The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1901-05-03
AUsTRTA AND sIEXIco.

The recent resumption Of diplomatic
relations between Austria and Mexico.
severed more than 50 years ago, calls
up bit Of history that should be Of
interest to every American.
In 1861, while the United States was
engaged In the civil war, Napoleon IL,
Of France, induced England and Spain
to join him in the invasion Of Mexico,
ostensibly to secure the rights Of for
eign creditors there. His real purpose
was to establish an empire under a
French protectorate. Discovering his
ambitious aim, both England and
Spain deserted him
The United States, being engaged
in the stupenous conflict for the pre-
servation Of the union, was able only
to make feeble and ineffective pro-
test to this spOIiation and destruction
of sister republic. Napoleon contin-
ued the war against the Mexican re-
public and succeeded in driving the
armies Of the republic back into the
northern provinces. The throne Of
the new empire was offered to Arch
duke Macmillan, Of Austria His wife.
Carlotta, then only . years of age, was
the daughter of Leopold, king of Bel
GUM.
She was an ambitious woman and
urged her husband to accept the offer,
which he ultimately but reluctantly
did. Macmillan and the young en-
press set sail for Mexico and arrived at
Vera Cruz in May, 1854. He proceeded
at once to the capital and assumed the
duties of emperor. The imperial forces
were so far successful that a well or
ganized resistance seemed to be at an
end. He, theref re, published what
was called the "black Decree that all
the republicans in arms against the
empire should be considered as ban
dts and treated accordingly. This de-
cree, in the turn of events, afterwards
cost him his life.
At the close of the civil war in April
1865, the United States sent 10000 in
fantry and 10000 cavalry to the from
tier of Mexico. They were under the
command of Gen. Sheridan, Gun. Gus
| ter being in command of the cavalry
and we're massed on the lower Rio
Grande. Seward was secretary of state
and Stanton was secretary of war at
this time. This government demanded
of Napoleon that he take his troops
out of Mexico and withdraw his war
vessels from Mexican waters. This he
promptly promised to do within rea-
sonable limit of time.
Maximillian was thrown upon his
own resources, and according as French
support was withdrawn the victorious
republicans pushed him southwark IN
til finally he was captured, and being
tried by court martial, was shot June
10, 1867. Carlotta sometime before had
gone back to Europe to importune
Napoleon to postpone the final with
drawal Of his troops from Mexico. He
refused her request, and the last of the
French army was embarked In March,
1867 Carlotta went insane, her hus-
band was executed, his last words being:
''POor Carlottar' Maximillian was a
younger brother of Emperor Francis
Joseph, of Austria.
At the time Of the invasion of Mex
leo Bonito Juarez was president of the
republic, and he is often called the
abraham Lincoln Of Mexico" He was
a full-bloded Indian but a man of
learning and ability. Like Lincoln be
was a great lawyer and a man of the
people Porf1rio Diaz, the present
president, was then a youngerIy man
and a general in the army. Gen. Esco-
Dido was in command of the forces
that captured Macmillan, and was
subsequently secretary Of war under
Juarez. The prominent men in the
republic of Mexico to-day were all
identified with the war to preserve the
independence of the republic.
Our sister republic celebrates with
appropriate ceremonies this deliver
ance from old-world despotism, and
remembers with gratitude the service
rendered it by the United States in
enforcing the Monroe doctrine. It is
the fashion In some quarters to decry
this doctrine, and certain New York
dailies attacked President Cleveland
when he called halt on Great Britain
in the Venezuelan boundary question,
and these tory papers declared the
Monroe doctrine absurd and said this
nation had never enforced it; whereas,
its enforcement in this Mexican cpl
sOde IS one Of the bright pages Of our
history.
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