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diff --git a/old/62449-0.txt b/old/62449-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index c6c2612..0000000 --- a/old/62449-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,2920 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Maximilian in Mexico, by J. Kemper - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org/license - - -Title: Maximilian in Mexico - Life Stories for Young People - -Author: J. Kemper - -Editor: George P. Upton - -Release Date: June 22, 2020 [EBook #62449] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MAXIMILIAN IN MEXICO *** - - - - -Produced by D A Alexander, Stephen Hutcheson, and the -Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net -(This file was produced from images generously made -available by The Internet Archive) - - - - - - - - - - [Illustration: _EMPEROR MAXIMILIAN_] - - _Life Stories for Young People_ - - - - - Maximilian in Mexico - - - _Translated from the German of - J. Kemper_ - - BY - GEORGE P. UPTON - _Translator of “Memories,” “Immensee,” etc._ - - WITH THREE ILLUSTRATIONS - - [Illustration: A. C. McCLURG & CO.] - - CHICAGO - A. C. McCLURG & CO. - 1911 - - Copyright - A. C. McClurg & Co. - 1911 - Published September, 1911 - - THE · PLIMPTON · PRESS - [W·D·O] - NORWOOD · MASS · U·S·A - - - - - Translator’s Preface - - -The life story of Maximilian First in Mexico is one of the saddest of -tragedies. Admitting that he was in some respects a weak sovereign and -incompetent for the task he undertook, the tragedy is none the less sad. -The dreadful fate which overtook the Empress Carlotta only adds to the -gloom of the situation, and, if all reports are true, serves to -emphasize Mexican cruelty and treachery, for in official circles it is -generally believed she was made insane by a poisonous herb secretly -mixed with her drink. Maximilian himself was a gentleman in the best -sense of the term, gentle, courteous, refined, and scholarly; unfitted -for the position he held, inexperienced in political matters, and -ignorant how to contend with guile and treachery of the basest kind. He -was virtually forced to ascend the Mexican throne, and consented only -when he was assured that the Mexican people had enthusiastically elected -him. Once there, he found himself the victim of treacherous plots and -deadly hatred. He had but few friends upon whom he could rely, and they -were unable to aid him in the hour of greatest danger. Louis Napoleon, -who was chiefly instrumental in sending him there, violated his -agreements, withdrew the French troops from Mexico, and abandoned him as -a prey to his vindictive enemies, at whose hands he died like a -gentleman and a hero, leaving the Empress to suffer the tortures of -living death in a European asylum. History recalls few sadder tragedies -than the one contained in the story of Maximilian’s three years in -Mexico. - - G. P. U. - -Chicago, _May, 1911_ - - - - - Contents - - - Chapter Page - I Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian 11 - II The Mexican Empire 15 - III Arrival of the Emperor in Mexico 24 - IV Maximilian’s First Measures 28 - V Church Affairs in Mexico 37 - VI Enemies Within and Without 40 - VII Bazaine’s Position in Mexico 44 - VIII Fruits of the New Government 48 - IX Louis Napoleon’s Attitude 52 - X The Empress’ Journey to Europe 56 - XI Events in Mexico After the Departure of the Empress 62 - XII The Emperor at Orizaba 73 - XIII Departure of the French 79 - XIV The Siege of Querétaro 86 - XV Downfall of the Mexican Empire 99 - XVI The Emperor’s Imprisonment 113 - XVII Death of Maximilian and His Generals 124 - XVIII Conclusion 129 - Appendix 133 - - - - - Illustrations - - - Page - Emperor Maximilian _Frontispiece_ - Empress Carlotta 56 - Last Moments of Emperor Maximilian 124 - - - - - Maximilian in Mexico - - - - - Chapter I - Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian - - -Ferdinand Maximilian, born at Schönbrunn on the sixth of July, 1832, was -the second son of Archduke Charles of Austria and the Archduchess Sophie -of Bavaria, a clever and highly cultivated princess, under whose -personal supervision the young Archduke received a careful and thorough -education, in which Count Bombelles, whose son afterward accompanied -Maximilian to Mexico, also had an important share. - -From early childhood the prince showed that marked love of nature, and -especially of the sea, which was so characteristic of his later years -and which made his education for the navy—his destined career—an easy -and pleasant task. To this chosen profession, indeed, he applied himself -with such zeal and devotion that he may be regarded as the real founder -of the Austrian navy. - -His leisure hours were devoted to the study of the fine arts and to the -practice of all sorts of athletic pursuits, in which he excelled, being -tall and well built, and quick and elastic in all his motions. - -In 1850, upon the completion of his scientific studies, he made his -first long cruise, to Greece and Smyrna, followed by voyages to Spain, -Portugal, and Algiers. In 1853 he was made captain of a corvette, and a -year