The Irish standard., 1891-02-28
A Sr'oRY OF The SIXTIES.
How the Austrian Archduke Maximilr
ian Tried to Become Mexican
Emperor.
PLOTS DIVULGED.

''Poor Oarlotta" Visited Europe to soliol
Assistance for the Arehduke But Il
Was Unsuccessful, &
The recent death of Archbishop La
bastida of the City of Mexico, togetbel
with the fact that it was that prelatt
vino officiated at the coronation OF tht
Austrian Archduke Maximilian. servea
TO recall memories of that stormy periop
in Mexico's history when the last Enit
peror Of France sought, for selfish reati
sons. to rob her people OF their national
independence and subject them to tht
rule OF foreign intruder. After Santa
Anna and his associates had disposed,
III 1924. of Yturbide who. though q
| Spaniard. managed by his intrigue and
Diplomacy to break the ties which had
bound Mexico to Spaln--bY shooting
him for venturing to return to MexlcOs
whence he had been officially exiied, ttla
Mexicans enjoyed certain species OF
autonomy and home rule up to 1858.
Their couQtry was not by any means
peaceful, though, Throughout the years
that INTERVIEWED between these two
dates. The most noted uprisings, per
haps, were those that were instlgated
by Benito JuareZ, a full bioOded Indian.
VINO was born in 1906, and who subse-
Quentlv attained great political prOmin-
ence, becoming minister of justice un-
der the government. In 1856 this plot
ter managed to set up a rival govern
ment to than OF General Miramon, and
the protraeted struggle for supremacy
that onsued between their respective
factions saddled on Mexico a foreign
debt of about SIS, ,000, 900, the creditors
being France, Spain and England.
Five years later our own civil wax
broke out, and Mexico's debt being then
unpaid, and having III the meantime
steadily Increased, her European credit
ors, taking advantage Of the cOmplica~
lions which prevented this country
from interfering, held joint conven-
tion and bound themselves TO send
troops to certain Mexican seaports, in
order to appropriate the revenues there
gathered from imports for the payment
of their respective debts. 1t is true
that they also pledged themselves ITO
make no acquisition of territory or
other special ADVANTAGE, and TO exercise
over the internal affairs of Mexico no
influence of a nature to impair the right
Of the Mexican nation to choose and
freely organize its own government" :;
and 1T is equally true that they invited
the United States to join their conven
ton and take similar action. They
we'll knew, however, that the American
government would refuse to participate
in any scheme so antagonistic to the
Monroe doctrine, and subsequent
events abundantlY demonstrated how
insincera they were in their pledges
not to OCCUPY any Mexican territory or
to interfere with the legislative auto
nomy Of the southwestern republic.
Secretary Seward, who was then at the
head of the state department, wishing
to prevent the foreign occupation Of the
Mexican ports, vet not being in a posi-
ton to forbid that, offered to guarantee
the interest on the Mexican debts for
period Of five years; but that offer was
not accepted by the European creditors.
for the simple reason that they had
other designs in view than securing
themselves against financial loss.
Early in the following year, 1852. a
foreign force of 10000 men arrived,
with the three European commissioners
and their suites, at Vera Cruz. The
real plan of the occupants was made
public when, at the first meeting in
Mexico of the commission, France
presented claims against the Mexican
government of $l2 900, ,O0O, or once and
half the sum total of that countrY's
entire foreign Indebtedness. Under
pretence of their inability to sanction
this claim, the English and Spanish rep
resentatives declined any part in the
subsequent proceedings, thus leaving
the way clear for Napoleon to carry out
his own designs. These were not long
kept secret. The French Emperor,
who was then desirous Of cOnciliating
the good will Of Austria, dispatched an
invitation to the Archduke Maximilian
to 60 to Mexico and accept the imperial
crown Of that country. and in order to.
show that he stood ready to assist him,
Napoleon sent large military force.
under the command of the late Marshal
Bazaine, to Mexico, whose capital CITY
was soon occupied BY the French
troops. Hesltant at FIRST, Macmillan.
who was hopelessly in debt, was ct
length bribed BY the payment on the
part Of Napoleon Of his debts to accept
this invitation, and in 1854 be signed