Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-04-11

dDleS III MEXICO quite WllllnS 10 Cdkt
the responsibilities Of all the people
and an undoubted summons was sent
to Maximilian. aa
Carlotta urged and Maximiliar
dreamed Of the things he would ac-
complish. At last 1t was all settled
and the pair were on the sea for their
new realm, Of which they knew less
than nothing. On May 28, 1864, they
caught their tirst glimpse Of their coun-
try across the fever-laden stretches OF
coast around Very Cruz
1t must have been q disheartening
day to Maximilian when he first land
ed on Mexican soil. Only the French
troops welcomed him with supercil-
ious attention. The populace were idly
curious and nothing more. The pros
pective, emperor and empress were
packed in bouncing carriages across
the broken roads to Santa Maria de
Guadalupe there to wait until e. re-
ception could be manufactured in
Mexico City. ~ a a,E.,<
In Spanish America the promise of
a tiesta will produce q marvel Of en-
thusiasm, and when Macmillan enter
ed the city he found 1t in gala array,
filed with arches and color and pranc-
ing horsemen. .....
Maximiiian and Carlotta established
their court and believed that they had
begun to rule, but the real rulers were
the t,rench soldiers behind the bayo-
neis Of Marshal Bazaine's soldiers.
For a while things went auspiciously
enough. ,......
Little by little trouble loomed UP
for the new emperor. The clericals
found him unwilling to return their
contiscated lands and withdrew their
meet the expense Of establishing the
empire. French officers were favored
and Mexicans were slighted. The
French were arrogant and the natives
resentful. Bazaine was everywhere
unpopular and Maximilian had to con-
slider his counsels.
Then came the famous decree which
stirred the whole nation to protest.
President Jaurez had fed northward
and 1t was rumored that he had cross
ed the border to the United States.
Bazalne persuaded the emperor that
organized resistance was at an end.
Then came the order that all found
in arms should be treated as bandits
and shot within twenty-four hours.
Maximiliain lad intended that the
decree be directed only against ma
rauders, but 1t was taken as pretext
for arresting a number Of revolution
airy leaders. General Jose Arteaga
and General Salazar were captured
and summarily executed with a num-
ber Of lesser officers, many OF high
standing and Of ancient families.
These illegal murders created furore
Of anti-French feeling.
The push that toppled over the en-
pire, however, came from the United
States. The government at Washing
ton had consistently refused to recog-
nize Maximilian. Throughout the civil
war, protests had been made to Napo-
leon III. without effect, but once the
war was over there came q change OF
tone.
Seward ceased his mild remonstran-
ces and began to threaten in stern dip
lomatic language. He informed the
French government that the United
States would not tolerate the presence
Of French troops on the continent and
let 1t be known that war would be the
only outcome. American troops were
massed on the Mexican border ready
to move.
Napoleon temporized and held out
for a recognition Of Maximilian, but
this was refused and as matters near
ed crisis he decided to withdraw his
army from an expansion which had
grown unpopular at home and danger
our abroad. He warned Macmillan
that he would no longer support him
and counseled an immediate return
home. Maximiliah hesitated and wa
vered between holding out and abdi-
eating.
There is story that he had the pen
in his hand ready to sign the papers
giving up his crown when the Empress
Carlotta burst into his study and
begged him not to lose his empire.
She said that she herself would go to
Europe, that she would visit the courts
Of the continent, would see the pope
and would force Napoleon to live up
to his promises.
Whatever may be the truth Of the
matter, she sailed for France. There
she was received coldly and compell-
ed to seek out Napoleon journeying in
a shabby cab. At last she secured an
interview, but without effect. She
pleaded, threatened and finally faint
ed in Mysteries. In the end she de-
parted. declaring that her greatest
humiliation vas that she, the grand
daughter Of Louis PHILIPPE, had con-
descended to ask aid from an adven-
turer.
The ordeal had completely broken
her health. The strain Of anxiety
preyed upon her mind, and little by
little her intelligence was undermined.
She was placed in retirement for a
while and then rushed off to the Vati-
can. There her rambling protests
marked her insane and not long after
she became raving maniac.
The madness Of his empress was a
crushing blow to Maximilian. Nowhere
he turned could he secure help. De-
spite his appeals the French troops
continued to leave. 1t came to the al
tentative Of deserting his throne or
standing out alone. He chose the lat
ter.
With the departure Of the French
the Republicans made headway all
over the country, and their armies
grew from day to day in numbers.
To oppose them Macmillan took the
field at the head Of some 5000 poorly
drilled and equipped troops. 1t was
not a campaign, but merely hopeless
and foolish series Of skirmishes:
It was useless to take the field, and
soon he found himself shut up in the
City Of Queretaro, insurgents at the
gates. Even then he had no chance
for one Of his generals, Miguel Lopez,
went over to the enemy and brought
the forces Of JuareZ into the city.
Maximilian refused to flee and was
captured. with General Miramon and
General Mejia, of his army. He was
lodged in the convent Of San Tersita
and left there. while six youthful cap
tains tried him and his companions by
court-martial and sentenced them to
death.
Feeling in this country suddenly
changed in favor of the imperial pris-
oner, and Secretary Seward did his
best to prevent the execution. He sent
a messenger to Juarez urging Glenn
ency. To all appeals, however, the
Mexican leader was obdurate.
Early on the day Of the execution
the emperor arose, made a careful
toilet, wrote some letters, and at b
o'clock heard mass and received holy
communion with the two other pris-
oners. At o'clock the three con-
demned men were placed in carriages
and taken to The Hill of the Bells, just
outside the city.
To his friends and servants he said:
BE calm, you see 1 am so. 1t is the
will of God that l should die, and we
cannot act against it,
He had refused to have his eyes
bandaged. and just before the three