The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-04-07
The Memory OF a Dream.


The Memory OF Dream:
The cable informs us OF an interesting eele-
bration that took place on Saturday in the
beautiful city of Trieste. monument has
been erected to the memory of the late Maxi
milan, Archduke OF Austria and Emperor of
Mexico This monument was unveiled on
Saturday in the presence of the Emperor,
the Archdukes, the Austrian Ministers and an
immense concourse of people. We are told
that great enthusiasm was shown, that
/ speeches were made eulogistic of Macmillan,
and expressing the affection of the people of
Trieste for the House of Austria The EN-
peror was deeply moved, and he cordially
thanked the people for their manifestation of
loyalty. Trieste was the home of the Emperor
Macmillan, and those who have visited that
beautiful nlyrian capital will remember the
Gothic Castle of Mramar, which juts into
the sea. This was Maximilian's home. Here
he spent the best part OF his life 1t was here
he received the delegation from the Mexican
Assembly of Notables who offered him the
crown of Mexico. Here he renowned solemnly
oil his right 70 the Austrian crown, and on the
18th OF April, 1864, in the thirty-second year
of his age, sailed in the Austrian frigate
Noyaro, to enter upon the government of his
new dominion. The story of that reign, of
the French occupation, of his abandonment
by Bazaine, of his gallant resolution not to
be taken out of Mexico by French bayonets
like refugee, the treason of the adventures
who surrounded him, of his last gallant at
tempt to sustain his crown, of his imprison-
ment, his condemnation by military council
and his execution at Queretaro, on the 18th
of June, 1867, in the thirty-ffth year of his
age, form one OF the most tragic chapters in
the history of the nineteenth century. If
anything would round this tragedy it would
be the still sadder late of his wife, the beauti<
full Carlota, sister of the Belgian King,
who, while all was going badly
with her lord, took that sad errand to France
and Rome to entreat the interference of the
Pontiff whom she believed to be all-powerful
with God and the French Emperor, who was
then thought to be all-powerful on earth. The
result of that errand was the loss of her rea-
son, and since then she has lived in the splen-
did palace of Lacken, the object of the pity Of
mankind.
As princes go, Macmillan was a model gen.
!leman, soldier, scholar and statesman.
He showed princely ambition in leaving his
position as an Archduke of the Austrian En-
pire, high in the confidence and affection Of
the Emperor, with all the splendors of a noble
court, to found dynasty in Mexico. What
ever may have been the motives Of Napoleon in
tiy,r, hova al
the part taken by Macmillan as the generous
effort Of bold and gifted young man to add
to the glory Of his house and to be Of some
use to mankind. To US the occupation OF
Mexico by Macmillan was political menace
addressed by Napoleon to this Republic at a
time when it was thought that disunion would
destroy our power. The execution of Maxi
milan was regarded by many of our people
rs just retribution for the part he took in
what was practically q threat against the
Union. But if any sovereign could have
made Mexico great nation it would have
been Macmillan. His dream of founding
Latin empire on the shores Of
America had a swift and tragic end
ing, and with it forever passed away any
nope VI cSthDlshALS III chiphO II ANOIlH
America. But the memory OF Macmillan
will always be respected by those Americans
who honor personal virtue, courage, scholar
ship and high nobility Of soul. He died like
gentleman and king There was nothing
in his administration Of the Mexican nation
to dshonor either his manhood or his rank.
This dream Of Mexican empire is revived
by the story Of the monument at Trieste and
the gentle and solemn ceremonies that at
tended it. So far as our sympathies are con-
cerned they 90 with the Emperor Of Austria,
who mourns the death OF one Of the most
brilliant Of his race, and one whose fate has
already become q romance, and whose name
viii probably live more tenderly in the
imagination Of posierity than if he had been
q successful conque-or or great king.
Confederate View or the Ccnten-