later received the appointment of commander-in-chief of the navy, -soon after which, escorted by a squadron of seventeen warships, he -visited Greece, Crete, Egypt, and Palestine. - -The years 1856-57 were spent chiefly in European travel, during which -time the Archduke made the acquaintance of his future wife, the Princess -Carlotta, daughter of King Leopold Second of Belgium, to whom he was -married in 1857 and who proved so loyal and devoted a companion in joy -and sorrow until overtaken by the tragic fate of which we shall hear -later. Soon after his marriage, Maximilian, then only in his -twenty-fifth year, was made governor-general of the Lombardo-Venetian -kingdom by his brother, the Emperor Francis Joseph of Austria—an office -which he held for two years, and which served in some measure as a -preparation for his subsequent mission in Mexico for, as -governor-general, he had many difficulties to contend with, even though -they were of quite a different nature from those that afterward -confronted him in America. - -The war that broke out in 1859 between Italy and Austria put an end to -Maximilian’s political career and he retired to the seclusion of -Miramar, the beautiful palace erected at Trieste some years before. Here -he lived quietly and peacefully, occupied with his favorite literary and -artistic pursuits, and it was here that he wrote the “Sketches of -Travel,” afterward published; also the “Aphorisms,” which speak the -thoughts and aspirations of a great soul. - -Maximilian has been called weak and irresolute, and in fact he did prove -hopelessly unequal to the task that was set for him in Mexico—a task far -less suited to his gentle, kindly nature than to the bolder character of -his rival, Juarez, a man of quite another stamp, who hesitated at no -means to attain his ends and for whom the high-minded Hapsburger was no -match. That Maximilian made many grave errors cannot be denied, but his -entire administration should not be condemned for that reason. It is -certain that he was inspired by the noblest aims and intentions, and had -the Mexicans but realized this and given him their loyal support his -plans might have been realized and ensured both the country’s welfare -and his own. - - - - - Chapter II - The Mexican Empire - - -During the Archduke’s travels, in 1856, he had visited Paris and spent -twelve days at St. Cloud with Napoleon Third and Eugénie. He became much -interested in the Emperor’s ambitious schemes, while Napoleon and his -wife on their part were so pleased with Maximilian’s frank and manly -character that by the time he took his departure the French sovereigns -had already made plans for the future of their guest, the situation in -Mexico offering a favorable opportunity. - -The better class of Mexicans were anxious for a strong hand to assume -the reins of government and restore order to that distracted and -wellnigh ruined land, and as Napoleon Third was then in control of -affairs there, it was an easy matter for him to arouse the interest of -the Mexicans in the young Archduke as their prospective ruler. The -throne of Mexico therefore was duly offered to Maximilian, but he was at -first unwilling to accept it. Fully acquainted with the disordered state -of that country, there was little temptation for him to exchange the -peaceful seclusion of Miramar for so doubtful a gift. Negotiations were -carried on for eight months between Paris and Miramar before the -Archduke would consent to accept the crown. At length, however, he -agreed on condition that both France and England would guarantee their -support in this enterprise. Further delays were caused by discussions -between France, Spain, and England, but not until England and Spain had -finally yielded and withdrawn all their troops from Mexico did Napoleon -fully realize the complications of the situation there. - -Meanwhile Maximilian at Miramar became devoted to the idea of being -Emperor of Mexico, being principally actuated by the fact that his wife -would be an Empress. Both applied themselves closely to the study not -only of the geography but of the language and customs of the country, -actively corresponding at the same time with those who might be able to -exert an influence upon the destinies of Mexico. - -The first public negotiations were conducted in person by Napoleon Third -and the Emperor Francis Joseph of Austria, the latter of whom sent his -minister, Count Rechberg, to Miramar to discuss the matter with his -brother Maximilian. Both the Archduke and his wife attached great weight -to the opinion of her father, King Leopold, who was well known as a -shrewd and clear-headed thinker. He pointed out plainly the dangers and -difficulties attendant on assuming the sovereignty of Mexico, but did -not regard them as insurmountable, and his advice decided the question. -Maximilian announced himself ready to accept the throne on certain -conditions, the chief of which was that his choice as Emperor should be -confirmed by a vote of the Mexican people. - -On the third of October, 1863, an embassy from Mexico arrived at Miramar -with a formal offer of the crown. It was headed by Don