The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-11-29
FATE OF MAMMALIAN
Made UntimeIy by the Ambition of
Napoleon III.

FATE OF
Made UntimeIy by the Ambition of
Napoleon III.
Nov. u, 1867, the body of Macmillan
was removed from Mexico. There end
ed a chapter interesting as a novel,
inevitable as history, says the Chicago
Evening Post. Just a little over three
years before Macmillan, accompanied
by his beautiful wife and a splendid
retinue, was hailed as the emperor of
Mexico If the voice of the whole peo-
pie did not call him from his European
home, certainly Macmillan had been
led to believe that he was the choice
Of the nation. He was received with
every assurance of welcome, with
every evidence Of loyalty. Napoleon
Ill was supporting him, he had the
good wishes-the very good wishes-of
the emperor of Austria, the blessing
of the pope and what seemed to him an
opportunity to build an empire in the
new world which would compensate
the enforced waving of his rights to
the Austrian throne. Young, hand
some, ambitious Of an honorable fame,
with wife who might transplant to
this court some. of the graces with
which she had shone abroad, with
every inducement and every encour-
agement, Macmillan set up his Mex
lean empire in a perfect blaze of
promise.
1t was one of the things the United
States did not want France had
gained-far more through intrigue than
through conquest-the control of Next
CO. Macmillan on the throne was but
the agent of Napoleon. 1t was the set
ting up of an Eastern empire on our
Southern border. President Lincoln
protested against the act at the time.
but little attention was paid to repub
lican objection. President Lincoln had
one war on his hands just then, for
the subjugation of the South had but
fairly begun. 1t was really in the
darkest days of the rebellion period
before Grant and Sherman and Sheri-
dan had developed a strength which
gave the nation guaranty of union and
of peace. AS in the case of the Trent
affair with England, the administra-
ton could afford no further complica-
ton. And beyond the protest nothing
was done to prevent Macmillan and
Carlotta from beginning their Mexican
reign, even though French troops were
their constant and undisgused defend
ers.
There was another element of dan
ger. Macmillan was a brother of the
Austrian emperor and had fair claim
to be considered in the line of sue
cession. He was popular to a degree
in Austria, and it was to the interest
of Franz Josef to keep him in Mexico
or in any other distant part of the
world. So that the United States must
count on Austria's aid of France in
any armed endeavOr to support the
protest.
1t is illustrative of the transplantinc
process that Carlotta never liked Mex
leo. She had been a great favorite at
the courts of Europe. She had receiv-
ed the attentions of the worlds most
famous men. She had been surround
ed with a gorgeous elegance and a
lavish display which is not to be found
elsewhere. The Mexicans who bowed
to her and tried to chat in the from
tiers of a language which both could
understand were unknown to fame.
However courteous, they could not be
grand. They could compliment her but
little The women were badly dressed.
They had a taste she called "execra-
BILE" and she was probably right The
whole situation lacked that refinement
and tone to which she had been ac-
customed. And when she evidenced i'm
patience at her failure to educate--to
elevate-them she lost favor with her
adopted people
y
did affair, gagged from Mexican stand
ards. Napoleon hoped to make the
move the most brilliant SUCCESS of his
reign. Macmillan was a vassal en-
peror, but a glittering adornment to the
French imperial establishment. And, as
the days passed, he gave promise of
being even more than that. He soon
found that the party to which he owed
his elevation had deceived him and
AP hn ~
people was not at all in sympathy with
the new regime.
It is to his credit that he stroVe,
while estranging his appointed advis-
ers, for a scheme which the Mexican
nation would sanction. They wanted a
republic. and he hoped to secure APP
prevail for constitutional scheme
which would insure his dominance and
inure to the peoples benefit. He had
showered offices and honors with
lavish hand, and his beneficiaries were
chiefly Frenchmen.
That caused jealousy among the Mex
leans. In spite of the conquest of lit
tie states to the south and the sub
jugation of revolted provinces in Mexi-
co, the French influence lost favor con-
stantly. And when the American COR
federacy fell in 1865 all the world knew
the end of the Macmillan reign was
near; when the United States had dis
posed of a civil war attention was at
once turned to possible foreign war.
The French were plainly informed that
withdrawal of their forces from
American soil alone could avert the
struggle. 1t was time when the addi-
ticn of Mexico to the United States
territory was loudly advocated by
many American politicians. If the
French remained in Mexico it was be-
lieved the United States could not only
conquer them, but emerge victorious
from war with France. If the French
were withdrawn it would be easy tc Re
unite North and South in war of con-
quest.
And Napoleon promptly withdrew his
troops, leaving Macmillan undefended
The Mexicans, of all parties, were de-
lighted The misguided emperor be-
lieved for time he could maintain
himself But that hope was crushed
and he started to leave the country
Carlotta had already gone, in the vain
hope of securing help from Austria or
other European nations. Macmillan
was captured May 10, at Queretaro. He
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