Emperor Maximilian I of Mexico

“ My dear Marshal and Friend,—It is with the greatest pleasure that I have just heard of your promotion to the rank of marshal.
By distinguishing you with so high a mark of favour, the emperor fulfils the desire of all good Mexicans, to whom, in his name, you have brought liberty and peace, for which they will always be grateful to you. One thing alone could lessen the joy which this happy event causes us, it is in case it should result in your leaving our country. I trust that the Emperor Napoleon will not deprive Mexico of services which are so necessary to her well-being. ”

“ It must be understood that article 2 of the treaty of Miramar,—worded as follows, 'The French troops shall evacuate Mexico in proportion as his majesty the Emperor of Mexico shall be able to organise troops to replace them'—would confer on France the strict right of diminishing its forces, inasmuch as Maximilian had had for eighteen months both the time and the means for organising a part of his army, if he had not been hindered by his generals and officials. ”

“ The president's presence on Mexican territory deeply affected Maximilian, who imagined that the resistance of the malcontents was due to this cause only. In spite of the want of troops which was felt in the central states, the court of Mexico itself resolved on a second expedition against Chihuahua, and it signified its desire to the commander-in-chief in terms which clearly prove that the emperor reigned and governed in complete independence. ”

“ Thus the French army spent itself gloriously in this immensity of space, without profiting the crown, the prosperity of which it longed to see, if it were only from feelings of patriotism, leading them to hope for some return for the grievous sacrifices of men and money which had been swallowed up in this Mexican gulf. For Juarez, it is to be expected, will sink with Mexico into the abyss which the intervention has lastingly dug out between the two parties. ”

“ A success, which in reality is but insignificant, has taken place, which is much boasted of. To make up for it, there is
a report that the rebels have entered Queretaro without firing a shot, the imperialists having evacuated the town. This news, however, is not at all certain. It is feared that the road to Mexico will now be closed for Maximilian. As the French retired, they solidly strengthened the whole road which might serve as a line of retreat for the emperor if a moment of danger arrived. ”

“ Only fourteen days before, MM. Larès and Arroyo showed much less anxiety about the future of their country, when they tendered their resignations at the palace of Chapultepec, and declared that, if Maximilian quitted Mexico, 'there would no longer be a government.'
On November 7 the three French authorities confirmed the resolutions of the Emperor Napoleon. All the Mexican forces and munitions of war were to be given up to the imperial generals, who were already in possession of all the military establishments. ”

“ AT the end of January, 1867, the bayonets of the French army, in full retreat, stretched out like a ribbon of steel along the dusty road from Mexico to Vera Cruz.
The Austro-Belgian corps went down to the sea, flanked by our troops, to embark the first, in virtue of the promise made to Maximilian. In a few days nothing but a rearguard would be left in the city of Mexico. The environs of the capital were, therefore, already invaded by the insurrection, which came on like the rising tide. The time for fighting was now over for our soldiers. ”

“ For more than a year the instructions sent to the French agents in Mexico, and inspired by the feeling of the reciprocal duties and obligations which we have contracted, have aimed to bring before the Mexican government certain recommendations dictated by the interest of the two countries no less than by the sincere friendship which his majesty feels for the Emperor Maximilian. ”

“ It will not do to impute to Maximilian the responsibility of all the decay through which the empire was about to succumb; money, the sinews of war, was already deficient. As the French government had resolved, at the cost of enormous sacrifices, opposed by public opinion, to found a firm dynasty in Mexico, was it not wrong in having paid to its ally only forty millions out of two enormous loans—loans by which it had realised, through its own receivers-general, the sum of five hundred millions lent by imprudent subscribers who had been allured and then deceived? ”

“ The moment is now come for Mexico to satisfy every doubt and to elevate its patriotism to the pitch required by the difficult circumstances through which she has to pass. At home as well as abroad, the attacks directed against the particular form of government she has adopted will doubtless gradually weaken when it will be she alone who defends it, and they will be powerless against an union of the sovereign and the people firmly cemented by trials courageously accepted and endured together. ”

“ He will keep on styling himself to our shame,—Emperor of Mexico; all dissatisfied Mexicans will keep up an active correspondence with him about his supposed popularity there, and even may induce him to return at some future time, as they did with Iturbide; such of them as can afford it will go over to Austria and form a Mexican court for Maximilian at Miramar, and he will have enough of them to organize a legitimate Mexican government there, as the ex-king of the Two Sicilies did at Rome, after he was expelled from Naples ”

“ How many centuries have been required, since Charlemagne, for shaking off barbarism and fanaticism, and for finally organising a nation, and how many commotions has it cost? We are all too forgetful of history.
Public opinion was painfully excited by the discord which broke out during the last year between the imperial authority of Mexico and the French commander. There is but little reason to wonder at it, if it is true that the instructions emanating from Paris, and going a year back, directed that an almost compulsory abdication was to be obtained from Maximilian. ”

“ MAXIMILIAN (1832–1867) , emperor of Mexico, second son of the archduke Francis Charles of Austria, was born in the palace of Schönbrunn, on the 6th of July 1832. He was a particularly clever boy, showed considerable taste for the arts, and early displayed an interest in science, especially botany. He was trained for the navy, and threw himself into this career with so much zeal that he quickly rose to high command, and was mainly instrumental in creating the naval port of Trieste and the fleet with which Tegethoff won his victories in the Italian War. ”

