Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-04-29
NOTABLE TRAGEDY OF THE GEN.
TURY.

Senior Manuel AspirOz, ambassador to the
United States from Mexico, is having an
experience the parallel of which is not to
be found in diplomatic history. He is
ostracized b y European representatives
accredited to the United States because
he was the prosecutor of M~aXimilian, of
Mexico. The representative of one re-
public at the capital of a sister republic
Ambassador Asplroz finds himself ilouted
because the representatives of Dyalty
~d1sapplove of an act performed by the
ambassador as a patriot and a soldier.
one of the saddest and most romantic
tragedies of the century is thus recalled
by a social sensation in these modern
times.
Macmillan, an amiable prince, a musi-
clan AN architect, an artist, unable to APP
preciate the Western spirit, believed he
] was a divine nstrumen for the educa-
l ton, upbuilding and government of the
belfighted masses in Mexico. He left his
I palace which he had designed and dec
grated, his chairs and cabinets, which he
had carved, and with a French army
sought to take possession Of Mexico.
The United States frowned. The French
army retired. Maximilian, "consecrated
to his duty remained. He had but a
handful of followers. He entrenched
himself in Queretaro. The Weaknesses
of his d~efenses were betrayed by some of
his followers. The Mexican army cap
tured the city, tried Macmillan by court
martial, sentenced him to death and one
gray morning led him forth for eXecu-
ton.
Ambassador Aspiroz was the judge ad-
vocate of the court. He was 81 years old
and detailed to the responsible duty by
his chief. He had served with distinction
in the war. He was a lawyer and his was
the duty to convince the military tribunal
that MaXimilian was punishable by
death. 1t was a mooted question. To the
rest Of the civilized world he was q pris-
Oner of war. His execution was a shock
to Christendom, as all Europe held he
should lave been paroled and deported.
80 you would like to have mp story OF
the part I played in the tragedy of Max
imilian'S sentence and death. Well, 1T
was simply the carrying out of my duty
as prosecuting attorney for the republic.
But if at this late day the Journal is IN
terested to hear, I am glad to tell 1T just
as it was,' said Senior Aspiroz yesterday:
THAT was 32 years ago.; we Will nave
to roll back the time. Ny commission
was given me by the general of the MeXl-
can army, General Escobedo, to whom |
was aid-de-camp, or, I think you call 1t
in English. his fleld adjutant. This COM
mission was to serve as prosecuting at
torney to the military commission, by
which Macmillan was tried ana con-
demned to death. This court was held at
sd Nv oii' "'b '' 49, '' $780,
cial tribunals in Mexico, a most grave
and disnified assembly.
The court was open to all. There We're
no secret convenlngs, no star m
proceedings. The public was aware all
the time of what was doing. l was then
a young man of 81 years, but as We'll an
experienced lawyer, and it was because
of this that l was selected as prosecuting
attorney by the military commission.
O that eventful day, the record or
which has SO long since passed INTO his
tory, l made the speech that fell to nay
part because of my official connection
with the case. f-s r.....
81 was not given any instructions in
the case by my government. The speech
was the summing up of the judicial
points in the case, and was made IN &C
coIdance with my personal knowledge as
| a lawyer and in accordance with the laws
of the epublic. 1t was a speech to
which earnest thought and all of my
ability had been given. 1t was, in a word,
the effort of my life. 1t was listened to by
that vast audience in the very stiffness
of death itself. We in Mexico had so
serious an appreciation Of the gravity of
the situation and of the occasion that
not even an udible breath disturbed
the perfect quiet while / talked and that
marked the close of the speech.
Then followed the hearing of the ac-
c~usation and defenses. The defendants
spoke at length and with eloquence for
Macmillan and the other two accused.
General Miguel Miramon and General
Thomas Meija. These two official pris-
oners' were present in court and upon
them centered the attention of the audi
ence. Macmillan was not there. He
was i'll. That is, his defendants so alleged.
The ragedy came with the pronounce
ing of the death sentence, which was in
the form of a legal judgment. Blu it was
a tragedy too deep for words.
How did the two condemned generals
bear the sentence? Like soldiers, They
gave no sign of their emotion. It was in
silence that it fell. 1t was in silence the
audience sat out throughout everything
that day when Macmillan was con-
demned to be shot. 1t was the military
commission that pronounced the death
sentence. The voices that stirred the still
ness were those of the lawyers for the
prosecution and defense.
with the p~ronouncing of the sentence
my official connection ceased with the
military commission. l never saw Max
milan after that. I was not present at
the execution.
Was | ostracized in any way? Were
any incivilities shown me at the time be-
cause of my connection with the case?
None whatever. l remained in Mexico
and practiced law. From 1867 to 1872 /
was under secretary in the department. of
foreign affairs. In 1872 I came to Wash
ington as agent of the Mexican republic
before the mixed commission of claims
established by the treaty of July 4, 1868.
T came to this city to replace Mr.. Cush-
ing, a very prominent lawyer of this
country. who was sent by the United
States government to Geneva on the
Alabama claims commission. For 10
months I remained here and during that
time Mr.. Mariscal was minister. 1t was
before Senior Romero had been appointed
to this mission.
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