Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-05-30
BY FRANK II. BROOKS.
In Which Conditions In Mexico before
the Expedition Are KcrnlIed.
Continued from MAY 23D


\ eneiby's expedition 20 Mexico may
De left, ~ this point, tor q time II
t7prtinent To recall some earlier con-
tft!ons which resulted in placing Man.
iir.!ian on the throne Of that revolu-
NoH swept country whose history is
= blend ~ romance and political craft
The civil War MAS never an uaen
hook 10 France under Napoleon IN
u 20 the moment which put Appornat-
toA before all nations. Napoleon be-
!ieNed that the Southern Confcdcracy
would he fact President Davis.
'aronEh MS minister 10 France. Slidcu,
proposed an alliance offensive and de-
fensivc between the Confederacy and
France. This alliance guaranteed 70
d france the absolute possession OF Mex
ico and the und!sturhed csta blishmcnt
o. an inprc within its borders. The
.Confedcracy asked in return that
France raise tho blockade al Charles
F defensive operation corps Of 1000
French soldiers This Napoleon de-
cimed, because. As ne argued, an alli-
snce WAS unnecessary. as, in mis- op!n-
5ion the end would be inevitable
Then zane AppomattoN The French
+ of Mexico The government AZ Wa h.
.nst5n. although victor in the con.
Hi,t oi four years, was in no mood
TO think OF an empire beyond the Rio
G-ande.
Mr.. seward, smartinG under the con.
Lotions forced upon his government by
1.-The Trent affair, used words TO the i'm
per!al minister which fore,old the gov.
3ernments strenuous opposition 10
H.oreisn foothold in the New World
h When shelby arrived In Mexico ne
3ficed conditions which he did not quite
understand Macmillan was on the
throne, but Razaine was the power
behind II. Everything in Mexico was
tuade- Bazaine's thumbs---the mints the
mines and tho custom-houses and
GFrench uniforms were OF parade at
Aevcry important point Civil law was
ilhed=ed in by bayoucts Maximilian
\ was q poet, an artist, a man whose
lli:e had been passed along the prim-
\ rose paths Upright, courteous. still a
Hover 10 his beautiful consort. always
H 10 the last minute of his life. he had
Nnever taken course in statecraft. He
4 was ignorant of its rudlments His
,hrst step i'll Mexico was a blundcr. lie
(. believed that MeXicans were capable OF
htinS controlled by principles of honor.
| The history Of the country from its dis
covery to the conditions which to-day
] and a Carranza and Villa asserting
leadership shows the contrary TO Max
'imilians conception.
I At the very hour when Maximilian
stepped ashore at Vera Cruz. the coun-
II try was III one OF It's uSuai inrOcS Inc
liberals were under the domino ton of
iJuarcz The church was represented by
NT!ramon. who was at tine bidding Of
the archbishop. England. France and
Spain had accounts to be settled. AS
far hack as 1850 there was treaty be-
tween Spain and Mexico. It provided
for the payment Of Spanish claims
When Juarez came into power this
treaty vas annulled.
Then there was that financial bubble
of which .Iecker-he was a Swiss
ibanker--was the head. The story is
worth repeating. ] quote Major Ed
wards:
| .Jecker had been living in Mexico
prior To the expedition. He had made
Ia fortune that topped the million col
dunn That was some money in that
Hdav. Miramon looked upon Jecker with
awe and admiration, and from friends
1.-The two men soon became partners.
\ $ decree was issued my Miramon in
iOctoher 1859. providing for the is
suance f3.000,O0O sterling in bonds.
These bonds were to be taken for taxes
| and import duties; were to bear 6 per
Ncent interest and were to have the
interest paid for FIVE years by the house
Nof Iecker. Az this was considerably
\ shove the average life of the average
/ Wexican government, Miramon felt safe
Hin taking no thought Of the interest
\ auer Jecker had paid for the first five
years Certain regulations also pro-
yyided that the holders of these bonds
might transfer them and receive In
ttheir stead lockers bonds, paying
certain percentage for the privilege of
the transfer. He did not, however, con-
summate the arrangement as the pro-