New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-02-19
BANCROTT0S MEXICO.
TIE IMPERIAL EXPERIMENT,


AMERICA BY HUBERT HOWE BANCROFT . ,o
SINE TX McKee, ls6l-1ss7. svo, Up. XII too
San Francisco: The History Publishing 20 NV"
York: +. NJ Derby, General Agent
During the first years Of the period covered oy
Mr. Bancroft's last volume OF the History Vi
Mexico. that country WIS the object OF "luer
interest than il had attracted Tor a long 'ihie'
The occupation of tho United States Government
N .unprcssjne the Rebellion tempted Louis Ma
po,eon into one Of those enterprises to which nus
peculiar disposition always inclined him; ad-
ventures of which the underlying motive was vui-
gar ambition and greed, and which were pre-
sented to the world under clumsy disguise OF
mclodramatic sentiment and pretended loftiness
of purpose The ostensible excuse for French In
reference with the affairs OF Mexico was the fail
urc of the Republic to meet its financial obllga-
lions The pretext was Aimsy on its face. Eng
land was far larger creditor of Mexico, and yet
never contemplated seizure Of the debtor Govern
nent The truth was that Badinguet' asplred
TO emulate the First Empire. Like its founder
lac would erect new dynasties, and what could
rebound TO his fame more than the foundation OF
O latin Empire in the New World No doubt II
seemed TO that crafty but shallow spirit pc
culiarly subtle and well-cOnsidered project Al
ready in imagination he saw the dissolution OF
the American Union, and the crumbling OF that
formidable democracy whose prosperity ana eA-
ample were standing impeachments of Imperial
ism. Before Sumter was fired upon he wouid
not have entertained such scheme, for he knew
what American opinion was, and he was In no
condition to add the certainty Of a transatlantic
quarrel TO his European perplexities. But when
the North and South Joined issue in the field and
the great strife deepened steadily, Louis Napoleon
believed Intervention in Mexico could be safely
undertaken.
It is probable that had the ArchdulSe Max
imilian not been seduccd by tie vision of Mex
lean dynasty the search for an Imperial puppet
would have been long and the result dubious.
The ArchdulSe was marked out by character and
training for the position. AS a sailor he was Ill
vcrsed in politics. There was not perhaps an
other prince Of anything like his importance In
Europe who could have been persuaded to ex-
change the substantial hopes and expectations
he was warranted in indulging for the ar-dnwn
possibilities Of the Mexican adventure. Max
imilian was an amiable, well-meaning man, OF
tbrd-rate abilities, sanguine temperament ana
fatal infcriorty Of purpose. lie belonged 10 thao
class of men who apt to engage rashly III
difficult enterprises, because the undue strength
of their imagination equalizes in their Judgment
the actual facts and the results they hope Tor;
aud who certain to fail at critical Juhctures
because they are incapable of concentration
enough 70 master the bearings Of concrete situa-
tions The same mental habits which induced
Macmillan to accept the throne of Mexico which
the nation had not offered him led him subse-
quently to reject Bszaines wise advice to leave
the country and marshallei him to Queretaro
aud his death through his wholly baseless con-
fdence in conditions which were in the main but
the creations of his own fancy. But though he
was a weak man he was certainly not bad one.
lie believed that the Mexican people called him.
The foundation of that belief was one or those
forces In the shape Of the plebscte which the
arch-schemer was so familiar with. His fault was
that he did not ascertain the truth; that he per-
mtted himself to be deceived but it must be
remembered that he belonged to a royal house
long babituated to take ell its impressions OF
secondhand. lie went to Mexico full of good
intentions and profoundly ignorant Of the coun-
try and people.
1t was a hair-brained enterprise. Mexico was
rs usual in q state Of anarchy. The people had
become so used to revolutions and rebellions that
no treachcry stratagem, duplicity or hckleness
could surprise them. At this particular period
the anti-Juarists ready for anything which
promised to confound their opponent whose
chief fault it apparently was that he had proved
the ablcst President the country had secured for
many wears His enemies, however were bitter
and many, and they engineered the Imperial pro-
gramme playing into the hands of Louis Ma
poleon. Yet from the first it was clear enough
to dspassionate observers that the Empire was
an impossibility. Even putting ont Of considera-
ton the known policy Of the United States, 10
was apparent in the first three months of Max
imian's residence that his throne was wholly
sustained by French bayoncts. So long as
l. l. n MI
manned they could hold great deal of territory lint
even that tenure was conditioned upon perpetual
fighting Mexico was, in TRUTH more fornid-
able Agicrs and in the latter territory for twenty
years the conquerors could only claim the ground
on which they camped The forces of Juarez could
certainly not hold their own against the French
soldiers Whenever they risked battle in the open
they were defeated But, like the Spanish in
the Peninsular War, they presently discovered
that guerilla warfare more effective than
the regular kind, and their inferiority did not
prevent them from harassng and wearying the
invaders by incessant flying raids and razzlas'
Macmillan meantime played at governing 1t
il reallv M discredit TO him that he failed to sat-
isfy his native allies and supporters No man OF
their own race. however versed in their ways and
jnclinafions, however alert-mindcd, however pub
lic-sprited had succeeded in that nation so
capricicus irritable Irrational ungratcful, would
have bafilcd the most gifted ruler the world has
ever known, and this foreign prince, destitute OF
even the shibboleth Of rcpublicanism heir OF the
deepest rooted doctrines OF autocracy, could not
fill the position. Perhaps it may be doubted
whether he tried very seriously to do So IL
would have been quite natural for HIM 10 become
disguised with q situation so intolerabie IN many
ways. and the perplcxities OF which increased
continually. The poor man made many laws
,,one Of which was of any value lie borrowed
nancy from France as long rs he could. But the
outIooI, became more gloomy every month. Juarez
could not be nut down. Beaten at one point he
sDrong I'D at another, and kept Bazainc and ms
,icn,orants busy And this was not the worst
The War Of the Rebellion in the United states
...s l.oina. n.rninct 1hn Snnth and presently the