Telegram-herald., 1886-07-25
EMPEROR M xlMlLlAN.
The Empress Eugenie Compelled Him 10
Accept the Crown to Keep il from
the Due de MOrny.


Bazaine, il will be remembered, headed
the French expedition to Mexico in support
Of the Emperor Maximilian. Upon how tri-
fling cause that important chain of events
turned was wonderfully related TO me by the
late Emile Perrin, the famous director OF
the opera. 1t was all about quarrel over an
opera box. NJ. Perrin told me the story as
follows: II was" he said. "as you know,
appointed ID my position by Count Wa
lewski, he being Minister of State. aud of
course / always felt myself under obliga-
ti0ns 10 him. When he resigned his
ministry he - of course, to give up his
official box at the opera. This he regretted,
as he and his wife were fond of the opera
and liked that particular box very much.
So a few weeks later when the box exactly
opposite 10 that one was given up. l went
right 10 the Count and told him. He was
delighted and would have engaged it. But
the Due de Morny also wanted the box,
and when be heard it was empty he got
the Emperor TO order nae TO give 1t
to him. | had To obey. OF course. and
WalewsH was disappointed. This natur-
ally caused quarrel between
Walewski and de MOrny. They would not
even speak TO each other any longer. Well,
soon after this the Mexicaus came over here
hunting for sovereign and seeking French
aid They invited Macmillan TO rule over
them He declined unless Napoleon would
give him 10000 French troops and
subsidy of S60000OOO This Ma
poleon and his Ministers declined
to do That decision was reached a Satur-
dav, and that night Walewski left Paris for
his country home. Monday he was re-
called in great haste The Empress Eugene
called him 10 private interview. You
are not on good terms with Morny2 she
/ cried. No. your majesty. Then You must
/ be reconci.ed with him at once. for YOU
alone have influence enough with him
I ID save US i do not understand This
is IT, them replied Eugenie. The MeXieans,
/ finding that they could not get Naximilian,
/ have actually offered their crown 10 the
/ Duc de Morny. Worse, he has ae-
cepted. on condition that Maximil-
ian's refusal is positive. Now. see.
/ Morny is impossible. All France
I and all Europe would revolt az the idea Of
making him emperor. IL would be mad
ness. Yet the conceted tool is bound TO do
IT, There is only one way out N0u can
persuade him 90 decline the offer. You
! alone can do it. You must do IT, You
/ must do IT, Name your reward and 10 IS
yours. only do this Your Majesty. said
/ WaieWski, ali ! have and al am is yours
I save my honor. That is my own. I can not
/ DO this. / can not debase myself by thus
/ going t0 the man who injured me Then,
mon Dieu CueJ EuEenie we must sacrifice
T Naximiiian after all The Council must be
rec0nvened and the subsidy and army
I granted Within half an hour the minis
/ tors met again aud reversed their action of
+ $50 days before Magimiiiau received the
L q F.4 al ffrv vf. ID
eyl.edition became fact. Aud ali because
I of thar opera box qusrrel fpr bad Wales
ssi hsen friendly wiih Moruv De- woI'd
have persuaded him 70 decline che offer.
sni Maxmiiau wouid have also declined
I r. and the Mezicans would aave fsd %
+ look elsewhere fo- an imperial martyr
F f Lrf 4s Hfa