The Valentine Democrat. [volume] (Valentine, Cherry Co., Neb.) 1896-1898, 1897-04-29

Those who have fought as you have
for a principle have nothing to gain in
a war Of conquest. 1 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 arc
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
SIT 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.
cat 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
tiers, each to receive $40 acres. Shelby
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 duties 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 were 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.
Isham G. Harris was also a settler.
Freighting oon 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 Macmillan sent for Shelby and
asked him how many Americans he
could summon to his assistance.
"'Not a corporars guard said the
General. You are too late"
Referring more particularly to Gen.
Shelby's intercourse with Macmillan
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. Maximilian's Marshal. Ba-
zaine, ruled the military with a reign
of death. Suspected men were shot
everywhere, without the formality Of
a trial. Macmillan was displeased.
His heart was with the MeXicans and
he demonstrated with the marshal, but
to no purpose, and finally there was
an estrangement.
Shelby saw all these things. and
planned an interview with the Emper-
or. Commodore Maury and General
Magruder arranged it for him, and
Macmillan met him with evident
frankness and sincerity.
1.-The marshal was present and Count
de Noue was interpreter. Shelby's
plans, as he laid them before the EN-
perOr, were to take immediate service
in the empire, recruit d corps of 10000
Americans, encourage immigration, de-
velop the resources of the country, con-
solidate 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.
"'It is only a 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?'
Because said General Shaiby, the
war between the states is at an end,
and Mr.. Seward will insist on a rigor-
enforcement of the Monroe doc
trine. France does not desire a con
flict with the United States. l left
behind me 1,0OO,0 900 men in arms, not
II of whom has yet been discharged
from the service. The nation is sore
owe this occupation, and the presence
of the French is a perpetual menace.
The matter of which l have spoken to
you is perfectly feasible. 1 have author
ity for saying that the American Gov
eminent would not be averse to the
enlistment Of as many soldiers in your
army as might wish to take service,
and the number need only be limited
by the e~Xigencies of the empire. l
think it absolutely necessary that you
should have a corps of foreign soldiers
devoted to you personally, and reliable
in any emergency
Commodore Maury and General Ma
gruder sustained Shelby's views Of the
case, and he went on:
"I have under my command at pres
ent about 1000 tried and experienced
soldiers. All of them have seen much
eve 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