. JuARRz with the
remnant Of his army, accompanied by
Congress. retired to San Luis Potosi, and
here he made stand and established his
Government. The French and Austrians,
under Gen. BAzAlYE, entered the capital I,
IN June 10th, and organized what they
'alled Provisional Government All .
his was done under the auspices of that n
Infamous assembly Of notables who stood .
eady to betray their country into the n
lands OF the invader. Without debate, on .
July 10th, just one month from the date
u the entrance of the invader into the 4
lty OF Mexico, by a vote Of 2l3 to 2, this I
'ody of traitors declared an imperial Gov. r.
'rnment, and proclaimed that MAxIMrIIAN. L,
Archduke Of Austria, was the chosen and
accepted Emperor of Mexico. In case
his Prince did not accept, it was provided ,
hat NAPOLEON should he requested to
iame his --~youtute. MACMILLAN accept
ID, but at the same time intimated that he
would do so only upon the ratification of
he people of the whole country. If there !
was any ratification we have net been able
10 discover it.
when the hist f.ory of MACMILLAN reign
s written :. will constitute an interesting
'hapr .sr in history. In the compass of a
newspaper article we can only glance at
it. We must leave for other and more
able hands the development of the full de-
tails Of this eventful reign.
MAMMALIAN struggled hard and seemed
anxious to establish in Mexico a perlna-
nent government; but the people did not
want him, and besides, the people of the
United States could not and would not
tolerate a monarchical Government in
North America, especially when it is at
tempted to erect such Government upon |
the ruins of a Republic. The United
States House of Representatives were
unanimous in repudiating this Govern
ment, which it was attempted to force
upon the people Of a sister Republic, and
Mr.. SEWARD gave the French Minister to
understand that the resolution of Con-
gress was the sentiment Of the people Of
the United States.
Our rebellion being over, and Mr.. Sew.