The times., 1898-08-09
INTERESTING HISTORY.
How Secretary Seward Upheld the
Monroe Doctrine


An Atlanta man contributes this inter
est'ng bit of history to the columns Of
the Constitution, which he considers time
iy in view Of the attempt of another for
eign power TO collect a claim on this side
OF the ocean:
I'm 1851 England, France and Spain de-
cided to collect certain claims held by
some of their citizens against the Mexi-
can government and few individuals
| living in Mexico. At that time the United
States Government was engaged in its eff
| fort TO smash the Southern Confederacy
and it was unable TO take care of it's out
| side interests. The Spanish, Frenen and
| English representatives met in London
and agreed that each of the three nations
| should furnish an equal naval force, and
| that the number of troops should be reg
| ulated according to the number of sub
| jects which the respective powers had in
| Mexico. 1t was understood and stipu-
| lated that the intervention should only be
| for the purpose of enforcing the payment
| of the alleged Indebtedness. The country
| was not to be occupied and no expert
| ment of the kind was to be made A joint
| fleet was sent to Vera Cruz In January.
1862. England sent 500 soldiers Spain
$500 and France 1850. The troops marched
4 " tfidt QtiiBHtIti region DttHtcn GOEuONi
and Pueblo and went into camp for a
/ time.
THE MeXicans were engaged In a civil
! war between the liberals and the church
| party. and Louis Napoleon showed dis
| position to side with the latter faction
and establish an empire with Macmillan
| at its head. There were protests and
| sharp words from England and Spain a I'd
| the two countries abandoned the alliance
"a
| try.
/ France sent 1900 additional troops,
and after considerable fighting the in
| vaders occupied the City of Mexico. An
| assembly of imneriaiists was convened,
| and the crown was offered 10 Prince Fer
dinand Maximilian. archduke of Austria
| After much urging the unfortunate Max
lmiiian, with the beautiful CarlOtta. went
to Mexico and received continuous ova-
ton ali the way from Vera Cruz to the
| capital. They were crowned with impos-
ing ceremonies. and Marshal Bazaine,
with large French army, garriSoned the
cities and towns TO preserve order until
the new empire was strong enough TO
stand alone.
These events occupied two years. In
the meantime the Government at Wash
ington was powerless. 1t was engaged in
death grapple with the Confederacy,
and Louis Napoleon had his own way
south of the Rio Grande. But Mr.. Sc "
ard, Lincoln's Secretary OF State, was de-
termined from the very first to uphold the
Monroe doctrine He was long-headed
and patient. and ne waited for hts oppor-
tunlty.
''One April day the surrender at Apo
mattox startled the world and forever es-
tablished the supremacy of the United
States on the Western Hemisphere. Then
Mr. Seward acted. He astonished the
French minister. who had never dreamed
that this quiet, soft-voiced man could
utter such bitter words. Lincoln's old
| premier wore velvet glove. but IL con-
cealed hand OF iron. Louis Napoleon
was notified by his representative AT
| Washington that the French army would
! have 20 get out of Mexico and take Max
i.iilian along. or abandon him 10 his fate.
| The veterans OF the Union army were
| ready TO march TO the Mexican capital,
| and il was possible that many COnfeder-
| ates would Join them. There was no room
for delay or compromise. Mr. Seward )
long pent-up wrath had caused him to use
plain language not often heard in diplo-
| matte circles.
THE French emperor was thunder
struck He had never understood the sit
uation in this country. Until Lees army
| marched out OF Richmond he had felt
confident of the success of the COnfeder-
ates. He had declined q proposed alliance
with the South because he did not thlnR
il was necessary. Under the terms pro-
posed to him by Slideu he was to have
undisturbed possession of Mexico II ne
would raise the Federal blockade al
Charleston and New Orleans and furniSr
Is. 900 French troops for offensive opera,
tions This proposition he had rejected
and he found himself with discontentee
army in danger OF annihilation in Mexic'
and a suiky people clamorins az nome:
Stewards mandate was ooeyed. pa
zaine and his soldiers left Mexico and II
| a short time the empire fell, costing Max
. iuilian his life. Never before had TN
Monroe doctrine been so vigorously AM
triumphantly maintained.