Gutierrez de -Estrada, who had labored for twenty years to restore a monarchy in -Mexico. Maximilian’s reply was as follows: - -“I am deeply moved by the wishes of the Mexican assembly. It is most -flattering to our house that their choice should have fallen on a -descendant of Charles the Fifth. Yet noble and lofty a mission as it is -to establish the welfare and independence of Mexico, I agree with the -Emperor Napoleon that the monarchy can be restored on a firm and stable -basis only by the free consent of the people. My acceptance must -therefore be conditional on that. On the other hand, it shall be my duty -to secure the guarantees necessary to protect Mexico against the dangers -that menace her honor and her liberties. If I succeed in this and the -vote of the people be in my favor, then I shall be ready, with the -consent of my imperial brother, to accept the crown. Should Providence -call me to this high mission, it is my firm intention, after the -pacification of the country, to open the way for progress by granting a -constitution and to make this fundamental law permanent by an oath. Only -in this way can a new and truly national policy be created, by means of -which all parties, forgetting their differences, may work with me to -lift Mexico to an eminent place among the nations. Bring me this -declaration, then, on the part of your fellow-citizens and, if possible, -ascertain what form of government they desire.” - -This was a frank and manly answer, and no doubt the emissaries of the -Mexican people who carried it back across the Atlantic were equally -honorable in their intentions. How the vote was really obtained, -however, is told us by Montlong: - -At Monterey the French general, Jeanningres, summoned the most -influential citizens and addressed them thus: “The Emperor of the -French, always solicitous for the welfare of this unhappy country, has -determined to transform the Mexican republic into a great and prosperous -empire, and in the interests of this undertaking has chosen for your -Emperor one of the most liberal and enlightened princes in Europe, the -Archduke Maximilian of Austria. But as Napoleon wishes him to be elected -by general consent of the people I have summoned you here in order to -receive your votes.” Then with a threatening glance he added: “You -accept, do you not, gentlemen, the prince chosen for you by the Emperor -Napoleon?” - -Intimidated by the General’s manner and the ranks of soldiery behind -him, all replied in the affirmative, whereupon Jeanningres, addressing -the general staff officer who was to record the votes, ordered him: -“Write, sir, that this city votes unanimously for the Empire, and permit -these gentlemen to sign it.” - -The same method of procedure was enacted in every town. When the -principal citizens of Potosi refused to sign a similar document, the -officer in command caused them all to be imprisoned for thirty-six hours -till hunger forced them to yield. Thus by fraud the Empire was founded, -as by treachery it fell, both marked characteristics of this nation as -we shall see later. - -The way now seemed clear, but at the last moment an unforeseen -difficulty arose. While the Archduke was making a round of farewell -visits at various European courts, it was decided at Vienna to demand a -renunciation of all rights of succession to the throne of Austria on the -part of Maximilian and his possible descendants. Emperor Francis Joseph -strongly opposed this, justly maintaining that if such a step were -considered necessary, it should not have been deferred till the last -moment, but Count Rechberg and Baron Lichtenfels were firm. The former -undertook to lay the matter before the Archduke on his return, but was -so coldly received that he abandoned any further attempt, while -Maximilian himself declared that had this point been presented to him -earlier, negotiations with Mexico would have been broken off at once. -This, of course, was now out of the question, and after much discussion -he finally agreed to sign the act of renunciation, thus removing the -last obstacle. - -On the tenth of April, 1864, a second embassy, consisting of twenty -distinguished Mexicans, again headed by Estrada, arrived at Miramar to -perform the coronation ceremony. In his address, spoken in French, Don -Gutierrez alluded, first of all, to the gratifying result of the popular -vote. As to the method by which it had been secured the good man -probably had as little knowledge as Maximilian himself. He then recalled -France’s service to his native country, whose future prosperity he hoped -would be assured under the new monarchy. Mexico gratefully acknowledged -the Archduke’s self-sacrifice in accepting this difficult position and -was ready to hail with joy her chosen sovereign, whose motto was, -_Justitia regnorum fundamentum_. - -Maximilian’s reply was in Spanish. He declared that since the two -conditions required by him had been fulfilled, he was now able to redeem -the promise given six months before and was ready to accept the offered -crown. The oath was then administered. Maximilian swore to guard the -liberties of the Mexican nation under all