The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-08-07
THE UNIvERsALIsT: SATURDAY, AUGUST T. 1897
THE EMPRESS CARLOTTA.

free; imperial beauty once set its splen-
dor upon her face and form, but time
and tragedy have frosted her shining
dark tresses, dimmed the brilliancy of
her eyes and stolen the majesty and
beauty from her stately figure.
Forty years ago. Tuesday, June 9th,
this lovely and hapless woman was mar
ried to the brilliant and handsome arch
duke Macmillan, brother OF the present
Emperor Francis Joseph of Austria.
The beautiful young bride was the fav
orite child and only daughter of Leopold
l. King of the Belgians, and she brought
her husband a handsome dot and all
that was lovely and winning in woman.
On the sunlit shores of the blue Adriatic
Macmillan built superb palace for
himself and his bride. and called it Mi
ramar. 1t is today one of the lovliest
royal residences in Europe and is the
favorite home of the Austrian Empress
Elizabeth. In 1864 Louis Napoleon,
after having subiugated Mexico, decided
he would establish great Latin empire
across the sea, in the New World, and
while pretending that Mexico should
choose its own form of government, he
arranged that the country should selects
head pleasing to him. Thus handicapped
the Mexicans decided on limited here
ditary monarchy, with Catholic prince,
who should take the title of Emperor of
Mexico. The imperial crown was offered
to Macmillan, who, with heart more
full OF love for his beautiful young wife
than Of ambitious dreams for himself,
seemed not specially attracted by the far
away splendor. But Carlotta, with
woman's love for power and royal gran
deur, urged her Young husband to be-
come the Emperor of the Mexicans, and
her pleadings won the day.
On April 14th, 1864, the imperial
couple embarked from Trieste with
convoy of twelve steamers and an i'm.
posing retinue of Austrian. French and
Mexican officers of high rank.
They landed at Vera Cruz amid plaud-
its, welcomes and proclamations, and
they entered Mexico's capital in the
midst of an imposing and imperial pa
geant Ancient Chapultepec was Sc
lected for the imperial residence, and a
brilliant court was established, wherein
the young couple shone as splendid fig
ures. in the power and light of Old
| World royalism.
The Black Decree.
But an unruly and naughty army of
opposing elements soon taught the young
Emperor the difficulty of his position.
Dark and imperious hidalgoes we're de-
termined that no foreign king should
rule over Mexico, and fanatical priests,
vengeful Indians, brigands and advent
urers joined the hidalgoes. The "Black
Decree" which Maximillian signed
against his wishes, fastened his over
throw. This document decreed that all
revolters under Juarez should be capt
ured and shot, and the slaughter was
something fearful. The Civil War of
America ended about this time, and the
government at Washington, carrying out
the Monroe Doctrine, ordered Louis Ma.
poleon to let Mexico alone. He did so,
and Macmillan and Carlotts were left
to their fate.
Francis Joseph offered to restore the
Austrian succession to Macmillan, but
his pride was aroused, and he resolved
to stay and conquer or lose it all. Car
lotta began to tremble at the clouds that
speedily lowered about her husband.
In July. 1866. she went to Europe to
secure aid for the tottering New World
empire. Her father, Leopold l.. of Bel
GUM, had died the year before, leaving
his many millions equally divided be-
tween his son and his daughter, the EN-
press of Mexico. Carlotta looked upon
this inheritance as providential relief
for her husband, and fastened to Bel
GUM to secure control of the fortune.
When she reached Brest she learned
that her brother POSITIVELY refused to al.
low her to put her inheritance to the
cause 30 near her heart, and the poor
frenzied young Empress, seeing her
dearest hopes fleeing from her, gave way
to fearful burst of anger and resent.
.ment that shook the walls of her reason.
She cursed and denounced her brother,
and 80 completely was she shattered and
unnerved that she tainted while talking
with Louis Napoleon in the Tuileries
imploring him to help her husband. But
Louis Napoleon was powerless, and un-
happy Carlotta fastened to Rome to see
the Pope. Here, while conversing with
his Holiness, the weight of her misfor.
tune seemed suddenly to crush her. and
she broke out in wild. mad rawlings
against her brother, leaving the Vatican
hopeless maniac. Mind and memory
were mercifully taken at the same time.
and Carlotta was removed to beautiful
Miramar, wreck and living tragedy.
Meantime the young Emperor was
betrayed into the hands of his enemies
and was made to surrender to the two
generals, Escobedo and Palacia, on May
10, 1867. A month later. on June 10th.
with his two brave and loyal generals,