New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-03-07

Scribner's Sons.
The Archdupe Of Louis Napoleon,
sunset" Cox called Macmillan OF
Hapsburg as early as 1850, when
French designs upon Mexico were hrst
discussed openly in the House. The
designation was prophetic, and may
we'll stand as the verdict Of history. 1t
matters little that Macmillan was In
competent that he knew little OF
finance and less Of strategy and tao
tics: that he knew nothing Of the peo-
ple he came to rule and never learned;
that ne offended the Church and had
fatal gift for placing his trust in the
wrong advisers. Had he been the
ablest Of statesmen, the most resource
full Of warriors, he would have been
doomed none the less by a patriotism
that was as genuine as it was fero-
cious, by the political necessities of
that other dreamer who had placed
him where he died, and who lacked all
his finer qualities. and, in the last re-
sort. by the veto of these United
States.
Mr.. Martin tells the story of the dis
astrous French adventure in Mexico
from its very origin in the corrupt bar
gain made by the sinister Duke de
Morny with the French adventurer-
banker Jecker for a division of the
spoils. The subtitle of the book indi-
Gates its full scope; the career Of Maxi
milan is but its elimination. The
author does not hesitate TO go far
afield-even back to the natal days OF
the Inflated Emperor. of Carlotta. of
his brother Francis-Joseph. Napoleon,
Eugene and Bazaine, of Marshall
Prim and the Mexican leaders. His
torian though he processes to be, he
does not withstand the lure Of dra-
matte effect. Therefore he quotes Vol
taire at the head Of his first chapter
"Lhistoire nest que lie tableau des
crimes ct des malheurs" and accentu
ates Napoleon as the criminal and
Macmillan as his unfortunate victim.
even as, still further to heighten the
dramatic effect, he tellingly places into
juxtaposition the unfortunate Car
lotta in her madness and Eugene, the
bigoted political meddler, in the full
ness Of her triumph in the year in
which Macmillan fell before the Mex
lean rifles at Queretaro. Poignantly
vivid is the narrative of the desperate
woman's hurried visit to France. Of the
first signs of her coming mental dark
ness on embarking at Vera Cruz, Of
her interview with the callous ruler
who had deserted her and her husband,
of her scornful parting words to him,
What should I, daughter Of Bour
bon, have expected from the word Of
Bonaparte." The last scene follows,
that wholly futile appeal TO Pho Mono,
after Macmillan had so deadly Of
Tended the Church and its supremacy
in Mexico. Then the mental dark
ness in which Carlotta OF Mexico
dweIs TO this day in the Castle Of
Bouchout in her native country. in the
seventy-fourth year Of her age and the
forty seventh of her affiiction. Here,
indeed. is material for historical
drama
Mr.. Martin has many scores to set
tie With the corrupt and incompetent
councillors who surrounded Macmillan
they were of his own choosing and
trusting; with the callous foreign rep
resentatives at his court, with his i'm
perial brother, Francis-Joseph, and the
jatter's cynical acceptance Of Napo-
Icons share in the tragedy, with our
own envoy, Lewis D. Campbell, who,
had he followed Stewards instructions,
might have saved Maximilian's life
an idle speculation at this day.
That Spain was aware Of Napoleon's
true intentions when she joined France
and England in the expedition is not
open to doubt; she withdrew on sober
second thought. AS certain is it that
England was on the verge of becom-
ing the French Emperor's dupe-that
he all but succeeded in hoodwinking
the British government-and that Lord
John Russell's resolution TO withdraw
from the adventure was considerably
hasteDed by his realization Of possibili-
ties made apparent by the Mason and
Slidell affair Mr.. Martin one thinks.
IS less than just, TO put 1t mildly, in
his discussion OF Stewards conduct of a
complication on our borders fraught
with incalculable dangers in the al
ready sufficiently hazardous times of
the Civil War.
The author does not, TO begin with.
approve OF the Monroe Doctrine. And
as for interference by the United States
in the troubled affairs OF its sister re-
publics on this continent-well, look at
Mexico and how she Jared at our hands
in 1S4si Neither does Mr.. Martin find
much that is good to say OF Stewards
diplomacy. Our Secretary OF State
was, he intmates. an opportunist,
which, be it/pointed out TO this critic.
was. 20 far az the charge can be ad
mitted at oil, exactly what sound
statesmanship required him 10 be until
the close OF the civil War Mr.. Mar
tin also objects TO Stewards complex
and confused pbraseology 30 dear 10
me amateur diplomat-and 30 eau
tlously avoided by the real and expert
enced BtatesD1n." lie points with de-
.H.N<.