circumstances and to do all in -his power for the welfare and prosperity of the people, after which -Estrada swore allegiance in the name of Mexico and was decorated by his -sovereign with the grand cross of the newly revived Guadeloupe order. A -triple “Viva” followed to the new Emperor and Empress in whose honor the -imperial Mexican flag was hoisted on the tower of Miramar, amidst salvos -from batteries and battle ships. A solemn Te Deum in the palace chapel -concluded the ceremonies. - -On the same day the Emperor signed the important convention with -Napoleon, known as the Treaty of Miramar, whereby it was agreed to -reduce the French troops as soon as possible to 25,000, including the -foreign legion. This body should evacuate the country as soon as forces -could be organized to take their place, yet the foreign legion of 8000 -was to remain, if required, for six years after the above withdrawal and -be supported from this time by the Mexican government. The transport -service for French military supplies must be paid by the same government -with 400,000 francs for the round trip, likewise the cost of the French -expedition, fixed at 270,000,000 francs for the whole time, till July 1, -1864, with interest at three per cent per annum. After this date the -expenses of the Mexican army rested with Mexico, which had also to give -1000 francs for the maintenance of each French soldier, pay included. -Against these sums the Mexican government had to pay at once 66,000,000 -francs in bonds of the late loan and 25,000,000 francs in specie -annually. A mixed commission of three Frenchmen and three Mexicans was -to meet at Mexico within three months to adjust the claims of French -citizens. All Mexican prisoners of war held by the French were to be -released as soon as Maximilian entered his States. In addition to this, -there were three secret clauses, by utilizing which France afterward, -and not without some show of reason, attempted to extricate herself from -her dangerous position. - - - - - Chapter III - Arrival of the Emperor in Mexico - - -On the tenth of April, 1864, the die was cast for Archduke Maximilian -and Carlotta. On the fourteenth, the day set for departure, all was -bustle and confusion at Miramar, usually so peaceful. The harbor of -Trieste was filled with vessels, large and small, and, anchored at some -distance from shore, lay the _Novara_, the Austrian warship that was to -convey the imperial pair to Mexico. Little did any one then suspect that -this same vessel was so soon to bring back the body of Maximilian, -cruelly murdered by Mexican rebels! To-day all was joyous anticipation. -A gayly decorated barge carried the Emperor and Empress out to the -_Novara_. Showers of blossoms were flung after them as they left the -shore, lined with thousands of spectators, and floated gently out upon -the blue waves of the Adriatic. Cannon thundered a farewell. Maximilian -looked for the last time upon his native shores. - -Two nights later the travellers rounded the southernmost point of Italy, -and on the eighteenth reached Civita Vecchia where they landed and were -met by the French and Italian ambassadors, envoys from Belgium and -Austria, and the Cardinals sent by Pope Pius Ninth to welcome -Maximilian. A special train was waiting to convey the entire party to -Rome where, on the nineteenth of April, the Emperor had an audience with -the Pope. Church affairs in Mexico had been completely demoralized by -Juarez, and one of the Emperor’s chief tasks was to restore order and -provide for the religious needs of his people. The following day Pope -Pius Ninth returned the visit at the Palazzo Marescotti, after which the -imperial party returned to Civita Vecchia, where they again boarded the -_Novara_ and resumed their voyage. At Gibraltar another stop of two days -was made, and on the twenty-eighth of May the _Novara_ anchored before -the city of Vera Cruz. The goal was reached—but what of Maximilian’s -reception by the people of Mexico who had chosen him as their sovereign -by a unanimous vote? - -Although the French frigate _Themis_, which escorted the _Novara_ across -the Atlantic, had hastened on in advance to notify the city of the -Emperor’s arrival, there was no commotion in the harbor. No flags were -flying, no guns roared a welcome, no one was waiting to receive him. A -feeling of uneasiness pervaded the Emperor’s household, but Maximilian -himself made no comment. After a long delay the commander-in-chief of -the French fleet, Rear-admiral Bosse, and his adjutant finally made -their appearance, though even then, according to the Countess Kollowitz, -their greeting was none too warm. Quite different, however, was the -Emperor’s reception in the towns between Vera Cruz and Mexico; his -journey to the capital was like a triumphal progress. - -Thus did Maximilian enter the land that was henceforth to claim his -whole attention and best endeavor. For this indifferent and ungrateful -people he had undertaken the Herculean task of regenerating a country -wasted by forty years of civil warfare; regulating a society demoralized -by anarchy; restoring national prosperity; reviving