The Irish standard., 1891-02-28

SATURDAY. FEBRU
away all his hereditary right to th
Austrian crown and started for Mexico
reaching Vera Cruz May % Of tina
year. and straighGwaY fastening on t.
the capital, where he was, in due sea.
son, crowned by the lately deceased
prelate Of that city.
| The Austrian usurper had an army o.
some 40 600 men to defend his claims tt
the crown, but he had also determined
antagonist in the person of 3enitt
Juarez and his party, who, n0twith
standing that two years had elapsed
sinca the coming of the troops, in 1862
as above recorded, held possession OF
thirteen of the Mexican states and an
nonnced their intention Of never sub
mitting to the usurpation by Maximil
ian OF their countrY's government.
| There seems to be no room to doubt
that Macmillan himself was honestly
and amicably disposed towards the
MexlcaDs. His big mistake was in ac-
cepting as true all the false representa-
tions OF Napoleon, who had assured
him that Mexico would welcome his
coming as q relief from internal dis.
putes and factions; that the United
States would speedily recognize his eu-
pire. and that everything would 60 On
smoothly. The archduke was not long
in discovering that not one of these
Napoleonlc assurances was sound. The
Mexicans, instead OF welcoming him,
took up arms against his usnrpati0n.
The United States. without interfering
in anv open way, through the gallant
aud lanented General Sheridan, WHO
was then IN cE arge OF the southwestern
district. lent tflG Mexicans all the aid it
could; and the storv is told of Sheridan
that, wishing to let some Of Uncle Sans
boys help the MeXicans ACROSS the river
on one occasion, and fearing interna-
tional complications. he obviated the
difficulty by discharglng regiment for
a couple OF days, the understanding be-
ing chat the discharged Esen should, as
they did, cross the Rio Grande and fight
against the imperialists. after helping
to whip whom they returned and re-,
enlisted in the federal army again.
sss, In the desperate straits in which he
soon found himself, Maximiiian sought
to conolliaJe Mexican favor by promis
inc that one OF the imperial Mexican
family would be his successr, and he
succeeded in inducing one Of the Ytur
bides to accept the really generous Of
fers looking to that purpose which he
held out to that family. Thls step
proved another blunder. however. and
led to International complications when
the Yturbides, who were fOrcibly de-
ported from Mexico. carried their case
first to Washington and then to Paris,
demanding that Maximllian should
surrender the Young prince of the fam
ily whom he had kept in the hope that.
bV announcing him as his successor, he
might disarm the increasing hostility
of the Mexlcans.
When he saw that this plan had mis-
carried. the archduke made the mistake
of listening to his military advisers and
Of acting on their racom nendations
shat martial law be declared and no
quarter given the patriots who refused
to acknowledge his supremacy, TO
what extent these recommendations
went may be judged from the following
order which Bazaine sent to his sub
aItern officers IN 1866: 1.-The troops un-
der your orders will make no prisoners.
Everv Individual, OF whatever rank,
taken with arms in his hands, shall be
put to death In future let there be no
interchange OF prisoners. Let our SOL
diers understand that they cannot sur
render to such men. This is death
struggle. On both sides it is onlv
question of killing or being Killed.
The effect of this inhuman order can
readily be imagined. The Mexicans be-
came more than ever determined to
drive Macmillan out Of their country,
and his situation became so desperate
that in 1865 the archduke dispatched his
wife. ''Poor Cariotta," to Europe to ask
assistance for his totterlng throne. Her
errand proved fruitless one, however.
Napoleon, who had gotten the unfor
tunate Austrian into ali the difficulties
that surrounded him. refused, for the
reason that he was unable, to give him
any further help. The Holy See, whose
sanction the archduke foolishly i'm
agined he had secured by visiting the
Vatican, in 1854. prudently declined to
interfere IN the matter one way or the
other, though the archduchess, in her
desperation besought Plus TX. and Car
dinal Antonelli to come to her hus
bands rescue. Disappointment robbed
the unfortunate lady of her mind and
necessitated her inclusion in private
retreat, where she died a few years ago,