The New York herald., 1869-03-18

strictly enforce the law. We hope he will;
for these gigantic and powerful monopolies
need to be watched and kept within the limits
prescribed. -e,- .sN.e
Who Backed Napoleon Out Of Mexico -
The Jack.tn-she-Box Webb Shut Down
BY tho ChovaIier WikoG.
Who backed Louis Napoleon out Of Mexico?
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 States
the French evacuation, and that the Secretary
Of State (Mr. Seward) had nothing whatever
to do with it. Knowing very well, however,
swith all the world and the rest Of mankind,
as honest old Zack Taylor would express It,
that the Chevalier Webb has been diplomatic
highfyer and peacock with very long tail
of the most brilliant plumage, we could not
accept this claim on his part that to him exclu-
sively belongs all the honor and power and
glory Of backing Napoleon out Of Mexico
Having, too, vague recollection that the vol
unteer voyage of the Chevalier Wikoff across
the Atlantic in the fall of 1866 was in some
way connected with this Mexican question.
we 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
responding to our request, the letter from the
Chevalier Wikof, which we publish to-day,
like we'll 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 Box Webb having jumped up
full length on this Mexican question, the Che
Waller Wikoff 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 Wikoff, in every sense an
admirable letter, is in one view a very valu-
able one, and that is as contribution to the
inside history of Napoleons abandonment Of
his grand Mexican idea. The conferences in
the summer of 1865 between Wikoff and NJ
Montholon, the French Minister at Washing
ton and the conversations Of Wkoff with Pre-
sident Johnson and General Grant, for the
information of Montholonthe Secretary Of
State at that time lying still prostrate from
the wounds Of the assassin Payne-and the
whole chain of circumstances which resulted
in WikoA'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
tement 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 South
ern rebellion. We see that the views of Gen
eral Grant and General Sheridan at that time
concerning the French occupation of Mexico
alarmed the French Minister, and that in
detailing Wikof to impress all these facts upon
the mind of Napoleon the French Minister
acted wisely. We say wisely, because in
September, 1866, Napoleon, at Biarritz, was
absorbed in European affairs, and especially
in the grand designs entered into with the
great, Bismarck. Hence the fears of Montho-
lon that his dispatches on the Mexican danger
had escaped, and might escape, that serious
attention from the Emperor which the crisis
demanded, and hence the wisdom Of special
messenger from Washington to the Emperor on
this Mexican difficulty.
What was the result? On the 18th Of
October, 1865, by special appointment the
day before at the Tuileries, Napoleon gave
an audience at st. Cloud to Wikoff, and q
free conversation followed, embracing the
political situation at Washington, the dangers
of the French Mexican ENHANCEMENT and the
Emperor's views and purposes concerning IL.
The first visit of the Chevalier Webb to Napo-
leon on the subject was on the 10th of Novem-
ber, some three weeks behind Wikoff; so that,
as Wikof tersely puts it, when Mr.. Webb
called on the Emperor he had not only decided
to abandon Mexico, but had settled upon the
plan OF evacuation This settles Webb. His
claim rests on another mans -emption--his
Mexican patent is an infringement on another
mans patent right. In this case he is not the
peacock Hourshing his own glorious plumage
in the sun, but the jackdaw airing himself in
the peacock's feathers. wikoff considers it a
matter of no consequence, but we consider his
letter of very great consequence in settling
Webb, and from the light which il throws on
the direct influences behind the scenes operat-
ing on Napoleon in behalf of timely retreat
from Mexico.
SWEET ON THE GERMANS. The Albany
Epea,ng Journal, radical organ, has just dis
covered that the Germans have a weekly hoi-
day that does not exactly agree with Puritan
ical ideas, and throws out bait for the