The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-01-28
Savannah Farm Supply House.

tirely of speed" the French General was
able to subdue agitation and uprising in
the interior of Mexico, and without strik-
ing single blow to conquer the land in
six weeks Bazaine did much for Maxi
milan.
The year 1864 marks the date in Ba-
zaine's career when the nue of general
was superseded by the higher honor of
marshal. Bazaine was still in Mexico
when the distinction was awarded him,
distinction he felt was fully deserved for
his arduous services in the cause of Max
imilian. The Mexican Emperor himself
however, seemed to have been pursuing
an underhanded policy, secretly working
for the recall of BaZaine and at the same
time writing the new Marshal his most
enthusiastic congra tulations, saying that
'one thing alone could lessen the joy
which this happy event causes us-it is
in case it should result in your leaving
our country. I trust that Emperor Ma
poIeon will not deprive Mexico of services
which are so necessary 10 her well-being."
Withdrawal of the French.
Thus were events quietly accommodating
which led TO the final withdrawal of the
French troops from the soil of Mexico and
to the tragic shooting of its Emperor. Ma
poleon refused further aid to Macmillan,
Who felt then that abdication was the
only step ttII MIN. bQj Int ldllO mat
would have signed that wise measure was
restrained by the Empress Carlotta, who
offered instead to travel to Europe TO beg
aid herself from the sovereigns of Paris
and Rome. Macmillan let her have her
way, and from the stormy and futile IN
terview of the frenzied Empress with Ma
poleon may be dated the final overthrow
of every remnant of her reason. What
was now left to Macmillan? Bazaine was
obliged to obey instructions from Paris,
which urged withdrawal of the French
troops Macmillan, left unprotected and
surrounded by ill-advised ministers, pre-
cipitated the events of the sad final years
of his life Bazaine left Mexico in 1867,
three months before the date of the tragic
death of Macmillan. He was received
at Toulon with every expression of popu-
lar hatred and eXecration, an opinion
which his life in Mexico does not justify
and in which the French Emperor did
not concur.
1t was during this sojourn of five years
in Mexico that Marshal Bazaine married
Josepha de Pena y Barrazan. The French
warrior had been previously welded in
1852 to Maria de la Soledad Indria Gre
goria Tormo, but she died in 1863, and two
years later he became the husband of the
woman who died the other day Maxi
milan was emphatically instrumental in
arranging the marriage. At that time
Marshal Bazaine was high in the imperial
favor and Macmillan settled a rich dowry
on the generals wife, who belonged to
family of Spanish origin that had fur
nshed Mexico with number of dlstin-
guished generals, advocates and officials.
Macmillan accompanied his dowry to the
bride with the following letter:
MY Dear Marshal Bazaine: Desiring
to give q proof of my personal friendship
as we'll as of my gratitude for the SER
vices you have rendered to our country,
we take advantage of the occasion of your
marriage and confer on the Marechale Ba-
zaine the palace of Buena-Vista, including
the gardens and furniture, with the con-
dtion that when you return TO Europe
or if from any cause you do not wish to
retain the said palace, the nation shall
again resume the property, and in this
case the government binds itself TO pay
to the Marechale BaZaine as dowry the
sum of 100000 piastres. Your most affec-
tionate, Macmillan,
Castillo Almonte."
At the time of the evacuation of the
French troops and the return of Bazaine
to France Macmillan offered TO recon-
pense the wife for the forfeiture of her
property by a gift Of 5O0,0 900 francs. Mar
shall Bazaine. however, promptly refused
the gift from an Emperor so openly hos
tile to himself, refused 1t as he did the
rights to a rich property situated In the
Zongolica for himself and the title of Duke
of Mexico. The palace or Buena-Nlsta
has been for many years in the power Of
the republican authorities OF Mexico and
the widow of Marshal Bazaine received
little benefit from her marriage dowry.
Commands Army of the Rhine.
The fatal year of 1870 brought to Mar
shall Bazaine the high honor of commits
sion from the Emperor as commander of
the Army of the Rhine, an honor which
proved as empty a bauble as the bonn
bastic title bestowed upon the new legons
of France. The outcome was inevii able
from the commencement of hostiities.
France was unprepared, while Germany
never was more ready for conflict. Mar
shall Bazaine had borne his share in the
brunt of hostilities at Gravelotte, but it
was at Metz, the capital of the disputed
provinces of Alsace and Lorraine. that
the French general was to earn the I'M
dying enmity of his countrymen.
Testimonies conflict over the actions of
Bazaine In the surrender of Metz. There
is little doubt that much Of the evidence
produced at the subsequent courtmartial
was fabricated for the degradation and
humiliation of Bazaine as an example to
the army. In the explanations which he