industries; and -reconciling to law and order a people to whom outlawry and robbery had -become second nature. The army must be reorganized, the land rid of -marauders, contending factions appeased and made to work together for -the common good. The Church must be placed once more on a settled basis, -new channels of trade established, and the whole national standard of -civilization raised. These were surely problems to daunt the bravest! -Well may Maximilian have hesitated long before accepting such -responsibilities, yet with heroic self-sacrifice the young Emperor set -himself to this stupendous work. That he failed was no doubt due partly -to his unfitness for the task, but more to the insuperable obstacles -that loomed before and finally crushed the noble Hapsburger. - - - - - Chapter IV - Maximilian’s First Measures - - -One of the first necessities that confronted Maximilian in the execution -of his mission was the establishment of diplomatic relations with the -world. The courts of Vienna, Rome, Paris, and Brussels had been informed -at once of his acceptance of the throne of Mexico. It now remained to -notify the remaining powers of this event. A decree was issued on the -twenty-first of June, 1864, empowering the foreign office to make the -necessary arrangements. By the end of the year Mexico had been -recognized as an Empire by Russia, Sweden, Turkey, Denmark, Portugal, -Spain, Italy, France, and England, also by the German Confederation and -the Shah of Persia. Far more valuable to the new monarchy would have -been its recognition by the United States, but the White House at -Washington still looked upon Juarez as President of Mexico, as did its -smaller and less important neighbors on the south, the republics of -Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, San Salvador, and Costa Rica. Thus the -Empire was surrounded by hostile countries, while its only ally in -America, the Emperor Don Pedro Second of Brazil, could be of little use. - -Maximilian appointed the advocate Don José Ramirez as minister of -foreign affairs—a man concerning whom opinion is divided. There can be -no question, however, as to his ability and his loyalty to Maximilian, -to whom he proved a valuable counsellor, although the Emperor -unfortunately did not always follow his advice. Maximilian took no -further action in governmental affairs until he had gained a more -intimate knowledge of the country. Though well versed in the language -and history of Mexico as well as its political complications, he -discovered at once the necessity of a personal acquaintance with the -various portions of his new realm and determined to make a tour of those -provinces loyal to him. Meanwhile he devoted himself to learning the -needs of his people. With this object in view he spent much time walking -about the streets of the capital or visiting various public and -charitable institutions. The Empress was her husband’s constant -companion, sharing all his cares and interests, and although Maximilian -did not always agree with her opinions, her clever pen, her quick wit, -and cultivated mind often proved of great help to him. - -He soon discovered many evils the existence of which he had not -suspected. The Mexican is profuse in promises which are never kept, and -Maximilian had daily proof of this national characteristic. In spite of -his personal charm and kindness the French officers kept jealously aloof -from him, regarding themselves as slighted in the distribution of -orders. The clergy, disappointed that the Church property confiscated by -Juarez had not been immediately restored to them, were dissatisfied with -the new government, while the republicans under Juarez refused, of -course, to acknowledge the Empire. - -The accusation made by these malcontents that Maximilian did not attempt -to improve conditions was entirely unjustified, however. Few that -followed his career realized how diligently and self-sacrificingly he -labored for that end. That the restoration of order must be gradually -accomplished was self-evident. Realizing that drastic measures were -necessary at many points in the affairs of state, he was forced to take -time for observation and investigation before attempting any change. -Many evils had to be endured temporarily before any radical changes -could be made, and he had also to consult the opinions of his advisers, -whether in accordance with his own or not. - -His first attention was devoted to the regulation of military and -financial matters. A commission, headed by General Bazaine, -commander-in-chief of the French troops, was appointed to meet on the -fourteenth of July to consider the reorganization of the army. The -relations between Maximilian and this officer had been none too friendly -from the first. Bazaine considered himself his own master and troubled -himself little as to the Emperor’s views. In justice to Napoleon Third, -however, it must be said that he seems to have been very imperfectly -informed as to the actions and practices of his generals in Mexico. All -correspondence with France had to pass through the hands of Bazaine or -his subordinates, who could easily