The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-23
THE STORY OF CARLOTTA
REPORT THAT THE MAD EX-EM-
PRESS WILL REVISIT MEXICO.
She Wishes to See Once More the
Places Associated with the Great
Tragedy of Her Life.
St. Louis Globe-Democrat.

from the city Oh Mexico a. dlSpdtCH winch
said that Prince Revenholer was there for
the purpose of securing permission for eX-
Empress Carlotta to visit Mexico. Her mind
is improving and she wishes to again see
the places associated with the death of her
husband. Permission will be granted and
every attention paid her by the Mexican
government. Her physicians" the dis
patch added, recommend the visit"
What a touching imperial romance and
how much of tragic history is recalled by
this brief paragraph. The annals of roy
atty contain no sadder legend than the
story of the beautiful, hapless woman to
whom it refers. 1t will be forty years,
come July q, since the handsome and
dashing young Archduke Macmillan,
brother of the Kaiser Francis Joseph, was
married to Princess Carlotta, the only
daughter and favorite child of Leopold I,
of Belgium. A year before the husband,
when holding command IN the Austrian
navy, had made his residence in Trieste,
one of the most beautiful towns on the
shores of the Adriatic. One day being out
in his canoe, the wind suddenly rose, and
in spite of his efforts his little craft was
driven into harbor where the waters were
entirely tranquil. The spot charmed
him. Landing he found that a low
hill, rising abruptly from the water,
commanded a beautiful view, and he was
won by its charms to build for himself
ishermans hut. Following his marriage
the dot his wife brought him gave him the
means of identifying this chosen spot, and
there, after a time he built for his bride
grand castle, which he called Miramar.
Architecture was one of the passions of the
young archduke, and the plans for his new
home were drawn by his own hand. Rich
ness, taste and sentiment found joint ex-
preston in the stately home which he
builded, while in the grounds about it these
qualities had even more perfect utterance.
The master of Miramar had a power of per-'
suading every exotic plant and tree to be
its most beautiful. For him every foreign
bird sang it's sweetest. He loved nature
and nature returned his devotion A dream
of lovelness wrought in marble, in foliage,
blossom and song-such was Miramar. Here
the young lovers spent seven happy years.
Great plans of future work were always
making artists and men of letters sur
rounded them, and life was full and rich.
But one day, early in 1864, a delegation
came to Miramar bringing the proffer Of
what was to prove a fatal honor.
Into the busy, scbeming brain of Louis
Napoleon had come a fantastic design 20
set up an alien empire in the country to
the south of the great republic then in the
throes of a desperate struggle for exist
ence. He believed that he had regen-
Grated France, and he looked upon him
self as the champion of the Latin race and
the upholder of the Latin Church. And so,
dreaming of founding a great Latin empire
over sea and of arresting the decay of the
Romish Church in America, he moved on
Mexico. Spain was with him, the Pope gave
his blessing o the venture, England APP
proved it, Germany made no opposition and
Russia only formal protest. The wishes
of Mexico had small consideration. The al
lies-France. Spain and England-using the
need of collecting bad debts as an excuse,
agreed to seize ard occupy the several
fortresSes and military positions on the
Mexican coast; and old so without delay.
Spain and England Withdrew, and Napoleon
was left alone to found the empire he had
planned. He at once declared war on the
existing Mexican government. Pueblo, the
gateway of Mexico, was captured and Ba-
Zaine, later to become of Infamous mem
DRY, was sent over at the head of a mot
ley army of forty thousand men, drawn
from the four corners of Europe, to COM
sure of the triumph of the Latin race on
American soil" Napoleon declared that the
Mexicans should be permitted ito freely
choose their form of government taking
care, however, that they should do so
through representa- tiVeS selected by his
agents. Under such conditions Mexico de-
cided upon Limited hereditary monarchy,
with a Catholic Prince, who should take the
title of Emperor of Mexico" and the crown
was offered to MaXimilian. His wife
grasped eagerly at the prospect of sharing
the throne thus held out to him. She was
young, only twentyfour, beautiful and am
bilious and she had sworn to die a Queen.
Macmillan, however warned of the prob
able consequences of the enterprise. realized
the risks and hesitated. He asked the adj
who knew Mexico well Il fear your impe-
rial Iighness will pay for the attempt with
your head" the baron replied, GO urged gee
the princess, his wife, and he went, to tul-
fill Won GaSern's prophecy
A FATAL DECREE.
The imperial couple embarked at Trieste
April a. 1864, on a convoy Of twelve steam
ers, ana, accompanied by a retinue OF
French, Mexican and Austrian officers of
high rank. There were proclamatioas and
speeches when they landed at Vera Cruz,
and an imposing pageant attended their en-
trance into the capital Of the country. His
toric Cnapultepec was chosen as the royal
residence. and court life under the new en-
pire opened with splendor and gaiety. Max
imilian speedily found that the task he had
set for himself was by no means an easy
one. Riotous elements surrounded him on
every hand-haughty hidalgoes, dark and
sullen Indians, ignorant and fanatical
priests, brigands, freebooters and gentle
radicals like Benito JuareZ, determined
that no king should rule in Mexico. But
his wife was not without genius for affairs,
and, confident in the prayers of the Pope
and the soldiers of his good cousin of
France. he blQndered along. There was
just a chance that he might give the lie TO
Baron Won Gagern'S prediction, and get
safely back to Miramar when he was per-
suaded-much against his will, to his credit,
be it Said-to sign what has become known
in history as the BLACK Decree This UNI
lucky document decreed that all the lib
erals who We're in revolt under Juarez were
to be treated as criminals, outlaws and
brgands. If captured these republicans
fighting under the national flag against
an alien usurper were to be shot within
twenty-four hours. In signing the BLACK
Decree" Macmillan signed his own death
warrant.
Without delay the slaughter began
slaughter so brutal that his foreign sol
diers, trained in no gentle school, revolted
against it. Over two hundred of his Bel
gian officers protested against the decree
and the ubiquitous war, but wholesale
executions did not stay the progress of
liberalism, and Juarezs forces grew daily
in number and power. At this moment
fatal one for Macmillan, the civil war in
the United States came to an end. The
doctrine adopted by Monroe could now re-
ceiVe proper enforcement by the govern
ment at Washington and Napoleon was
peremptorily ordered to take his hands oft
Mexico. A mighty army stood ready TO
back up this order, and with tritiing show
of heSitancy he obeyed it. With the with
draWal OF the French troops the heroic
strain in MaXimilan's nature, the knightly
Hapsburg blood which flowed in his veins
came to the front In the face Of the brutal
urgency TO resign of BaZaine then, as al
ways. traitor; in spite of his brothers
otter TO restore him the right of succession
TO the Austrian throne; in the face Of lib
eral victories and JuareZs refusal of am
nesty he resolved to remain in Mexico and
battle for his sovereignty, his honor and
his friends.