Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-06-23
sEWARD,s cosTLY Dlsp.1cH.
The Bill Was SI5,ODO and One of the Re
suits Was MaxtmIlIan's Fall,

The Bill Was Si5,0D0 and One of the re-
suits Was MaxtmiIIan's Fall.
Washington Post
III was during our own serious troubles
In the early sixties that France and
Austria undertook to plant an empire on
this continent in the neighboring state of
Mexico. Although warned Off by our
state Department, American diplomatic
methods seem never TO inspire any par
tlcular amount of awe In European for
| eign offices. In this case thew were
simply ignored, and the two allied powers
| continued their work of setting up an
emperor in the lard of Montezuma,
however, with the ending of our war and
the readjustment of our own internal
affairs, attention was aguin directed to
what was going on in Mexico against the
aVowed wishes and policy Of the American
government.
AT this period Napoleon and Eugene
were dazzling the world with the splcn.
doris of the court of the Second Empire
a great number Of our own people from
all sections Of the country were residing
IN Paris, TO which city, it was iokingly
said, all good Americans wanted to 90
after DEATH" Americans were in evidence
az all the brilliant fetes of the Empire
The elegance of their residence, the lavish
expenditure OF money and the briliancy
ana fancination Of the women from our
side Of the Atlantic made our country
people important social factors. The
American colony in Paris as an organiza.
ton dates from this period.
At the height Of this happy state of
affairs Secretary Stewards despatch noti.
Tying the imperial government that
Mexico must be evacuat cd came like Tho
proverbiai thunderclap out Of cloudless
sky That despatch yet holds place in
Frances official memory. The cable was
almost in its infancy, and communication
through It was very costly. Secretary
Seward did not economizn his words. hui
talked as tluently and went into az manv
details as though no were seated al a
table opposite the French minister of
foreign affairs.
The despatch cost $4,000. II NAPOLEON
Ill. had been skeptical before az to tho
intention Of the United States, Stewards
GOODNESS in holding conversation al such
price convinced the Emperor and his
ministers that the American government
would stand by what the secretary said
and France came to the conclusion To lct
Maxlmilian go il alone" as emperor of
Mexico. ~ "
The withdrawal of the French troons
was ordered, and this led directly To May.
lmllian's tragic death at Oucrctarc in
June, 1867. The emperor did not pretend
TO disguise his chagrin at the failure IN
establish monarchicGl government in
America. On July 4, following the execu.
uon OF Macmillan, a number of American
gentlemen in Paris made all arrangements
TO celebrate the national festival nv n
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 par,a
were warmly received at The Tuilleries
and, In fact, encouraged to come. rnr
nothing more contributed TO the stabilize
OF the empire than keeping the shon.
keepers of Paris in good humor and |
plenty OF American gold circulating |
throughout France. Under such con.
ullons Inc emperor was at liberty to run |
the country MS he pleased.
After Secretary Stewards costly des. |
patch had had its fesults-not only in tho |
withdrawal Of French troops from Mexico.
but IN diminutiOn of Louis Napoleon,s |
glories Of the American
colony at the Imperial Court began to
wane. Since then only on extraordinary
occasions docs it exhibit any Of its old. |
time empire period brilliancy. Under
the new dispensation of republican roy-
ernment 1t is matter Of such difficultv
TO the American to get an invitation n
the Elysee as to be hardly worth The
trouble incurred.