The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1903-01-07
WEDNESDAY. JANUARY Z 1908.
COLLECTING pEeTs eY FORCE.

the enOrf OF france 10 cOiicCt CeTlal
debts flom Mexico, and which lie
ultimately into the further attempt {
put Maximilian and the Archduches
Charlotta on the Mexican throne.
The amount owed citizens o
France England and Spain amour e,
to seveniyiiye millions of dollars
quarter of a million being due t,
France only from Mexicans =,
Finding il impossible to collec
their claims by negotiations, tn,
three governments, in 1861, arrange,
a joint expedition into Mexico. to com
pei her TO make provision for payment
France determined. also. to establish
Latin empire in America-tha sxpe.
dition consisting Of eighty-onc vessels
carrying Gil guns and 27,9ll sailors
and troops. reached W a Cruz in be
cember, 1861 Spanish troops cccu-
pied the city when the Mexican wac
uated and retired from Vera Cruz.
England and Spain became SUSPECT
Gus of France. al both governments
arranged their difieulties with Mexi-
co by the convention OF Solidad on
the 18th Of February and withdrew
forces on The following April, 1861.
When left alone. France reinforced
her army, and. during 1862, the French
had great difficulty 10 hold their own
against the Mexicans.
The seige Of Pueblo was defended
with galantry, but the French cap.
tured It on May IS, 1868.
The civfl war in The United states
being in active progress. the southern
people we're not posted on the French
attack on Mexico. and Il astonished
everybody 70 hear that the city of
Mexico was taken aud entered by he
Frenehrafmy IN June. 1863
This seemed to be Louis Napoleon
opportunity His council declared
against the continuance Of a republic
deciding that a hereditary empire
would be the bcat fer the country.
Archduks Maximilian. the brother If
the emperor of Austria. was selected
as the proper person TO be made cm-
peror Of Mexico Under The intimida-
ton of the French the choice was
apparently ratified by Mexican people.
A year later, in June. 1854. Maxi.
milan and carlotta entered the ely
o7 Mexico, after accepting The Mex
iiig1 crown
e Is believed that Maximflian hon
estly endeavored to establish a good
government in Mexico. but he was
thwarted b. the large majority OF The
Mexican people, who refused TO sane
tion the dssr uction OF the republic.
which had heen done by the French
and not by heir own nation
President Jaurez established sea,
cf government at Monterey and tho
war wen on with varying success. un-
til 1866.
The civil war in the uhited ate
being then ended, the American gov
ernment gave Louis Napoleon to un-
drrstand that the French Occupation I
OF Mexico was not pleasing, and Louis I
Napoleon then intimNted to Maximil- (
ian that he should abdicate The crown.
The Austrian fiatly told him he could
not, in honor. forsake the Mexican
leaders. who had risked their lives for
his cause. The French troops were
and Maximillan was lof 20
his fato-was shor by The order Of
President Janrez On the 18th day OF
Jpne. 1867
Thus ended he colection OF foreign
debts By warIike measures. aud here
begun the downfall Of Louis Napoleon.
His various AID devious designs led
him into war with Prussia. and he.
himself, was soon forced TO nae from
France, as an exile or fugitive and
forever lost his empire. T,
Judging the future by the past. the
collection Of foreign debts by military
agencies will not be very ruccessful
IN the western continent Of North or
south America
The attempi TO ooerce Mexico taught
France a good lesson. Il is understood
hat France viii se,tle with Vene2ue
an debtors IN a quister way II was
vell thai Louis Napoleon was warned /
~ from Mexico, bat Il viii be cqualls
veil 10 keep England and Germany A,
i arms length from South American
epubIics
II an English or German citizen IS
aaltreated By Venezuelan authorities
r their vessels fired upon o. destroy
a, then the proper redress should be :
iven, but when a parcel OF men go {