The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1898-09-08
MEXICO'S fREEDOM.
The Story of Unfortunate Maximilian and
Poor CarIotta Recalled.

as romantic as Napoieon's dream Of an
empire in Mexico. That expire was
proclaimed in April, 1864, when the fu-
ture Of this Union seemed sad indeed.
Yet Seward and Lincoln never once
recognized the representative of Max
imilian; while the accredited repres-
entatives of Juarez invariably re-
ceived courteous recognition in Wash
irgton. Napeoleon, who was really
usurper in France, looked upon him.
self as the champion OF the Latin race
and was imbued with various fantastic
designs for re-establishing 1t not only
In America, but IN Central Europe
Nspo!eon's purpooss which were as
distinctly religious as they were dyn-
<1tlc were foilod by Bismarck in Ger
mGay and by Seward IN TIE country 10
tie south CT us. Ns are assured!y Nv
iag In histo:y-n;a!iEg epoch, one IN
Which thrones and sceptres and consti-
tuttors shall go down or be rebuilt up
On the ruins of popular government.
The Archduke MAMMALIAN, 4 young
er son of the House CT Hapsburg, mar
ried the only daughter and favorite
child Of Leopold I. Of Belgium, July ~,
1857. His wife was the heiress OF an
immense fortune and the first cousin
OF Queen Victoria. The contemplated
dynasty Of Maximilian was therefore
favorably regarded not only by the
liapsburg family and Napoleon but by
Germany, England and Spain. The
Pope gaze his bles2'ng to the new en-
pire, and no power In Europe save
Russia, even family protested. The
imperial party left Trieste April Ia,
1864, on a convoy Of twelve steamers
and accompanied by a retinue OF
French and Austrian officers and by
some Mexicans whose sympathies for
monarchy survived the fall OF
the Emperor Iturbide's Government.
There was great rejoicing among the
prospective courtiers on board OF that
imperial convoy. The young and
dashing Macmillan and his beautiful
bride were the cynosure OF all eyes
Napoleon who had himself humbugged
the French through pleblscite had
carried out a similar coup d'Etat Of q
preparatory character in Mexico. In
order to give the new Empire quasi
popular approval by pretending to
permit the Mexicans to freely choose
their form of Government though
the form of Government was carefully
predicted in advance. and as in the case
CT Napoleon's plebiscite, voted for un-
der the sheen of French bayonets, he
had really deceived Macmillan as to
the real wishes Of the Mexican people.
Bazaine, who was then commanding
the French troops, soon saw that the
Jig was up. He advised Maximiliaa
to resign. But Macmillan, who was a
drawer man than Bazaine, refused to
do so, and was backed in this attitude
by the priests. who foresaw In the
downfall of the empire the future
spoilation of the Church, which act
ually took place as we all remember
under the restoration Of the rule OF
Juarez. Macmillan held on feelinS
confident that some combination OF
these European powers whose good
faith was pledged to his venture,
would preserve his empire. AT this
juncture the Empress Carlotta, seeing
her husbands plight, proceeded to Eu-
rope to seek aid and to claim the prl-
vate fortune which her father, who had
Just died, had lef. to her and her
brothers. and which with true woman
y devotion she was prepared to use
promoting her husbands ambitions.
She proceeded to Breste en- route to
Rome, but soon after arrival in Breste
she learned that her brother, the pres
ent King of the Belgians was opposed
to sinking this joint legacy IN the Mex
lean experiment of his brother-in-iaW.
On reading the latter in which this sad
news was preached the Empress
tainted but she still resolved to push
on to Rome and make final appeal
to Plus TX. to sustain the Empire
which himself and Napoleon had
planned. She hoped that His Holiness
would urge the Mexican clergy (who
were by this time trying to character
istically learn the direction in which
the cat was going 20 jump the neces-
sity for renewed efforts in the cause OF
her imperial husband. Plus TX. de-
cllned to do anything and poor Car
lotta was there and tnen seized In the
Pope's presence with fit of paralysis
from which she never recovered. The
hesitation of Plus, however, did not
avert the spoiiation he feared. Soon
afterwards the Mexicans aided by
American influence recovered control
of their country. They turned the
weapons Maximilian had forged in the
BLACK Decree" against himself. He
was captured at Queretaro, tried by
courtmartial and sentenced to be shot
Standing before platoon Of Mexican
troops Maximilian paid the penalty
that should by right have befallen
those who used or betrayed him. His
last words were poor Carlotta!" And
poor Carlotta during all these thirty
two years has never learned her brave
husbands fate. Struck down by the
shock of human perfidy and ingrati-
L. toe ,l,,,s so,