The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-05-27
To be an American There Now is as
Much as Ones Self=COn-
Ceit is Worth.
DATES FROM AWAY BACK
When French Pride Was Humbed in the Maxi
milan Affair-Paris Loves Americans for Rev
enue Only-Her Pro-Spanish Fierceness.

Washington, May 26.-scarcely less in
teresdng than the war with Spain is
Frances sem-flostile attitude to tht
United States. In the original revolution
France helped America At the begin
ming OF the war We were almost at wal
with her Next came the Madmilliar
trouble Today Americans are snubbec
in Paris.
1t was during our own serious troubles
in the early sixties that France and Aus
tria undertook to plant an empire on this
continent in the neighboring state Of Mex
leo. Although warned off by our state de-
partment, American diplomatic methods
seem never 10 inspire any particular
amount of awe in European foreign offices.
In this case they were simply ignored, and
the two allied powers continued their
work Of setting up an emperor in the land
of Montezuma. However. with the ending
of our war and the readjustment Of our
! own internal faa1rs. attention was given
to what was going on in Mexico against
the avowed wishes and policy OF the Am
! erican government.
At this period Napoleon and Eugene
were dazzling the world with the splendor
! of the court of the second empire. A
/ great number of our own people from all
| sections of the country are residing in
/ Paris, to which city it is said ALI good
Americans wanted to go after death. "
! Americans were in evidence at all the bril-
! liant fetes of the empire. The elegance
! Of their residence, the lavish expendi-
! ture of money, and the brilliancy and
fascination of the women from this side Of
/ the Atlantic made our own country peo-
/ pie important social factors. The Amerf-
! can colony in Paris as an organization
! date from this period.
At the height of this happy state of af-
fairs Secretary Stewards dispatch notify
ing the imperial government that Mexico
must be evacuated came like thunder
clap in a clear sky. The dispatch yet
holds a place in Frances official mem
DRY. The cable was almost in it's infancy,
and communication through it was very
| costly. Secretary Seward did not econo-
mize his words. but talked as fluently and
went into as many details as though ne
were seated at a table opposite the French
minister of foreign affairs.
/ The dispatch cost $4,000. Napoleon Ill
/ had been sceptical before as to the inten-
ton Of the United States. Stewards cool
ness in holding a conversation at such a
price convinced the emperor and his minis
tiers that the American government would
stand by what the secretary said, and
France came to the conclusion to let
Macmillan go it alone" as emperor of
Mexico.
The withdrawal of the French troops
was ordered, and this led directly to Max
imillian's tragic death at Queretaro in
June, 1867. The emperor did not pretend
to disguise hic chagrin at the failure to
establish a monarchical government in
America On July following the execu-
ton of MAMMALIAN a number of Ameri-
can gentlemen in Paris made all arrange
ments to celebrate the national festival
by a grand dinner. But the banquet was
never given, the emperor formally and
arbitrarily forbidding it.
Up to this time the Americans who
spent immense sums of money in Paris
were warmly received at the Tmleries.
and in fact encouraged to come. for moth
ing more contributed to the stability Of
the empire than keeping the shopkeepers
of Paris in good humor and plenty of
American gold circulating throughout
France. Under such conditions the en-
peror was at liberty to run the country
as he pleased.
After Secretary Stewards costly dis
patch had had its results-not only in the
withdrawal Of French troops from Mexico
bat in a elimination Of Louis Napoleon's
prestige-the glories of the American
colony at the imperial court began to
wane. Since then only on extraordinary
occasions does il exhibit any of its old
time, empire-period brilIancy. Under the
new dispensaton Of republican govern
ment Il is a matter of such difficulty for
an American TO get an invitation 10 the
Elyee as 10 be hardly worth the trouble
incurred.
As for Partisan GOODNESS to Americans
today. a correspondent says:
Most Of the historic cities Of Europe
have a distinct local color" a temporal
ment. II one may be allowed the expires
sion. Of their own, which IS not sympa-
thedc 10 every one. The austere calmness
OF Bruges or Gand (Ghen0, the sensual
beauty of Naples. attract different ma
lures. Florence has passionate devotees.
who are insenslble 10 the artistic grace
OF Venice or the stately quiet Of YER
sal.es. In Cairo one experiences an ex-
qujsite bien etre, a mindless. ambition
less Contentmenc which. withou; being
lanqUOr, sOothss the nerves and temp,s
the indolent lotus eating. Like a grea:
n.ve, Rome depends on the memories that
circle around her ike bees. the centuries
with their honey. E,ach OF these cites
must therefore leave many people IN
mooved, vino. after passing Visit. wan
der away. wondering al the enthusiasm
Of the worshippers.
Paris alone seems 70 possess the secre.
that charms all conditions. all ages. all
degrees. To hold the frivolous minded
she paints her face and dances. entertain
ing them in a round Of folly. exhaustive
alike to health and purse. For the student
she assumes another mein. smiling en-
coura gemeut. and urging him upward
towards the highest standards. whi,e pos
ng as his model. she takes the dreaming
lover OF the past gently BY the hand and
leading him into qu;et streets ard squares
where she has stored away wealth OF
hidden treasures. euslaves him as COM
ple,ely as her mos sensual admirers.
Paris IS no less adored by those vacant
minds 70 which neither an. nor pleasure.
nor study appeals. Her caprices IN fashion