The Montana post. [volume] (Virginia City, Montana Territory [i.e. Mont.]) 1864-1869, 1867-03-02
AN EMPIRE IN AMERICA.

AN EMPIRE IN AMERICA.
Latest advices state that the French
troops have all left the city of Mexico,
and Maximilan remains. The French
Emperor has peculiar abilities in shaking
offdependents upon his military strength
after it once becomes evident that further
support is likely to provoke hostilites.
recent instances of this policy. AS we
predicted, Max. remains to found an I'm
perial Government among the Aztecs,
and rear monarchy upon the shattered
remnants of a score of defunct Govern
ments. Cut loose from the authority of
Napoleon, and unsupported by the
French army, it will be interesting to
note the policy by which this brave, but
fated monarch, will endeavor to harmon
ize the many contending elements exist
ing in Mexico. He has an army of 3d.
600 men, and proposes to remove the
seat of Government to Puebla, after
having levied tax of one per cent upon
the inhabitants of the present capital
This may be judicious, but it does not
evidence that fact to us. The stongest
friends of Maximilan are in the city of
Mexico. His departure will be the signal
for occupation by the Liberals, and again
taxed and occupied by them, Maximilian
will be cut off from their assistance, and
his influence weakened. If, within a
few short months, this newly projected
government does not prove as ephemeral
as any ofits predecessors, past experience
is no criterion for the future. The ques-
ton is, does the withdrawal of the French
expeditionary corps, with the action of
Maximilian, release our government from
further action, ifit proposes to sustain the
Monroe doctrine, which has become a
component part of it's national policy =?
We think not. In his annual message
to Congress, sent in December 2d, 1923,
James Monroe then President of the
United States, announced the settled
policy of this nation in regard to the
extension to any part of America, of
European systems of Government The
following extract from that message
show the principles laid down, and which
have been tacitly admitted by foreign
powers, and adopted by the American
people, as cardinal principles of our
foreign policy.
" In the wars of the European powers, in
matters relating'to themselves, we have never
n
policy to do so. The political system of the
European powers is esseptially different from
that of America. We owe it, therefore, to can
dor and to the amicable relations existing be-
tween the United States and those powers, to
declare that we should consider any attempt
on their part to extend their system to any
portion of this hemisphere as dangerous to
our peace and safety.
"Our policy is not to interfere in the in
ternal concerns of Europe, OF any of the
European powers. It is impossible that these
powers should extend their system to any part
of America without endangering our peace
and happiness. With the existing colonies or
dependencies of any European power we have
not interfered, and shall not interfere. But
with the governments who have declared their
Independence, and maintained it, and whose
independence has been acknowledged, we
could not view any interposition for the pur-
pose of depressing them, OF controlling In
any other manner their destiny, in any other
light than as a manifestation of an unfriendly
disposition towards the United States
While it may be urged that the En-
pire proposed, is to be founded on the
wishes, of at least a portion, of the
Mexican people, without the assistance
of foreign arms, it must not be forgotten
that its inception was under the auspices
of the French legions, and that an Empire
is an extension of European system of
government to this continent, and an
encroachment upon the Monroe doctrine
in letter and spirit. Unhappy children
of the sun, distracted descendants of the
Montezumas, there is but one balm in
Gilead to heal your wounds; but one
physician there, with power to do you
good, and until Uncle Samuel anoints
the dividing line with the ointment of
annexation, you will not likely recover
from the grievous ills you have been
heir TO, or breathe the air of Gbert y un-
polluted by the fumes of villainous
saltpeter."
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.
EDITOR Posr: Please answer the fol-