New-York tribune., 1881-09-11
NAPOLEON III. AND MEXICO
From Temple Bar.

The Mexican Expedition, " la plus belle pens6e lie
PEmpire," as it was styled, was, as is we'll known
an infamous speculation got up by DE Molnv Jecker
aud others, and with which the VIII of the Mexican
people had nothing to do Not t. speak of he hun
dreds of thousands of families in France who lost
money by the Mexican loan. this war cost the conn
try millions ont of her treasury decimated her army
and caused great monetary loss TO both countries
IN stopping for fifteen years the happy comm rcial
relations that had hitherto existed between them.
How much he will of the Mexican people had 10 do
with il may be gathered from one fact When Max
milian and g Princess Charlotte landed al Vera
Cruz IN 1864, they only numbered Bot, 900 adher-
ents among population of 1000 600. IL was little
likely that the new Government should meet with
sympathy. The Constitution was overthrown. the
Natonal institutions destroyed, the country devas-
laleu WITH ne anu sword, and thousands nhabi-
t@nts shot down in cold blood for merely resisting
me invaders. he Emperor MaXimlilian was per-
hapS as much the victim of his own ambition as of
intriguing speculators. For years, according 60 his
own showing ne haa dreamed OF empire. In hls
memoirs he writes how agreeable ii must be TO
stand amid bowed heads and to feel oneself supreme
as the sun IN the armament" To the last. eCged on
by has clerical advisers and by terrorism lac tried to
retain his hollow dignity of Emperor. And, TO the
last he looked for support from Napoleon III. The
Mexican affair. however turning out losing game
Maximilian was left TO his fate. The Archdnke had
married belgian princess, granddaughter of Louis
Philippe, lady of high spirit. amnitious vet We
must believe, imbued with romantic notions of her
husbands mission. The unhappy princess. seeing at
last that her husbands only CHARGE of help Ian i'm
Napoleon Ill, sailed for Europe landed af 81
Nazalre on the Sth of August, and that same night
started for Paris.
On the morning OF the 9th she arrived at the
Grand Hotel.
The Court was at St. Cloud and on demanding an
interview of the Emperor, she was informed that
his Majesty was i'll and could not see ler The two
Empresses, however, exchanged visits; and arrived
al ST. Cloud, the Empress Charlotte insisted on
being received into the Imperial closet Then en-
sued, we are told a scene which must have haunted
Louis Napoleon 10 his dying day. When 20 PRAYERS
tears and agonized supPlications on her part. his
only reply cOldly reiterated, IL is useless TO
insist, Madam, not a crown not a soldier" the prin-
cess whom such cruel anXeties had already brought
to the verge of madness, gave way TO frenzied ut
ferances recalling the piece Trojan Cassandra'
Rising from her ablcct position as suppant She
drew herself up TO her fun height and with n kind
of inspiration propheSed TO the tyrant the de-
struction of his dynasty and cursed him TO his fate
" "Ahw she cried, Il know you Avenge yourself ON
the granddaughter of your beneiactor Loais
Philippe, who rescued you from the scaiiold aud
from want" The Emperor turned pale. and she
went on You hope, do you not, TO get possession
by means of your police of all the letters and papers
that witness Your pledges TO my husbandg They
in place of safety" After predicting his down.
fall she added, tears choking her utterancc. May
the curse OF God rest on you Cant" and then
Quilted the palace -Four years later, ON the decls-
ration of war with Prussia Napoleon Ill. not ven
turing TO show himself in the streets of Paris de-
parted from the Palace of ST. Cloud wherein tlds
interview with the Empress Charlotte had taken
place. BY an irony of fate he entered the railway
at the little station in the park, called the "sare
des Fetes" tthe Station of Fetesl.