and abandon the expedition.

The French break

cans.

but Maximilian, was to be placed on the Mexican throne -a disappointment to the Spanish com. mander, the Count de Reuss (General Prim), who had pictured for himself a viceroy's coronet. It is not necessary, on the present occasion, to enter into details respecting the French military movements, which began by a breach of that article of the confaith with the Mexi- vention of La Soledad which required that the French, who had been permitted to come into the healthy country, should retire beyond the strong pass of Chiquehuite in case negotiations were broken off. Had the Paris press been free, such events would never have occurred, and, indeed, as has been truly af firmed by the French themselves, this shameful expedi tion would never have been undertaken. As it was, things were done in Mexico which, could they have been brought to a knowledge of the French, would have thrown that great people into a profound reverie.

of Mexico.

The French entered the city of Mexico in July, 1863. They seize the city The time had now come for throwing off the mask, and the name of Maximilian was introduced as a candidate for the empire. Commissioners were appointed to go through Paris and Rome to Miramar with a view of soliciting the consent of that prince. A regency was appointed until he could be heard from. It consisted of Almonte, Salas, and the Archbishop La Bastida. Maximilian had already covenanted with the Pope to restore to the Mexican Church her mortmain property, estimated at two hundred millions of dollars. In Mexico there are but two parties, the Liberal and the Ecclesiastical. The latter was conciliated by that covenant; but as to the national sentiment, the collection of suf frages in behalf of the new empire was nothing better than a mere farce.

They establish the empire of Maximilian.

CHAP. LXI.]

The Southern States

been deceived.

THE MEXICAN EMPIRE.

525

An empire was established in Mexico. Well might the leaders of the Southern Confederacy be find that they have thunderstruck. Was this the fulfillment of that promise which had lured them into the gulf of revolt-the promise which had been used with such fatal effect in Charleston? (vol. i., p. 512) Well might it be expected in France, as is stated by Keratry, that "the Confederates proposed to avenge themselves for the overthrow of the secret hopes which had been encouraged from the very outset of the contest by the cabinet of the Tuileries, which had accorded to them the bel ligerent character, and had, after all, abandoned them." Yet no one in America, either of the Northern or the Southern States, imputed blame to the tween the French French people in these bloody and dark and the emperor. transactions. All saw clearly on whom the responsibility rested. And when, in the course of events, it seemed to become necessary that the French army should leave Mexico, it was the general desire that nothing should be done which might by any possibility touch the sensibilities of France. But the Republic of the West was forever alienated from the dynasty of Napoleon.

Discrimination be

Events showed that the persons who were charged with the administration of the Richmond government had not ability equal to their task. The South did not select her best men. In the unskillful hands ernment overthrows of those who had charge of it, secession proved to be a failure. The Confederate resources were recklessly squandered, not skillfully used. Ruin was provoked.

The American gov

secession.

When it became plain that the American Republic was about to triumph over its domestic enemies in the Civil War, and that it was in possession of irresistible military power, they who in the Tuileries had plotted the

rise of Maximilian in 1861, now plotted his ruin. The betrayed emperor found that in that palace

Thereupon Napo

recede.

milian.

leon finds he must two languages were spoken. In the ago ny of his soul he exclaimed, "I am tricked!" In vain his princess crossed the Atlantic, and, though deHe abandons Maxi- nied access, forced her way into the presence of Napoleon III., in her frantic grief upbraiding herself before him that, in accepting a throne from his hand, she had forgotten that she was a daughter of the race of Orleans-in vain she fell at the feet of the Pope, deliriously imploring his succor.

Impolicy of Amer

removal of the

French.

It is questionable whether the United States government pursued a correct policy in pressing ica insisting on the the removal of the French. It may possi bly prove to have been a mistake similar to that committed by the English respecting Canada, which hastened, if indeed it did not occasion the separation of the colonies (vol. i., p. 162). During the Civil War very conspicuous advantages accrued to the republic from the circumstance that Canada was a British possession. A foresight of the military consequences which might possibly ensue acted as a restraint on the ministry of Lord Palmerston, and strengthened whatever desire it had to maintain an honorable peace, European establishments on the North American continent can never be a source of disquietude to the republic. To those powers who maintain them they are ever liable to be a source of embarrassment. Considering the questions which must inevitably arise with the rapid development of the Pacific States respecting commercial supremacy on the Pacific Ocean, the trade of Eastern Asia, and the British empire in India, a correct policy would probably have indicated the encouragement of an exotic French establishment in Mexico. The Russian government recognized the truth

CHAP. LXI.]

REMOVAL OF THE FRENCH.

527

of these political principles in its action in 1867 respecting its American possessions, which it disposed of to the United States.

Correspondence of

subject.

Admitting, however, the correctness of the policy of removing the French from Mexico, the firm Mr. Seward on the but dignified course taken by Mr. Seward in his correspondence entitles him to the highest praise. In him there was no intrigue, no deception, nothing which his countrymen can condemn, nothing at which they need blush. Even by the French themselves it was said, "The United States tracked French policy step by step; never had the French gov. ernment been subject to such a tyrannical dictation. The American correspondence is full of a logic never inconsistent with its purposes." With a courteous audacity, the Secretary of State did not withhold his doubts as to the sincerity and fidelity of the emperor; with inexorable persistence he demanded categorically that the French occupation should come to an end. A date once set, he held the French government to its word. "Tell M. Mous tier," he says, in a dispatch to the American minister in Paris, "that our government is astonished and distressed at the announcement, now made for the first time, that the promised withdrawal of French troops from Mexico, which ought to have taken place in November (this month), has been put off by the emperor." "You will inform the emperor's government that the ernment insists on President desires and sincerely hopes that the evacuation of Mexico will be accomplished in conformity with the existing arrangement, so far as the inopportune complication necessitating this dispatch will permit. On this point Mr. Campbell will receive instructions. Instructions will also be sent to the military forces of the United States, which are placed in a post of observation, and are waiting the special orders

The American gov

the departure of the French army,

of the President; and this will be done with the confidence that the telegraph or the courier will bring us intelligence of a satisfactory resolution on the part of the emperor in reply to this note. You will assure the French government that the United States, in wishing to free Mexico, have nothing so much at heart as preserving peace and friendship with France."

of Maximilian.

The French themselves recognized that the position and on the removal of the two nations had become inverted. "The United States now gives orders. For merly France had spoken boldly, saying, through M. Drouyn de Lhuys to Mr. Dayton, the American repre sentative at Paris, 'Do you bring us peace or war?' Now Maximilian is falling in obedience to orders from Washington. He is falling a victim to the weakness of our government in allowing its conduct to be dictated by American arrogance. Indeed, before rushing into such perilous contingencies, might not the attitude of the United States have been easily foreseen? Our statesmen needed no rare perspicuity to have discovered the dark shadow of the Northern Republic looming up on the horizon over the Rio Bravo frontier, and only biding its time to make its appearance on the scene."

The Mexican expe

tal failure.

"Only one thing was now thought of in Paris, and that was to leave as soon as possible this dition ends in a to- land of destroyed illusions and bitter sacrifices. In this great shipwreck every thing was swallowed up the regeneration of the Latin race as well as the hopes of the monarchy, the interests of our countrymen (which had been the pretext for the war) as well as the two French loans which had but served to bring it to this disastrous conclusion. The only thing which swam safe upon the surface was the claim of Jecker, the Swiss, who had obtained his twelve millions."