The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1935-02-28
The End

the sea- Finally In 1868 in response to urgent
representations by the United States, Napoleon
promised to withdraw his troops from Mexico.
In the meantime open revolt had sprung up In
Mexico! In October 1865, Macmillan had Is
sued proclamation threatening death to al!
who offered resistance to the government. It
was aimed primarily at the bandits who had
been ravaging the country. But the lmperlalisf
and French officers took advantage OF the proc
lamaton to execute many Liberals who were
classed as brigands after their capture and this
strengthened the hand OF luarez In his revolt
against the usurper. 1t gained rapid Roadway and
Macmillan, realizing at last that Napoleon could
not be trusted to support him, saw that the end
was almost In sight.
For long time he had been blind to the fact
that he was an unwanted ruler In Mexico and
that his reign was destined to failure Even
binder was his empress Carlnra, tshe mad
changed to the Mexican spelling OF her name
upon becoming empress}. When he proposed to
abdicate his throne the empress stormed at him.
SO It was decided that she should go to Eli
rope for a personal appeal to Napoleon to abide
by his promises OF support and protection TO
the Inflated imperial venture. Falling in her
efforts to win such n promise from the Willy
Frenchman. Carlota went on to Rome to appeal
to the pope for aid
In the Vatican she developed her first traces
of insanity and so violent did she become that
1t was necessary for her to spend the night
there Thus history accords her the honor or
being the only woman ever to remain overnight
In that historic building.
Having failed utterly In her efforts to gain
support In either Paris Rome and with her
health and her mind falling, Carlota was re-
moved to her castle In her native Belgium. Mean
while back In Mexico events we're drawing to a
swift close. In February. 1867, after the depar-
ture OF the French troops, Macmillan withdrew
from Mexico City and went to Queretaro where
he assumed command OF small army. There he
was besieged by the reyolntionists- He made a
last desperate effort to break through and escape
but he was betrayed by a Colonel Lopez and
taken prisoner.
A month later he was court martaed and after
trial that was something of farce he was
sentenced to die The end came for him on the
morning of June 10. 1867 The following
winter they brought his body ito Vienna anu
the Observation-Disclosures crypt OF Capuchn
monks long line of Hapsburgs sumberel
here and he was laid quietly among them.
=. And while he slept eternally. she
roamed through the corridors Of a distant Bel
gian castle. far removed from him as their
separate childhoods At times 1t was as II he hat
never been. Five empires crashed while
she sat In her garden. =. Brooding In her arm
chair she watched the sunset OF five dynastles
Bonaparte, Rraganza Romanov. Hansburg. Ho
henzollern. Would there be sunrise9
death came. quietly on January 10, 1927.
Until TINT moment however. hers was an epl'
hold on life She knew herself to be monu
ment to Macmillan and while she lived she
would not allow men to forget him. To all wh'
paid her visits while she would whisper: lie
them remember the far-hnired stranger Wit
gave his life for the ambitions Of that grasplng
INSCRIPTIONS Napoleon Let them know that w
acted In good faith; and may God grant that ou
memory be sad but never hateful. 80. ;"
In Mexico they remember Carlota as "the III
fortuned Mexican Empress who was an innocen
victim in the game OF European politics
She will remain engraved upon our history Il
her goodness, her nobility and above all, a
the most loving OF women" The world remen
beers her and her emperor as two royal WALT
of chance whose tragic misadyenture call
more for pity than for blame.
by Western Newspaper Union