New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-07-06
NEW PUBLICATIONS,
THE LAST MEXICAN EMPIRE.

csting episodes in the history OF the American
Continent for the theme of his little book. n 1ar
more elaborate work might easily have been
written on the subject But Mr. Taylor has
caught all its most important features ana
these were many, for the French fasco In
Mexico touched the international politics of all
Christendom west of Russia. Not only the En-
peror of the French but the Emperor of Aus
tria the Pope the Spanard and the Engish
Cabinet had a finger in the pOTrdge, and the
United States came like the bad little boy In the
nursery tales. 70 upset the platter 40 plood
can be wasted now by wondering what Woulu
have happened If the French had ignored inc
polite hint that their room was better IMAM their
company in North America; or IT, on the o'her
hand England at The bidding OF LORD Johh
Russell, had refused the Geneva aroitrauoh'
The possibility Of pittng the veterans OF the
Civil War against the trained troops or the TWO
Powers that We're then the strongest IN the
world will always be regretted by those VINO
love a fight for tho science that can be put
into it. Mexico could not nave been made
much hotter than It was but the temperature
Of Canada would have been raised several de-
rrecs I, will perhaps be a long time before
America has another army Ike that with which
10 sustain its diplomacy Then il wouid have
boen a word and a blow and the two might
have come so near together that no umeplece
could mark the interval Now. the eN-
merits can wranglc over the time required in the
field TO turn tho splendid militia Of the country
into a machine efficient for war. BIT the spec
tacle Of hardened soldery II opposing nation
aIit!es in battle on North American soil was put
off to a season move convenient for everybody
except the Americans themselves.
Mr.. TAYLOR gives the substance Of all that has
been said about the absorbing interest taken by
Napoleon III in the approaching conflict De-
tween Prussia and Austria an excuse for
yielding to the almost peremptory demands OF
the United states for the withdrawal of French
troops from Mexico The outcome Of that brief
war showed plainly enough that the French En-
pire had little need at home for the 10000 troops
sent TO support Macmillan. and the emphasis is
all the heavier on the American side OF the
diplomatic controversy. which ended In the
death Of a man who might have been celc-
brated savant if he had not unfortunately been
a royal parsonage. Macmillan was an admira-
bic parsonage He was able to meet the SIM
plest Of men upon their own level When the
train which carried him to the capital was
stopped by a small accident. he was down in
moment In friendly talk with the engineer II
he had been an ordinary man his death would
have been little better than suicide. Nothing
was easier for him than to escape. The Next
verbal golden bridge for a flying foe But in
the last act of the tragedy, as in all that had
preceded 1t from the time Of landing on Mexican
soil Macmillan was faithful to the traditions
Of European royalty. In the Old World his con-
duct would have seemed that of a princely
hero. But 1t was an anachronism in America,
and ii would be hard to make a drama Of 1t that
would not seem to involve element of farce.
Perhaps the very soldiers who fired the fatal
volley were barefooted and some Of them were
Indians only few generations removed from
savagery 1t was poetic justice that the leader
OF the Mexican people against exotic impe-
rialism should himself be a full-blooded de-
scendant Of the native race. Juarez had op-
portunity which Philip and Tecumseh and Black
Hawk and Osceola and Geronimo and Sitting
Bull longed for in vain. He showed a foreign in
vader the way out OF his country. And he
could appreciate his triumph like a of the
dominant race, since he was man Of high edu-
cation.
In the fate Of Macmillan and in the rise Of
Juarez TO power there lie all the possibilities Of
romantic and dramatic fiction. The story is
completed in its melancholy pathos by the fig
ure Of Carlotta. During the period Of her
activity she was the central parsonage of the
history Her MISUNDERSTANDING. gentleman and
prince-was noteworthy beside her. because he
The forces Of Church and society were mar
shalled by her. and it was she who made the
last effort to keep Napoleon III to his prom
Uses, TO animate the family feeling OF Austria
and TO awaken the sensibiliues Of Plus Kim
possible tasks ali. No wonder her nervous sys-
TEN gave way in the midst Of her hopeless
labors. But she also in her character as EN-
press. anachronism in the Western
world. Mexico needed great woman as a
social leader perhaps. but the country could not
assimiate a princess whose social leadership
meant politica, domination. When il comes to
rulership in the New World the candidates must
take their chances The chances were all
against Carlotta Her sympathies with the
Church were longer shared by the subjects
whom she sought to conciliate; nor could she
animate Mexican society with ideas which in
Europe had become nseparabe part Of her
own life. II was impossible for her to make
her own place in Mexico. and in Europe she
found that the departure of herself and her hus-
band had left no vacancy. The Inflated pair
were the victims OF a speculative diplomacy
which was marked for destruction. When the
enthusiast with whom the Mexican Empire was
only one fantasy among many. came in contact
with a practical force Ike that of Bismarck he
collapsed 1t very beautiful and poetical
for him 10 say to Macmillan. Il have carved
you an empire out Of a block Of silver" but the
trouble was that this sculptor's work-to lapse
into philosophical form Of speech-was wholly
subjective. Napoleon III was given to this form
OF amusement. But it was wonderful TO how
ne used the actual condition OF things basis
fer his airy supers;ructure. One stands in open
mouthed amaZemert before the single obtrusive
fact that MaXman's empire grew out OF
effort to collect bad debts. The plan Of forcing
temporarily 10 obtain the aid Of England and
Spain. Before this alliance was broken he
disclosed his true purpose-to reinstate the
clerical exles from Mexico, who had gathered
about him in Paris; 20 encourage secession In
the United States. and q crush rcnublicanism.