The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1897-04-23

wanted, and perhaps it is best SO.
Those who have fought as you have
for a principle have nothing to gain III
war of conquest l stand ready to
abide your decision in the matter of
our destiny If you say We shall march
to the headquarters of Juarez. then we
will march. You will refuse to-day as
you refused before because you are
imperialists at heart. and because. poor
simpletonS. you imagined that France
and the United States would come to
blows. Bah. the day for that has gone
by-Louis Napoleon has slept too long.
1T was necessary that the men
should have a little money. and Ba-
Zaine. the French general. was applied
! to. He gave each man $50, and then
every man went the way it best suited
! him.
AT the time the famous emigration
! scheme of Maximilian's Government
! was decided upon. and the celebrated
| colony Of Carlotta formed. Agents were
( sent to every place in the South. Land
| was set apart for actual American set
Z
/ advised his men to give up at once any
! further idea of service in MaXimilian's
/ army. Many accepted his advice and
entered heartily into the dutvas of the
new life. A few Joined the imperial
! army in Sonora. Gen. shelby with
| headquarters at Cordova. became a
/ large freight contractor. Among those
/ in the colony with him We're Gen Ster-
! ling Price. Gen. Stephens of Lees staff.
/ Gov. Reynolds. ex-Gov. Allen of Lou
/ isiana, eX-Gov. Lyons of kentucky and
| Gen. McCausland of Virginia. Ex-Gov.
I Isham G. Harris was also settler.
I Freighting soon proved improbable
/ and he went to Vera Cruz, and was
! fitted out with a vessel and instructed
to sail for Havana in furtherance of
the colonization scheme He loaded his
! ship with agricultural implements ex-
| ported from America and returned to
/ Mexico. But MaXimilian's forces were
| meeting with defeat on every hand,
and Shelby saw that the end was near
At last Ma.similian sent for Shelby and
asked him how many Americans he
could summon to his assistance.
mot a corporal's guard said the
General You are too late.''
Referring more particularly TO Gen.
Shelby'S intercourse with MaXimilian
in the winter of 1S66-67. Maj. Edwards
wrote these interesting details:
When Shelby arrived in Mexico the
/ treasury was empty. Macmillan had
| been ruling for a year The French
held everything worth holding, except
ing that Mexican brigandage ruled and
grew. No effort of the French could
stop it. NIaXimilians Marshal. Ba-
Zaine. ruled the military with reign
Of death. Suspected men were shot
everywhere, without the formalty of
trial. MaXimilian was disDleased.
His heart was with the MeXicans and
he demonstrated with tie marshal but
to 10 purpose. and finally there was
an eStlanGement
shelby saw all these things. and
planned an interview with the EmDel-
or Commodore Mauly and General
Magruder arranged it for him. and
| MaXimilian met him with evident
franlneSs and sincerity.
The marshal was uresent and Col1nt
de Noue was interpreter. Shelby's
plans, as he laid them before the EN-
peror. We're to take immediate service
in the empire. recruit CORDS of 40 600
Americans, encourage immigration de-
velop the resources of the country. CON
SollG;te the Government against the
withdrawal of the French soldiers. and
hold it till the people became reconciled
to the change.
The Emperor simply listened with in
terest, and that was ALL
1T IS only question Of time, your
Majesty, said General Shelby. till the
French soldiers art withdrawn.
'BaZaine smiled a little. and the En-
peror asked: Why do you think so?
-" Eecause,' said General Shalby,, tile
war between the states is at an end
and Mr.. Seward will insist on a ricor-
GUS enforcement of the Monroe doc
trlhe. France does not desire con-
hlct with the United States. | left
pehlnd me 100000 men in arms, not
one Of whom has yet been DISCHARGED
from the service. The nation is sore
over this occupation, and the presence
OF the French is a perpetual menace,
The matter Of which l have spoken TO
you IS perfectly feasible. have author
lty Tor saying that the American Gov
efnment would not be ayerse to the
enlistment OF as many soldiers in your
army as might wish to take service.
ana the number need only be limited
by the eXigencies of the empire 7
thlnk 1t absolutely necessary that YOU
should nave corps of foreign soldiers
devoted to you personally, and reliable
IN any emergency
Commodore Maury and General Ma
sruder sustained Shelby's views of the
case, and he went on:
&" I have under my command at nres-
ent' about 1000 tried and experienced
soldiers. All of them have seen much
severe and actual service, and all of
them are anxious to enlist in support
OF the empire. With your permission.
and authorized in your name to in
crease my forces, 1 can in a few
months make good all these promises