The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-12-10
Maxindian
Sara Yorke StevenSon's
Story of His EatefuI Reign.

one unbidden. Sara Yorke Stevenson
an American young woman was in France
when one of her brothers, on his way in
1862 from Mexico TO the United States
bearing incidentally, dispatches from MI;
Thomas Corwin, then minister in Mexico
was attacked and murdered by highway
men. and because of this tragedy she set
out for Mexico. Her associations in
France had intimately informed her of
the full extent of the French design on
the land of the Montezeumas. After
ward her residence in the City of Mexico,
during the life Of the empire, gave her a
close view of that which transpired. But
the charm of her book comes about in
this manner. She did not observe that
she might write a history. The things
she had stored away in her memory, for
a fond recollection for herself, or the
diversion Of her friends, have only come
to embellish history at this late day at
the suggestion of an editor And an edi-
tor never conjured up, by a suggestion,
a better history, for its narrative is not
famed by a fusilade of particularizing
dates, or manned by the ordinary histo-
ian's broadside of conflicting authorities.
And yet with the comprehensive MARIA
tive. this chance historian exercises a
deductive vigor reminding one of Car
lyle, and what is more, deductive vigor
grounded on good, old-fashioned, staunch
democratic premises.
And in this latter connection, as one
reads the book, he can not help dwelling,
fondly. on the tenacious fibre of liberty,
even Latin liberty. Mexico had liberty,
and her Indian blood, being saturated
with it, a monarchical redivivus was
Impossible. Of course, Macmillan of Eu-
ropean schooling and Hapsburg tempera-
ment, could not understand this, or he
would have declined the Mexican throne.
Mexico. at the moment of Maximilian's
imperial experiment had been weakened
by forty years of that uncertain, neural
gic revolution-mania. common to Latin
republics. Before the French army of
occupation such gossamery organization
as existed, was brushed away. But the
Indian had eaten of the lotus of liberty,
and as will before long be evident in the
Transvaal when Joubert falls back. the
shadow of every rock covered a patriot,
every tree hid an enemy, every hamlet
nursed a republican sentiment. Maxim
ilian's elevation to the throne had been
possible only through the aid of a mon
archical element, and going back on this
contingent he courted the liberal faction
with every device of friendliness and con-
cession-save the only possibly effective
Observation-Disclosures and the efface-
ment of the throne. His last words,
Long live independence. Long live
Mexico" must have been in recognition
offering to thrust upon the Transvaal
greater than present BOer liberty, and
certainly a more exact government, but
with it, monarchy, will learn this fearful
lesson. Our strength in the Philippines
today alone inheres in our proffer to the
people there of a greater liberty without
a monarch. The book on Macmillan
also serves to remind one of Cuba, lately
inspirited by presidential assurance of
our complete withdrawal The Latin re-
public is without the poise of conserva-
tism. Mexico, re-electing and re-electing
Diaz, and fearful of a change has only
the outward show of it today, and barring
Maximilians sorrowful reign, this after
seventy years of juggling for balance.
Cuba is surely to be the boiling pot of
lnternecine agitation, rapine, commercial
uncertainty and governmental delirium
which will, in a quarter of a century,
develop in some part of our Porto Rico,
another and ascendant Queen of the An
titles.
These conclusions, Mrs. Stevenson's
work almost forces upon one. She has
given distinct picture of Mexico, before
the coming of Macmillan, and Emperor
Napoleon's design upon it, at a time the
United States had its hands exceedingly
full of an ugly business. II will be re-
membered that Juarez, president of Mex
leo, coming into power suspended pay
ment on all agreements Heretofore en-
tered into with foreign powers Misun-
derstandings followed, France and Eng
land were outraged and NJ de Saligny,
the French minister exaggerating a de-
risive shout at him, into an attack. Eng
land. France and Spain entered into
convention to protect their citizens and
landed troops in Mexico January s. 1862.
The French at once disclosed the purpose
of their plan by great aggression: Eng
land and Spain perfected a treaty Of
their own with JUarez and withdrew. and
France aggravating the situation. declar-
ed war on Mexico and the army fought
Its way to the City Of Mexico and drove
Juarez out. During the progress of the
French advance on the city. Mexico was
In a lawless condition. The writer rec
ords this: 81 might ill small volume
with such anecdotes but the fate of two
hacendadoes. kidnapped in the interior
of the country. may suffice to give an
idea of the tax which living in Mexico at
that time might levy upon the emotions
OF young girl fresh from Paris The
two unfortunate men had been captured
by one OF those small bands which in
war times were called guerriIlas. but
which We should ordinarily call banditti
They were dragged from place to place
about the country by their tcaptors. who |
kept them under strict surveillance. One
evening, as they were approaching a town. /
the prospect Of a riotous night. spent /
over DUloue and monte and some fonda. |
excited the imagination Of the men. and !
as no one would consent TO he derived 4
Of the anticipated pleasure for the sake |
OF mounting guard over the prisoners. It |
was decided that the miserable victims |
should be. for safe-keeping, buried IN to /
their necks in the earth Surely tba,-
could not escape and would be there /
next morning awaiting the return Of their |
captors. And 50 they no doubt would 1
have been. but for the coyotes. which. /
allured by the easy prey delivered IN to /
them by the devilish ingenuity Of those 4
human tiends, came during the night and /
devoured the heads Of the helpless vic /
Tins. Who can ever realize the mental !
and physical anguish in the midst of /
which those two wretched lives came 10 !
ar and?''
Macmillan accepted the Mexican /
throne only with the understanding that
II was the clearly expressed wish of tho I
Mexican people He was deceived ;,,,