Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1900-01-31
An HISTORIC PARALL El.
BY JOHN sOBIEsKI.
From the Rams Horn. Chicago.

-.
From the Rams Horn. Chicago.
At the close of our Civi! War, had I
determined to go to Mexico to fight in
behalf of the Republic against the So
called Emperor Maximilliau. There
was great deal of sympathy at that
time Cor Mexico, as it will be rememb-
cred our government had never &C
knowledged the empire, nor received
its minister, but had retained Romero
the last minister appointed by the re-
public.
Not knowing Romero personally. +
went to Gen. Hancock, then the COM
mander of the District of Columbia,
to seek, through him, an interview
with the Mexican minister. was
very we'll acquainted with Gen. Han
cock, having served with him on the
plains before the war. Sol went to
him and told him my desire, and asked
him for letter Of Introduction, which
ne gladly granted, writing a high COM
mendation. easily secured an inter-
view with the minister, who seemed to
be greatly pleased at my enthusiasm,
and our interview was quite lengthy.
From him l received the whole HISTORY
which led up to the invasion of Next
co by the combined forces of France
and Spain. And the story l now give
was afterwards repeated by President
Juarez in an interview which he had
with some American, English and Ger
man officers who had served the cause
of Mexico in the overthrow of Max
millian
THE BIRTH OF THE LIBERAL PARTY
The Liberal Party of Mexico had
come into power upon the issue of
confiscating the church property. It
would seem that the Catholic church
had in some way come into possession
OF more than twO-thirds of the entire
real estate Of Mexico outside of their
national domain, and they we're using
it to the detriment of the Republic
The church, it seems, was monarchial
in its principles and was conspiring
constantly against the Republic, And
the constant revolutions that occurred
in Mexico could be traced to the in
trigues of the church; hence the Lib
eral parties organized for the purpose
OF depriving the church of this tre-
mendous power that had proven so
dangerous to the nation.
II was a great undertaking: when
one realized that Mexican nation is
solidly Catholic. 1t is doubtful
whether at this time there were five
hundred native Mexicans that were
not members OF that faith. Yet upon
the issue of the contiscation of the
church property, the Liberal Party
won at the ballot box. Then the Con-
sentative or Church Party, under the
leadership of Gems. Marion and Majir,
appealed to arms; and the Liberal
Party was as victorious in the field as
it had been at the ballot box. Gems.
Marion and Majir were compelled to
fee from the country and take refuge
in Europe.
The Liberal Party then proceeded
with their scheme for the relief of the
government. They contiscated the en-
tire property of the church, including
all the bouses Of worship and contents.
converts and monasteries, and to this
day none of these institutions are per-
mitted in Mexico, while the churches
are permitted to be used for worship,
it is only by the sufferance Of the gov
eminent.
AN APPEAL TO EUROPE.
Notwithstanding the church had met
with this great reverse, they were de-
termined not to give up the contest
without another trial. SO Gen. Mari
on, who had been president of the
republic, accompanied by Gen. Majir,
proct eded to Rome, where in an inter-
view with Pope Plus TX, they deter
mined to appeal to the Catholic pow
ers Of Europe, to interfere in behalf of
the church. At first they Gid not meet
with much encouragement none of the
Catholic powers was in good condi-
ton to do much, except France.
Spain was willing, but was weak. Ma
poleon III, was able, but not inclined
to assist, doubling whether France
would sustain him in expanding treas
ure and blood in behalf Of the Catho-
lie Church of Mexico. 1t was now de-
termined to approach him on another
side. He was ambitious. So con-
sultation was held between the Pope's
representative at the court of St.
Cloud. Eugenia, the empress of
France, who was an ardent Spanish
Catholic, Gems. Marion and Majir.
At that council it was decided to urge
upon Napoleon the grand idea of
establishing in Mexico an empire as
break-water against republican ideas
that were constantly being propagated
by the great Western Republic, the
United States. Archduke Maximil-
liam was to be made the emperor, that
would unite the two great Catholic en-
pires of Europe against the rising
powers of Protestant England and
Germany. Napoleon was to have the