New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1886-03-03
EL EMPERADOR,
Relics Of Maximilian's Short Reign in Mex
ico-New Details of his Execution at
Queretaro

Relics OF Maximilian's Short Reign in Mex
ico-New Details of his Execution at
Queretaro.
Boston Herald.
City of Mexico, October %, 1885
Eighteen years ago last June the En-
peror Macmillan fell, pierced BY bull
lets, on a hillside at Queretaro, slight
eminence which the tourist via the
Central Railway may catch passing
glimpse OF as he enters that interesting
old town. But eighteen years have
not sufficed to obliterate the memory
OF the Emperor. In the euro shops
mere you still find the Macmillan
dollar" with his effigy, and the beauti-
'ful Paseo remains to testify to his
purpose OF making this enchantingly
Situated capital the Paris OF the new
world. A sturdily built, handsome
young fellow, himself the grandson of
another Mexican Emperor, walks the
streets of the city. This young man,
accomplished and athletic, was adopt
ed, by Macmillan as his heir, and,
though a revival Of imperialism is inn
possible, the Prince Iturbide, as he is
universally called, may yet take an
important part in the game of Mexi-
can politics.
The same government which cher
1shes the memory of the emperor Itur-
ibide refuses to preserve the memorial
OF the reign of the Emperor Maximil-
ian. Wandering through the executive
apartments at the national palace the
other day, Inoted that wherever Maxi
milan had left thetcrowned eagle the
government had obliterated the crown
and left the Mexican eagle crownless
IN republican simplicity. But in the
splendid chamber where President
Diaz receives visitors the crowned
eagle remains. The superb room is
hung with crimson silk, on which IS ev-
erywhere to be seen the crowned i'm
perial eagle in raised figure.
10 have cut the crown would have
been to spoil the hangings, and so they
have been lett, mute memorials of the
dead ruler OF Mexico In the vast
apartment known as the Hall OF Am
sbassadors- portrait of the EN-
peror lturbide remains. but there is
no relic OF Macmillan You must
go to the National Museum,
also in the palace to see Maxi
:anilian's state dinner service,
which was an outrageous cheat If he
paid the price of silver for it, because
ut is nothing but q wretched com
3posite OF base metals thinly plated,
the proportion being ninety-ive per
cent. base metal and five per cent. sill
yer. Maximilian's state carriage re-
mains on show, and a really gorgeous
affair it is. His bust by Mexican
artist is also preserved in the museum,
where also are his orders and insignia.
But all these things are preserved, as
we might keep the uniform of a cap
tured British General, as trophies of
victory over an invader.
The Mexican Government has not
prosecuted the partisans of the En-
peror. On the very street where / am
writing lives, in a noble casa, the
Of the deputation ofnota-
bles who crossed the ocean to tender
to Macmillan at Miramar the fatal
imperial crown. The other day I read
over the address of this deputation,
in which was vaunted the superiority
of monarchial institutions, and the
assertion made that the Mexican peo-
pie desired the Austrian prince to
come and reign over them, that they
were weary of republicanism and
interminable internecine strife. The
reply Of the prince was enthusi-
astic, and in that same spirit Maximil-
IAN and Carlotta crossed the seas, be-
aieving that they were the desired Of
the Mexican people. Their deception
must have been complete. Prints of
that time represent the triumphal
arches erected on the main avenue OF
khe capital, and through that avenue
YOU see passing the carriage the En-
peror bowling to the right and left, &C
knowledging the plaudits OF the popu-
lace.
Personally, Macmillan was very
popular with the common people.
His memory is not execrated, but
rather he is regarded with a pathetic
sort of regret mingled with reproach-
zfulness. Macmillan was under bad
influences. His military advisers here
were n,ercilessly severe. They .coun-
seled harsh measures, and made the
Emperor believe that he had exhaust
ed the resources Of kindness, and
should put the knife in up to the hilt.
Macmillan and his wife were the ideal
:sovereigns OF the story books They
were easy in their manners and kind
to the common people; they were fond
of one another and had all thelovable
virtues, but the Mexican people; fierce
ly fond OF liberty, resented their in
trusion, and Juarez, the constitutions
al President, had earnest popular sup
port in his prolonged resistance to the
Empire.
The fatal blunder Of Macmillan, a
blunder which has left stain on his
name, was the issuance of the order
that all of the liberal chiefs taken in
arms after the expiration OF Juarez' S
term should be shot as traitors to the
empire. Juarez demonstrated, urging
that he was President, even after his
term of office expired, until the coun-
try could peacefully elect his success