The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1867-07-13 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

SATURDAY, JULY 13, 1867.  THE MURDERED MAXIMILIAN.  The festivities in Paris, when they were at their height, and the intended rejoivinga in Loudon on the occasion of the arrival of the Sultan and the Viceroy, have been marred by the news of the execution, or rather by the murder of Maximilian, Emperor of Mexico. Many of tho European courts have thus been placed in mourning, and the sad intelltgence has ; created n profound impression of sorrow throughout our own as well as other countries. The history of Mexico is a hi,tory of pillage and rapine, of plot and counterplot, of republican fury and despotic tyranny, and such a thing as a settled government has been unknown, at all events, ever since this fine fertile country was left to its own resources, claiming for itself . the rights and position of an independent government. The official French journal points out that the crime of regicide which we now deplore is not the first of the kind which has been perpetrated in this unhappy country. In 1:3114 the Emperor Iturbide was delivered up and shot; in 1829 President Guerrera was betrayed and suffered a like fate ; and the ilnniteur eloquently continues "For fifty years Mexico had been a prey to the moat horrible anarchy, acts of pillage, and civil war. He who wished to consecrate his efforts to pacifying the country, . tilling up the abyss of revolutions, restoring order, and eudeavearing to render happy a country so favoured by Heaven—this monarch, betrayed by one of his subjects whom he had loaded with benefits, has fallen under the bullets of assassins." A review of the murdered Emperor's career is then entered upon, and the leading events in the recent history of Maximilian are sketched. We by no means adopt entirely the views taken by the French official journal, lint many of them are borne out by independent testimony from other sources. . There can ho no denial of the fact that Maximilian was foully murdered in contravention of the law of nations, and in violation of the duties which Mexico owed to her ruler. But due allowance mast be made for the natural bias which must affect any French official utterances on this subject. The Emperor Maximilian was the protege of France. He went there with the pomp and prestige of French troops; and to a • certain extent his tottering throne was sapported by French bayonets. The whole French expedition WAS a failare, quite independently of this crowning crime, and it is natnral, therefore, that the Emperor of the French should ignore the former while he brings out the latter in bold relief. It remains to be seen what action France will take in this matter, and it is remarkable that at present vengeance would appear to be threatened. " The pitnishment of this crime," says the .11,0nireur, " cannot be long delayed, lied Mexico would hut be too happy if she should d! Appear from the number of independent nations and find herself absorbed by powerful wighbours. Bet the hour has not yet come." Thh; is ominous, because threatening language. What is to be the result may well be watehed with anxiety, and eapecially may we leok anxiously to see whether our prophecy will be realised, that " the division which already exists among the ambitions bravos of Juarez will drown the country in blood." Meanwhile European opinion hal uniformly emidennied the treachery and the crime which have culminated in one of the most wanton acts of regicide which the history of the world contains. Perhaps the best vengeance will be to let the Mexicans alone. We have had enongh of European intervention ; but on the United States, at whose dietation the French troops were withdrawn, leaving Maximilila to his fate, devolves the duty of compelling .Juarez and his brigands to respect the communion laws of civilizatioa. They are indireetly the cause of the present reign of anarchy ; it Li for them to endeavour to bring order out of chaos.