“ Since the war of independence, Mexico (not to speak of the reign of Iturbide, the first emperor, shot in 1823) had been more of a federation than a republic. Moreover, if the military efforts of the crown had failed when the troops were regularly paid, and when a civil war was rending the interior of the United States, what could be hoped for in the future, now that the national treasury, forced to provide for the defence of eighteen hundred leagues of territory, was avowedly exhausted, and the victorious Yankees no longer concealed the hostility of their sentiments? ”

“ Although the duty of our military commander became more and more difficult, what was Maximilian to think, who had just asked, 'If it was true that the alliance between his own and the French government was to be considered as a reality, as he flattered himself that it was?'
The attitude of the United States, full of a logic which was never inconsistent with its purpose, was at all events an attitude of open hostility. Just at this time President Johnson issued a proclamation, declaring null and void a decree of Maximilian, which ordered the blockade of certain ports in Mexico. ”

“ We must, first of all, say that there is cause for painful surprise that the ministers who countersigned this decree, and subsequently abandoned Maximilian in order to take refuge in France, have not as yet raised their voice to defend the memory of the sovereign who himself conceived and signed this fatal bando; for in full council, and from the very lips of the emperor, they had learnt the truth.
As soon as the news that Juarez had crossed the frontier at Paso del Norte reached Mexico, there was great joy at the palace. The army then held all the strong positions. ”

“ Your communications as American representative must be addressed to him in whatever place he may be, and, at all events, you will be unable to recognise officially either the Prince Maximilian, who claims to be emperor of Mexico, or any other person, chief, or commission, carrying on the executive power in Mexico, without having previously referred to my department, and without receiving the instructions of the President of the United States. ”

“ On him has fallen with all its weight the unhappy result of half a century of fanaticism and anarchy, and he has had the courage to bear his burden without giving way. For him at least the word 'country' has not been without signification, and he who would judge him, if he means to judge justly, must turn his back upon Europe and its ideas, and look only at the troubled horizon of Mexico.
The die was cast! The English and Spanish squadrons put to sea again, and the French expeditionary forces (about 6,000 strong) were left alone. ”

“ These Mexican officials, who a short time back dreaded endangering themselves even in Mexico, would never have consented to traverse sixty leagues of country ripe for revolt, merely to register an abdication. They then knew the real aim of their assembling at La Jalapilla. When the above despatch arrived at our head-quarters, Miramon's arrival and his proceedings in the capital had already foretold the reaction which had taken place in Maximilian's resolutions; the attitude of the ministers, which had now become almost ungracious, was a sure sign of this. ”

“ A lamentable catastrophe would have been thus averted both from Juarez and Europe, a catastrophe which has thrilled through every human fibre, so as almost to put to silence the sober voice of cool reason. A sad conclusion to this great drama, every page of which is written in blood! On June 19, at seven o'clock in the morning, on the cerro de la campana which hangs over Queretaro, Maximilian fell before the bullets which at the same time struck down his generals: Miramon, the former president of the republic, and Mejia, the only general in Mexico who ever died faithful to his party. ”

“ Tell M. de Moustier that our government is astonished and distressed at the announcement now made for the first time,— that the promised withdrawal of a detachment of French troops from Mexico, which ought to have taken place in November, has been put off by the emperor. The embarrassment resulting from this is considerably increased by the circumstance that this resolution was adopted by the emperor without having conferred with the United States about it, or even advising them on the point. Our government has in no way sent reinforcements to the Mexicans, as the emperor seems to presume ”

“ At the time when the whole of Europe, feeling for the blow which was about to fall on the unfortunate Maximilian, was grieving over the despair and insanity of the Empress Charlotte, events in Mexico were hurrying on apace. The emperor, struck, as it were, with blindness, let loose the revolution with his own hands, by effecting an actual coup d'état. ”

“ He will also have to direct his attention to procuring for French interests those securities to which they have a right. The Emperor Napoleon is conscious that he has hitherto aided in a joint work. Henceforth it will fall upon Mexico itself to assume its position. Prolonged foreign protection is a bad school, and a source of perils; in domestic matters, it habituates a people not to reckon on themselves, and paralyses the national activity; abroad, it excites animosity and awakens jealousies. ”

“ Many of the questions which arose between Maximilian and Marshal Bazaine might have been discussed in a more conciliatory way by friendly conversation than by correspondence; but Maximilian often requested the marshal to come but seldom to the palace at Mexico, as the visits of the French commander-in-chief to the sovereign might (so the emperor fancied) be unfavourably interpreted by the Mexicans. ”

“ There is but one feeling here as to the determination of France to wash its hands of Mexico as soon as possible. I doubt not that the emperor is acting in good faith towards us; but I was not sure that the change in his plans which I have commented upon would receive an equally favourable interpretation in the United States. ”

“ The imperial crown of Mexico is offered to his Royal Highness Prince Ferdinand Maximilian, Archduke of Austria, for himself and his descendants. (4) In the case where, owing to unforeseen circumstances, the Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian should not take possession of the throne offered him, the Mexican government trusts in the good will of his Majesty Emperor Napoleon III to designate another Catholic prince to whom the crown shall be offered. A regency, composed of General Almonte, General Salas, and Archbishop Labastida, was forthwith established, under the protection of the French. ”

“ Nevertheless, as every event must be provided against, I think that this latter state of things would be most dangerous for the northern frontier of Mexico. The American armies invading Texas would be formidable neighbours to the empire, and would increase the necessity for your majesty having an agent at Matamoros on whose devotion you could fully rely. The commander-in-chief concluded by stating that he was prepared against every emergency, but he begged the emperor not to neglect measures which would be salutary in the future. ”