color reports to suit themselves. On -the fifteenth of July a commission, presided over by Velasquez de Leon, -and consisting of landed proprietors, merchants, manufacturers, and mine -owners, met to discuss the regulation of financial affairs. - -From the first Maximilian exerted himself to do away with antiquated -customs, and as early as the sixteenth of July a decree was issued -requiring all officers of justice to be at their posts from nine to -twelve in the morning and shortening their annual leave of absence from -three months to six weeks, an innovation that met with small favor from -the Mexicans, as may be imagined. - -On the tenth of August the Emperor set out upon his tour into the -interior, the government during his absence being left in charge of the -Empress. He was accompanied by his life-long friend, Count Bombelles, -his secretary, Iglesias, Privy Councillor Scherzenlechner, and the Lord -Chamberlain Felipe Raygosa. Originally planned for four weeks, the -journey extended over three months. A proclamation had been issued by -Velasquez de Leon, shortly before the Emperor’s departure, announcing -his tour and forbidding any state receptions or entertainments in order -to spare expense to the people, impoverished by years of civil strife. -In spite of this prohibition, however, magnificent triumphal arches were -erected in many places in honor of the Emperor, who was welcomed with -great enthusiasm by the populace, the Indians, in particular, gathering -in crowds everywhere to gaze at their new sovereign. - -On the seventeenth of August Maximilian arrived at Querétaro where he -was received with great enthusiasm and remained for several days, being -royally entertained. Little did any of those who joined in the -festivities suspect that in this very town, only three years later, the -Emperor was to lay down his life for Mexico! From there he went on to -Celaya which was reached a week later. In many places through which they -passed evidences were visible of the effects of the famine that existed -in the interior of the country, and where the suffering was greatest -Maximilian distributed considerable sums of money from his own purse. At -Trapuato the Emperor was suddenly seized with an attack of quinsy which -confined him to his bed for two weeks. This delay, together with other -unforeseen occurrences in the capital, obliged him to abandon the rest -of his journey, and the party returned to Mexico, though by a different -route, arriving on the thirtieth of October. - -This tour of Maximilian’s had proved a continuous ovation, but how much -of the popular enthusiasm was due to his personality rather than to -allegiance to him as a sovereign is a question. He had shown himself -everywhere most gracious and kindly, granting audiences to persons of -all classes with a fearlessness which, considering the state of the -country, must have commanded the respect even of his enemies. Whether he -allowed himself to be deceived by these demonstrations is uncertain. At -all events he returned well content with the results of his journey and -full of hope for the future. That many of the great changes planned by -him for the benefit of the people were never put into execution was not -altogether his fault. To carry out any thorough system of reform large -sums of money are needed, and the treasury was exhausted. - -Maximilian’s first act after his return was to form a ministry. During -his travels he had met many able and patriotic Mexicans who, he fancied, -would be of great assistance to him in his projected reforms, and from -these he chose his ministers exclusively, though doubtless well aware -that in some cases the positions would have been better filled by -Austrians, Belgians, or Frenchmen. When reminded of this by his friends, -however, he would say, “Have patience! When the country learns that -Mexican ministers are good-for-nothing, I may be justified in appointing -others, and my people can then have nothing to reproach me with.” This -was no doubt wise on the Emperor’s part. The appointment of foreigners -would have excited suspicion if not rebellion at once among the -excitable and distrustful Mexicans. - -On his tour Maximilian had discovered that the country’s most pressing -need was the revival of commerce. New channels of trade must be created, -and for this purpose the laying out of highways and the building of -bridges was ordered. Robles, minister of public works, was commissioned -to build a railroad between Querétaro and Guanajuato, an undertaking -which was never carried out, however. A railroad from Mexico to Vera -Cruz was also planned, the execution of which was entrusted to an -English company, and three different companies received permission to -run steamship lines between the more important seaports of the country. -To exterminate the robber bands and secure safety for the life and -property of the people, a much needed system of militia was instituted -on the seventh of November, 1864. At the same time the Emperor urged -most strictly upon all magistrates of the various provinces the -following injunctions: preservation of law and order, firm -administration