The New York herald., 1878-12-14
PEEPING INTO THE PALACE.
A Fickle, Obstinate Emperor, With
out a Policy or Plans.
POOR CARLOTTA." !"
Sad "reminiscences Of Her De-
parture from Mexico.
GRIEF DETHRoNES HER REASON.
a f1apsburg as Seen Divested
sssA.s OF "RoyaI Estate


- f1apsburg as Seen Divested
,sA OF "Royal Estate
- le0AAAri-9 80 ----- >----- ---g g1s ca ~
4C6ntsnporaneous history probably presents no
- fSr Of dramatic interest than the story Of the
Mexican Empire under Maximlian. Sad and touch
Ing were the newspaper reports of the incidents
which befell the OF the Austrian Archduke and
his unfortunate wife. carlotts they pale before the
truth Of history Is now carefully told by French
man. well known in this country. and whose in
timate relations with the imperial household enabled
him to gt1er facts which he has inst given to the
world nov that ten years have passed since the fall
The Empire and the death Of its ambitious ruler The
story Of Maximilian and Carlotta will always be q
subject Of surprising interest to American readers
work. which he calls "Un Essai sd'Empire
su Mexique." writes with the full knowi-
edge that his pages q viii be criticised
on both sides Of the Atlantic. Shortly after the
adjustment Of the Empire he left this city for
Mexico, filing several responsible positions there
The picture he draws Of the Emperor the description
he gives OF his habits and his character showing that
Maximilisn himself was the cause Of his own down.
fall as well as the revelations he makes in regard to
the imperial household. win add fresh interest to
scenes not yet forgotten in this country least
is understood that M. Masseras viii soon publish his
work in book form. The extracts here given are
from recent numbers Of the Revue de Frasce fort
nightly review published in Paris where NJ. Masseras
MAxr,uLIAN PHOTOGRAPHED.
speak in the presence Of grave, before which the
entire world stands with poignapt grief But though
. brave death may cover the faults Of lifetime it
cannot eace them entirely when the faults belong
the domain. Of history. Notwithstanding the fact
that he has paid for them with his blood the faults
Of the Archdukc Maximiliar live after him. They
viii reappear every time when efforts ire being made
to study events in which fto dccfeed that he should
pay grand role. These faults. IL must be admitted
the result 81 his nature rather than Of his In
tentions The reputation for political tact scquired
by him in Italy, thanks to happy circumstances and
thanks also to council Of great men who surrounded
him, had made people lose sight Of the crrors
committed during rather wild career while Maxi
milan was yet young. Attractive exterior qualities
lively intelligence. easy method Of speaking.
amcnity Of manner which was captivasing-all these
tended to create illusions in regard to the soldy Of
character which ought to have been found under
this happy exterior. Hardly, however. had he been
put to real workdclivered over in fact to himself
and become absolute master Of his actions-when ho
showed himself to be man far different from one to
whom tho world Of day to trust the founda.
ton of empire. Light hearted, IL not frivolous;
tickle. If not capricious; incapable Of following
set Of ideas for his conduct; irresolute at one
time and absolute at another; quick to observe
passing events without attaching himself either to
certain things certain persons fond Of ever-occur
ring changes with . terrible horror OF eanui dis
posed fly into miserable details to get rid Of
serious work having no experience nor taste for
grave considerations of State--the Prince who was
charged with the reconstruction Of Mexico was in
every respect the very opposite Of what the country
and its situation demanded. With such tempera-
ment everything in his conduct became contradic-
tory. The favorites of day found themselves
neglected the very next day. without any know
ing why they had been favored why subsequently
disgraced. The political party which in moment
had found itself in favor at Court learned the
ncxt moment that imperial preference and con-
6dence had been bestowed upon their opponents.
Promises werc heaped upon another without
being kept. and hundreds Of projects followed one
another without being realized Placed In sit
ustion where the most enlightened activity on the
part Of the Executive would have found ample work
In directing the work Of his ministers he had taken
the entire government under his control. His pri-
vate cabinet was flled with papers concerning the
most important we'll the most trivial questions.
And yet the most Of his time taken up with per-
fectng code Of etiquette. ordinances in regard
to public csremones. regulations for the formation
- -
Eagle. the Installation Of the court theatre, his
equpsses and the livery Of his man. All these mat
ters. indeed. occupied whole weeks % his time. A.
terward came botany and archaeology. for which hc
entertained great passions With the word organize
tion always his lips he prepared with his own
hands the chaos under which tho Empire dissp-
peared
= A PRINCE or CHAOTIC MIND.
II will. therefore, not be surprising to state that
person like this induged in the most thoughtIess ex-
trsvagances in the most inconsdersas disorder in re-
gard TO oil money matters Tho Archduke Mxximil-
ian never knew how to keep sccouns, and the pccu-
mary state In which he found himself when the Mcx-
an throne sought him we'll known TO people In
Europe Nevertheless, Emperor of Mexico ought
TO have been able count the cost But he belonged
to that class Of persons ocrn for easy life who
eschew all care about payments by consoling them
selves with the idea that tho money will be found
somewhere. M Masscras relates how Ministers were
compelled TO make room In their public ofhccs for
innocent smusemcnts how ac0.000f. were sppropri
aed for court theatre, aud how, in the midst Of
all this. somc oficial upon presenting warrant to
the Cashier Of the Treasury. this latter Official held
mp twenty franc piece. saying that this was all
thcrc was IN the Treasury and insisted upon
kcepng that piece as token OF curiosity.
When these matters to the ears Of tho Emperor
no became exceedingly angry, accusing everybody
snd holding the French administration responsible
for this state Of affairs. But it was really from the
beginning Of Masimilan's reign to tho very end the
same story Of III regulated expenditures and blind
carelessness. and even the most crucl embarrass-
ments the hardest lessons. the constantly growing
pc,,uro,sness. could not in tho least suggest the
ncanest attempts at amclioratiou During the three
Years of tue Empire adds the author In q foot note1