New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-12-12

adopted policy of massacre, il will BIO time 10 des
clare that the Archduke did not commit himself To
the consequences of the murterous October decree.
The assassinaiOns perpetrated Wholesale by the
Frcnchman Dupin, and the Mexican chiefs OIioran
and Marquee were all upon the side of the Empire yet
doubt not abhorent to the mind and heart OF Maxi
milan. The Empire employed the worst men OF
Mexico, beyond doubt If we are 10 imagine the class
OF partsans who followed the standard Of Miramon,
Mendez, and Marquee Catholic and aristocrat as ne
was and trained TO believe rather in policies
than in principles the evil surroundings of the Arch
duke might have befooled more fortunate and per-
laps wiser man. To be hemmed in by the bayonets
Of friends and foes TO be counseled by bigots aud
served by adventureIs-this was a situation from
which Macmillan might have honorably escaped
when he had the chance Pride and sense of honor.
not unmixed with ambition appear to have retained
him among 4 crowd of partsans deceptive in their
opinions and aims as only such Mexican partsans
could not be-not because they altogether dis
honest but because they were as badly Informed az
reactionsts usually are and operated under no per
manent principles. After having had semi-Lbersi
or Conservative Cabinet, the Archduke tried =
council of church psrtisans. aud at ono time be
mixed his ministry. Assisted by French soldiers,
Gnancers and money, aided by considers
Bile body of MexicaDs, with of their ablest COM
manders, advised by Cabinet Of tho most shrewd
and experienced men of the Church party. an'>ap-
plying all the arts of Mexican war and diplomacy.
still Macmillan failed and the reason for the fall
ure must be found in many causes The Arcbduko
was prodigal. but hardly more than the French
Emperor permitted. Many of his partisans were dis
honest but their chiefs went with him TO death he
may have been weak, but he comprehended al the
start q shrewd policy; in short it not any ono
mans blunder or fault that brought about the trag
edy OF Queretaro Let who will dare call Maxamil-
ian fool Napoleon was a much greater one in
exact proportion to his knavery At all events, the
fact has been settled in ruin and disaster, that
monarchcal institutions are not welcome ~ the
majority of the Mexican people.
Concerning the Liberals we must speak with equal
Justice and franllness Their strongest warrant for
doing away with the ex-Emperor was found In the
October decree. They could feel no safety with the
presence of such bad spirits az Miramon and Mar
quez; but TO have put these men to death witbout
their principal what would il have been in Mexican
eyes but making distinction in favor Of every for
eigner who came to usurp and slsyf The men who
went TO work at a blOOdless and revengeless recon-
sIucton of the South were shocked OF the verdict n
the Querctaro courtmartial aud the death of Vi
daurr: but perhaps sufficient attention has not been
gwen 10 one fact Behind all the extinguished I'm
pelalist leaders robbers and pronunciados such
as have seldom yexed any other country. Woaid
Santa Anna have been less mschief-maker If Maxi
milan we're free Would Negrete have had less TO
pronounce for if the boodes champions Of the priest
hood were aliyel If the administering Of the death
penalty be ustable only in the soyerest extremity
had not Mexico reached the point Of desperation
threatened by robbery and revolt worse than any
that have occurred in the past yeari If the question
be problematic even TO men of discernment we can
not assume to adiudge it sweepugly Several Of the
hot oil az nv the c3ntfa1
both monarchsts and resident here since the days OF
Arista have assured that in making the examples
alluded to the Mexicans Obeyed severe necessity.
But il was necessity that few will 10 gl0TIfy.
Not only were the acts in question addressed TO Inn
perialists and foreigners but against the class Gf
evils which followed upon every camp during the
war Of intervention. COnceiying that the country.
previous to its invasion by the armed knayes Of
France, enjoyed q comparative quiet the like OF
which it has not now, and gave such promise as ID
had not given before the BIexcans cannot lack galK
to make them feel their bitterly The
war against France which, in its prosecution.
wasted the Republic almost TO a formal shadow
of itself was. in effect, a war for Mexico
than for the Republic Considerable scOuDdrelism,
actuated by the sentiment of hostility to foreigners,
took part against the invaders, and Offset though
very feeby in comparison, some OF the 0utrages dond
by imperiasts But these men had not, so far ~
history Is aware been encouraged in official orders,
open or secret TO assassinate wholesale retail The
Mexican robbers could not of course remain DentrsI
In such contest they fought either side for thu
sake of plumber. and carried such rapine and wIoBs
in their train as usually attend bandittsn however
romantic patriotic it may be supposed to be- The
stranger is surprised. perhaps needlessy. at hearing
of dligcnces stopped and sacked by men who foneht
in the Liberal army. More than one regiment has
hal for its cOOnelS graduated robbers. A General.
well known 10 his countrymen, though happily noe
esteemed, is said to have left the service Of his
country on the highway with n very large fortune
believed to have been acquired by forced loans. Sew
eral other men bearing the titles of generals or
colonels. though not oil of them are now connected
with the Liberal arms, are notorious as having
started out as bandits. Col Norega is now telrorz-
ing over his bsliwick Of assassnations and robbery
between the Pachuca District and Tlaxcala. Tho
system of forced loans pursued IN all the reyolnhons
Of Mexico were the easiest induction imaginable 10
highway robbery. No doubt it wofully demoralissd
the people 1t was system carried on with maoh
greater rigor by the generals of Macmillan than
those who cOntended for Juarez, With delegated
plenary powers--a dangerous gift. but necessarily
given I'VE have all been robbers" remarked, IN
effect a delegate in Congress, in maintaining this
system Of forced loans 4 fear that the excellent
figures of the late Treasury report have this system
vet TO account for when is mainly that the debt OK
the Mexican Republic TO this date computed is less
than s4oO0eOo True, the Imperalists bled the peo-
ple even more freely and yet helped their master to
accumulate o debt of more than hundred millions.
according to the latest showing; but this does hoo
make the practice OF violent borrowing any more
admirable Needless is IL TO argue that the man
body of the Liberals were earnest and patrlone, IL
tolls priyations and blOOdshed be any showing.