of justice, supervision of the press, construction and -maintenance of roads, extermination of marauders and outlaws, -sanitation, improvements in agriculture and the breeding of cattle, -conservation of forests, etc. - -All this proves the loftiness of Maximilian’s aims—nor were his hands -idle as some of his enemies maliciously maintained. Could he but have -had the necessary support and coöperation, conditions in that -unfortunate country must soon have improved. But with only the fickle -and treacherous Mexicans to depend upon, all these reforms were of brief -duration—a mere ripple on the stream. - - - - - Chapter V - Church Affairs in Mexico - - -The most difficult problem now awaiting solution was the religious -situation in Mexico. Forty years of internal strife and anarchy had -inevitably lowered the standards of the people and weakened their sense -of right and wrong, as was proved by Juarez’s treatment of Church -property. The claim of the enemies of the Catholic Church, however, that -the priesthood was responsible for this moral degradation, is entirely -without foundation. All reports agree that the priests were then, as -now, the friends and guardians of the Indians. Many of the stanchest -supporters of Mexican independence—among them Hidalgo, Morelos, and -Guerrero—belonged to the clerical party, and even at the present day a -large part of the minor clergy are Indians. - -Accounts vary as to the value of the Church’s property in Mexico at that -time, but it is a matter of little importance, since it had been seized -and disposed of by Juarez and his followers long before Maximilian’s -arrival. Indeed, this had been one of the chief causes for the latter’s -hesitation in accepting the throne. - -The only possible method of dealing with this knotty question seemed to -be that of direct negotiation with the papal chair, and a special envoy -was sent to Mexico by Pope Pius Ninth for this purpose. The nuncio, -Monsignore Meglia, was received by Maximilian with every mark of honor -and escorted in state to the capital where a round of festivities -ensued, after which the Emperor and his guest devoted themselves to the -matter in hand. Nine points were submitted by Maximilian and his -ministers for debate, the chief of which may be briefly stated as -follows: Free observance of all religions in Mexico, in so far as they -did not violate the laws of the country; all expenses of Catholic -worship to be borne by the State; no taxes nor gratuities of any kind to -be paid to the clergy by the people; cession by the Church of all -possessions declared to be national property; enjoyment by the Emperor -of all rights possessed by his predecessors, the Kings of Spain, in -Mexico; a mutual agreement to exist between the Pope and the Emperor to -resist aggression on the part of any or all religious orders in Mexico; -existing communities to remain on condition that no more novices be -received until conditions were settled. - -The delicate nature of these matters may readily be perceived as well as -the difficulty of their settlement. Negotiations, in fact, were soon -broken off and an uncomfortable open rupture occurred between the -Emperor’s ministers and Monsignore Meglia, who left the capital with his -suite on the twenty-seventh of May, and returned to Rome without having -accomplished his mission. - - - - - Chapter VI - Enemies Within and Without - - -Maximilian’s failure to settle this question, so important to Mexico, -not only was of the greatest detriment to the restoration of peace and -order, but also lost him the sympathies of the clerical party, already -averse to the new sovereignty. - -The unsettled condition of the country has been already alluded to. It -is impossible for peaceful industries to flourish where the lives and -property of citizens are in constant danger. The path of outlawry and -anarchy is marked only by mouldering corpses and smoking ruins. Some -idea of the state of things may be obtained from a report sent by the -prefect of Zamora to his chief, Antonio Moral, on the ninth of March, -1865: - -“This prefecture has learned through spies and other sources of -information that the robber chiefs Regules, Salazar, Egiulus, and others -are assembling their bands in large numbers for attack. Should the -troops stationed at Mazamitla and Uruapan be withdrawn, the bandits will -capture this town without a doubt, an event which would be followed by -the most serious consequences. I must add that all towns in the south of -this department are in the same danger, and earnestly implore aid. -Pazcuaro is menaced by more than 1400 outlaws. Unless General Neigre, -who has been informed of the danger, speedily sends assistance, it will -fall into their hands and a terrible catastrophe be precipitated.” - -On the tenth of May, 1865, the Mexican commander-in-chief, Vicente -Rosas, writes to the minister of war: - -“Matters are bad and grow worse daily. Besides the bands of Regules and -Pueblita, several others are roving about in this vicinity, plundering -and burning _haciendas_. Unless something can be done to remedy affairs, -this whole department will be lost.” - -The