Year: 1866

IaIOu Ouuiaku mas returueu 70 forlS ana mas
reported to the Emperor Napoleon the real
condition Of the Mexican empire. 1t will be
remembered that the Baron was sent to Mexico
about the time that Napoleon promised in the
speech from the throne that he was preparing
to withdraw the French troops. 1t was reported
at the time that he carried personal assurance
to Macmillan that France could no longer
afford him the material support necessary to
keep up his empire; and it is now rendered
probable that he was also instructed to take
especial note of the condition Of the country
the state Of parties and the temper of the people,
with view to giving a satisfactory answer to
the one .question:-Can the recently established
empire stand when the French troops come
away? He now answers this question with an
emphatic no-reaching and declaring the con-
clusion that has been for many months the con-
viction Of the American people, that the empire
must depart with the power that founded it


1t was important that Napoleon should have
definite answer to this question. France is
at present interested in Mexico to the extent of
one hundred and ninety millions of dollars.
This is now the most vital interest she has in
the land of the Montezumas. Whatever object
may originally have been at the bottom Of the
Mexican expedition, it has now lost its i'm
portance. If an empire on this side the At
lantic was part of the game of European recon-
struction, it has failed to accomplish the pur-
pose expected, and the vital necessity now is to
save as much as possible of the money ventured
on it. Does Maximiian's government offer
possibility of ever being able to pay any por-
ton of this hundred and ninety millions? Sail
lard SAYS no. 1t cannot even stand alone;
therefore of course it cannot pay. And there
fore Saillards answer settles the fate OF the
empire. It has been vast, costly experiment;
tremendous failure in every point OF view,
and the Emperor of France will have no more
to do with it.


But does any government offer better
probability to France of future repayment?
The republic is the only onethat can be counted
upon at all, and perhaps France can make
some arrangement with that This financial
point is the real secret of Druyn de Lhuys' de-
.sire to communicate with Juarez through the
United States Minister at Paris France can
afford the republic some facilities. She can ex-
pedite the departure of Macmillan and sim
plify the situation in various ways, and will,
too, if the republic will consent to recognize
any considerable portion Of the Indebtedness to
France. Will the republic now return on these
terms? That is the whole question; and thus
all the Mexican turmoil resolves itself into dol
tc,I doh OF 1oa
France ostensibly went to Mexico to collect
| forty millions that Mexico declared herself un-
able to pay, and now France would be glad to
get away with Mexican promise to pay any
part of the one hundred and ninety millions she
has spent in the attempt to subdue Mexico.


| PUBLIC ExECUTIoNERs.-Th "Wearing Of the
Green" has given way, for the time being in
Massachusetts, to another sensation, namely,
the hanging of Green, the Maiden murderer.
| Wendell Phillips, with characteristic force and
violence, is out with letter condemning Gov
ernor Bullock for sanctioning the execution OF
the assassin. 1t appears that the statute OF
Massachusetts, in regard to capital punishment,
like that of most States, expressly declares
|
be decided by jury" In Green's case there
was no trial before jury. He con-
fessed his guilt. The judge before whom
he appeared as confessed criminal did
not deem IL necessary to go through the forms
of trial, and condemned him to death. The
case was carried up on points of law to the
highest legal authorities; the decision of con.
demnaton was affirmed; the late Governor
declined to issue the necessary warrant for the
prisoners execution, but the present Governor
did, and the murderer was accordingly banged
by the neck until he was dead. About the legal
ity of this execution we will not enter into dis
cussion at this time. That the criminal deserved
hanging, if ever q criminal did. there cannot be
q doubt. But censure should not be withheld
in regard to the bungling manner in which the
work was performed. Ii was in reality double
execution. The man was twice hanged, anj
if any Massachusetts murderer deserved thl
death penalty and escaped the gallows-ant
we believe there are several-this extra execu
ton will help towards squaring the balance
Seriously, the mangng manner in which ex


cutions are now conducted demands attention


We pass laws to prevent cruelty to animals


why not laws to prevent cruelty to humaI


beings, especially to those who have incurred


the penalty Of death? In some foreign coun
tries a regular executioner is appointed. III


holds office during good behavior, and al


though not very popular parsonage in an.


community, he nevertheless sofiens the horror


of public executions by the adroit manner il


which the business is performed. Here in th


United States criminals are executed by sheriff
or deputy sherihfs, who are not acquainted will


the process; and in many cases, no doubt un


necessary torture is inflicted in consequence o


their ignorance or trepidation. Why not, then


ii the death penalty is to continue in force il