The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-04-17
assured him that, such a force could be

| assured MINI tndl SuCn N FORCE GOulu ID
easily raised.
But" he added, looking at Shelby
and the committee. the government oi
the emperor is MT in need OF such ad.
peace with all the world. Juarez him.
self having left the country"
Permit me to suggest" aid Shelby
that the empire will have need OF
every soldier we offer IL. The French
army will not remain permanently In
Mexico. 1t Is not the purpose. IL l un-
derstand the position of the French
emperor, to keep an army here any
longer than is absolutely necessary"
When the necessity for the French
army to remain no longer exists" re-
piled the minister of war, what need
shall we have for the army you Offer"
and the expression on the faces of the
Mexican generals present showed plain
ly that they regarded the query as a
clincher. But old Joe Shelby was equal
TO the emergency.
The necessity will then quickly
arise he said. "Mexico is republican
and given to revolution. Juarez will re-
ceive the moral and material support of
republican America to such an extent
as to enable him to make bloody war
on the empire"
II was a blunt. startling announce
ment from a brave, blunt old soldier,
free from all diplomatic phraseology.
The native generals started as IL stung.
the French staff officer seemed surprised
and glanced quickly at the war minis
ter. who looked both grave and puzzled.
1t is extremely doubtful II any n of
them ever before heard so much. In so
few words. fall from human lips. All
were silent for several minutes. and
brave old Shelby stood there a quiet
witness of the effect of his words. IL
was not known then, though shortly
afterwards ascertained, that a member
OF the emperor's personal staff was con-
cealed behind some hanging tapestry,
whence he could see n hear all that
transpired in the room. Miramon and
Mejia were standing near the minister,
who turned to them and spoke a few
words in a low tone of voice, to which
they responded in Spanish. He then
turned to Shelby and said he would see
the committee at the same hour the
next day. w~hereupon the general bowed
and the committee withdrew. 1t was
plain to us all that the general had
cast "A bombshell. The minister wanted
to consult the cabinet, IL not the EN-
peror himself. The committed also con-
suited, I'm something like a secret ses-
sion. and then the general spoke plainly
to the effect that the Monroe doctrine
would force the French [ evacuate
Mexico or fight. But he added. I'VE
must not tell them so. They would not
stand that. Bazaine is a brilliant sol
der and threats would be thrown away
on him. We must be careful. therefore,
to say nothing to wound their military
pride. The next meeting may settle the
matter"
But the third interview with the min
lister of war resulted only in a reference
of the matter to the emperor himself.
Shelby then requested an audience with
his imperial majesty, which the minis
ter promised t. secure for him and the
committee. adding that the emperor
had already expressed qualification at
the assurance of support from the
Americans.
A few days later the minister, true
to his promise, sent word to Shelby that
the emperor would receive the commit
tee at IL o'clock the next day. The gen
eral notified us and we proceeded to
burnish up as best we could for the mo-
mentous occasion. None of us had ever
reen the emperor. hence we were just a
little bit interested I'm the coming inter-
view. AT the appointed hour the com
mittee repaired To the palace, where an
officer in a brilliant uniform led the
party into a large waiting room i'm
which We're many French and Mexican
officers. Mejia and Miramon were there
two of the best fighters among the
native supporters of the throne. The
former was a little. swarthy, cynical
fellow, careless of dress and fearless of
death. The latter was a fine looking
man, every inch a soldier. with "A bit of
the courtier in his composition. In due
time the minister of war luz the
committee into the next room, where
- 49,.
rounded by a group OF dignitaries OF the
empire. Marshal Bazaine was there as
the representative of the French empire.
and a splendid looking soldier he was.
The emperor was calm and dignified in
his bearing. a little above the average
height. and apparently about 80 years
of age. Count de None stood by his side
to interpret for him. The presentation
was soon made; the emperor smilingly
bowed to the committee, as did the
French marshal. who was close to his
side at the m Then. without any
other preliminaries, Shelby began his
address To the emperor, in which he
rendered the services of an army Of 80
900 confederate soldiers in support of
the empire. His manner was calm. cool
and collected to "A degree. His language
was direct and to the point. Some OF
his sentences have never been forgotten
ny tnt Nllttis AhouEh btdilN ID NfdiS
have flown by since they were uttered.
Said he:
Your majesty, they are veterans of
the hardest fought war the world has
ever known. During four years they
faltered in their duty. never dis
obeyed an order. They are true as
to any cause they espouse. and
be the bedrock Of the empire i'm
any and all emergencies. I have but to
call them and they will come like leaves
blown hither by the wind"
But would not the American gov-
eminent object To such enlistment" the
asked. interrupting him.
"On the contrary. your majesty. In
ternational law does not forbid such
Ii would be a voluntary
act which no government
can object To. Ii would not be a for
eign army, hence the Monroe doctrine
could not apply. II the French army
here n year longer IL will