The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-03-19
SPIRIT OF THE PRESS.
EDITORIAL OPINIONS OF THR LEADING JOURNALS
Urou OuRRBEY roPICs-coMPnKD HvHRY
DAY FOR THE EVENING vELKGRAPK.
Who Backed Napoleon Out Of Mexico! (!

Who Backed Napoleon Out Of Mexico!
FROM 0e ". =. Herald.
Who backed Louis Napoleon out OF Mexicoi
We have had brochure from the Chevalier
James Watson Webb, our Minister at Brazil,
In which he claims that he is the great man
that he arranged between the Emperor Napo-
leon and the President OF the united otsses
the French evacuation, and that tne oscresaly
of State (Mr Seward) had nothing Whatever
20 do with 1t. Knowing very well, however,
sswith all the world and the rest OF mankind,
ma honest old Zaok Taylor would express W
that the Chevalier Webb has been diplo-
matio highfyer and peacock with very long
tall of the most brilliant plumage, we coulo
not accept this claim on his part that TO MIN
ovcIusivelv belongs all the honor and power
and glory of backing Napoleon out OF Mexico
Having too a vague recollection that the vol
nnteer voyage of the Chevalier Wlkot across
Che Atlantic in the fall of 1860 was in some
way connected with this Mexican question,
sxe called upon him for the facts connected
with that mission to Napoleon, and now, as
rebutting testimony against the Chevalier
Webb. we have those facts. Gracefully re-
spending to our request, the letter
from the Chevaier Wikof, like a
well directed shot from heavy colum-
biad, not only strikes the Chevalier Webb
between wind and water, but shivers his tim
bers and sinks him. To change the figure,
the Jack in-the-b Webb having jumped up
full length on this Mexican question, the Che
Waller Wikof has modestly stepped forward
and shut him down again, and fastened the
lid over him-and there he is. 1t is neatly
done.
The letter OF Wikof, in every sense an ad-
nirable letter, is in one view very valuable
one. and that is as a contribution to the inside
history of Napoleon's abandonment Of his
grand Mexican idea. The conferences in the
I summer of 1866 between Wikoff and NJ. Mon-
tholon, the French Minister at Washington,
and the conversations OF Wikoff aud President
johnson and General Grant, for the informa-
tion Of Montholon the Secretary Of State at
that time lying still PROSTATE from the
wounds of the assassin Payne-and the whole
chain of circumstances which resulted in
Wikof's volunteer mission to Napoleon,
though only briefly sketched by the writer, are
exceedingly interesting as parts of the hitherto
unpublished inside history of the Mexican set
Element with Napoleon. We now know dis
tinctly the impression made upon the Govern
ment and the French Minister at Washington,
by the public opinion through the public
press of this country, with the collapse of our
Southern Rebellion. We see that the views
of General Grant and General Sheridan at that
time concerning the French occupation of
Mexico alarmed the French Minister, and that
In detailing Wikoff to impress all these facts
upon the mind of Napoleon the French Minis
ter acted wisely. We say wisely, because 10
September, 1865, Napoleon, at Biarritz, was
absorbed in European affairs, and especially
In the grand designs entered into with tn,
great Bismark. Hence the fears of Montho
Ion that his dispatches on the Mexican DANCE
had escaped, and might escape, that seriou
attention from the Emperor which the crisi
demanded, and hence the wisdom Of a specia
messenger from Washington to the Empero
on this Mexican difficulty.
What was the result On the 18th of OF
tober, 1865, by special appointment the da
before at the Tuileries, Napoleon gave a
audience at st. Cloud to Wikoff, and a fire.
conversation followed, embracing the politics
situation at Washington, the dangers of tn
French Mexican ENHANCEMENT, and the En-
per0r's views and purposes concerning il
The first visit of the Chevalier Webb to Ma
pole0n on the subject was on the 10th {
November, some three weeks behind Wikoff
SO that, as Wikoff tersely puts it, "Whsn Mr.
Webb called on the Emperor he had not only
decided to abandon Mexico, but had settle
upon the plan of evacuation" This settle
Webb. His claim rests on another mau'
pre-empti0n-his Mexican patent is an in
fringement on another mans patent right. Il
this case he is not the peacock fourishing hi
own glorious plumage in the sun, but the jacH
daw airing himself in the peacock's feathers
Wikof considers 1t a matter of no CONS,
quenoe, but we consider his letter of yer
great consequence in settling Webb, and frol
the light which it throws on the direct inf,
ences behind the scenes operating on Nap
leon In behalf of timely retreat from Mexic