The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1896-03-14
EMPIRE OF MAMMALIAN
IT'S INTERESTING HISTORY TOLD By
PROF. WoOLSEY LAST EVENING.

In the Mechanics Course of Lectures
Ambitions of Napoleon-Pretext for the
Intervention la Mexico--Application of
the Monroe Doctrine-ACtion of Our Gov
eminent Toward the Empire.
The eleventh in the Mechanics course
of lectures was delivered last evening
by Professor Il. S. Woolsey of Yale on
Mexico and the French Intervention"
A large audience was present and lis
tened with close attention to the highly
interesting remarks Of the speaker.
Professor Woolsey spoke of the ambi-
lions of Napoleon III. and the incen-
tives which led him to turn his ambi-
lions towards the new world. He said
that the defaulting of its bonds and re-
fusal to pay interest on it's national
debt by the Mexican government fur
nished preteXt for foreign interven-
ton in the affairs of the country. The
foreign debt of Mexico amounted at
that time to $S2,000,000, distributed be-
tween France England and Spain The
Mexican government showed no desire
to meet it's obligations. A commission
Of representatives of the European gov
ernments mentioned above met to de-
eide on what action to take and finally
after it was seen that no solution could
! be obtained by diplomatic measures an
army was sent to Mexico. This army
consisted of 5000 Spanish troops and
y ,,o1, -; OF l,p
powerful British fleet supported the
land forces.
Overtures were made by Great Brit
ain to the United States government to
sanction such action and also the action
of the commission, but such a sanction
was not given, as to do so was contrary
to the old policy of keeping out of en-
| tangling foreign alliances France was
finally left alone in Mexico with free
hand. The French troops soon after
began active operations and advanced
upon Pueblo, the third largest city in
the country The first engagement of
the contest was fought there and re-
suited in defeat of the French. After
the defeat at Pueblo 10000 more French
troops were sent over, and several
French successes followed.
In January, 1862, the second French
advance upon Pueblo began, and in
May, 1863, the city capitulated. During
the siege the French were repeatedly
driven back from places where they
gained footholds, but the provisions in
the city ran low and a surrender was
made necessary. After the fall of Pueb-
10 the City of Mexico was left undefend-
ed, and in June of the same year was
entered by the French
The French were energetic every
where and all the central provinces sue
cumbed to them. The government at
that time was nominally in the hands
of a regent, but was in reality directed
by French headers. BY 1854 the liberals
We're pretty thoroughly crushed.
The principal manufacturing and
trading interests were in the hands of
the French and on May IS, 1854, Maxi
milan arrived in the country to take
possession of his new empire. Great
! fetes were prepared, under the expense
| of which the people soon began to
/ groan. The elements of discord soon
/ showed itself in Maximilian's own
party. Early in 1865 he issued decree
/
1 summary trial and execution of all per-
/ sons found in arms against his author
I ity. Under this order several promi-
nent Mexican generals We're executed
/ and a reaction in the feeling towards
| Macmillan was created by such sever
| ity, Much legislative work was done
under the new government but owing
to lack of money all was futile. Early
1 in 1866 Napoleon announced that he
would soon withdraw his troops. This
meant ruin to Macmillan, as he de-
pended on the French troops for sup
port in his position. He asked Ma
poleon to allow the troops to remain
but Napoleon refused to do so unless
he was given one-half of the revenues
of Mexico.
The pope in 1864 sent emissaries to
MAMMALIAN asking that the liberal
proclamations which had been promul-
gated and which injured the position of
the church be repealed Macmillan re-
fused to recognize any power superior
TO his own in his empire and would
not grant the request. This step cost
him the support of the clergy.
Shortly after Charlotte the empress,
wife of Macmillan, went to Europe to
secure the aid Of Napoleon and the
pope in strengthening her husband in
his position, but she met with such
rebuffs at both courts that she became
i'll and deranged and has never recov-
cred her right mind. She does not
yet know that her husband is dead and
it is said that a special edition of a
certain almanac is gotten out every
year especially for her benefit it being
written as if Macmillan were still en-
peror of Mexico.
Macmillan was soon forced to ac-
cede to the pope's demands. Orders
came to hasten the departure of the
French troops, and as they We're with
drawn liberal troops occupied their sta
tons The republicans finally met with
successes in all parts of the empire. On
March H. 1867, the last French soldier
embarked the Austrian and Belgian
troops having left some time previously.
Macmillan made his last stand at
Oueretara with an army of 10000 men.
On the 18th of May, 1867, the city fell,
as it was said, betrayed by General
Lopez, but General Lopez, who died not
long ago, said on his deathbed that
he had been sent out by Macmillan to
secure his personal safety after the
city surrendered. MaHimilian after his
L. IL