country’s most serious enemy, however, was its ex-President, Benito -Juarez. Born about 1807, in the State of Oaxaca, of an Indian family, -claiming descent from Zapotekos, Juarez’s childhood was spent in extreme -poverty. With a natural thirst for knowledge, he eagerly availed himself -of all the opportunities for learning that came within his reach, and, -finally succeeding in obtaining some education, he determined to devote -himself to the study of law. A wealthy Indian merchant, named Don José -Hernandez, had taken him into his service as errand-boy from which -position he soon rose to a clerkship, and afterward was admitted to the -bar with the dignity of Doctor of Laws. Later he was elected to the -Vice-Presidency under Comonfort, upon whose resignation, in 1858, Juarez -became President of Mexico. - -When Maximilian assumed the throne, Juarez’s term of office had nearly -expired (November 30, 1864). He would have been wise therefore to -recognize the Empire, under which he might have looked to hold some -important position. Maximilian, indeed, did make overtures to the -ex-President by offering him a place in the cabinet, but Juarez coldly -declined, preferring to remain at the head of the revolutionists, who -kept Mexico in a state of turmoil and effectually prevented any peaceful -development of that distracted country. - -The position taken by the United States toward the new Empire has -already been alluded to. On the fourth of April, 1864, Congress adopted -a resolution declaring the unwillingness of the United States tacitly to -appear before the world as an indifferent spectator of the deplorable -events then taking place in Mexico, and its refusal to recognize a -monarchical government founded on the ruins of an American republic and -under the protection of a European power. - -Much to his regret, therefore, Maximilian was forced to abandon all -thought of an embassy at Washington. Realizing fully how great an -advantage recognition by the United States would have been to the -Empire, both he and his ministers had used every effort to establish -friendly relations between the two governments. The White House, -however, still continued to recognize Juarez and his ambassador, Romero, -a crafty official who succeeded, not only in establishing recruiting -offices for his master in some of the large cities of the United States, -but in winning over many of the newspapers also to his side. - - - - - Chapter VII - Bazaine’s Position in Mexico - - -The attitude taken by the French in Mexico has already been alluded to. -Bazaine in particular seems from the first to have been little affected -by the Emperor’s good example. He was well aware of France’s -incalculable services to Mexico, and that it was French bayonets chiefly -which still maintained some show of order in the country. As for -Maximilian, while thoroughly appreciating Bazaine’s ability, he could -not but regard him as the man of whose will he was more or less at the -mercy, and felt most keenly the arbitrary acts of the Marshal and his -underlings, of which the following examples will serve as illustrations. - -In 1864 the French general, Briancourt, had a Mexican colonel arrested -and forced him to sweep the streets for two hours every day. Indignant -at this outrage, some ladies of the town brought wreaths of flowers to -the colonel as he swept, whereupon Briancourt had bills posted -proclaiming that in the future any one who committed this offence should -share the prisoner’s sentence. After being humiliated in this way for -ten days, the imperial officer was summoned before Briancourt, who -dismissed him with the words: “Go where you choose now—over to the -republicans—for all I care!” And the colonel actually did join the -Emperor’s enemies, with several other officers. - -A French officer, meeting one of his comrades who had served through a -campaign under Lieutenant-colonel Ornano, congratulated him on having -been one of those receiving decorations for bravery. “You do me an -injustice!” replied the other. “We invariably turned our backs upon the -enemy and if Ornano singled me out in his report, it was only through -fear lest I might betray how it was falsified. Let me tell you just one -incident of this honorable campaign. As we were approaching the village -of San Francisco, Ornano sent a party of cavalry in advance to -reconnoitre. A fifteen-year-old boy, attracted by the sound of riders, -came to the door of his house to see who they were, and, as he galloped -by, the leader of the patrol split the poor child’s skull with one -stroke of his sabre, just as his mother was about to draw him back into -the house. Truly a heroic deed!” - -These examples will suffice to prove with what contempt the French -regarded the Mexicans and how the officers especially lost no -opportunity of turning the Emperor’s subjects against him, even while -they themselves were still supposed to be in Maximilian’s service. It -would be unjust, however, to accuse the whole army of this treacherous -behavior, nor can Napoleon Third be held responsible for it. He was a -warm personal friend of Maximilian in the first place, and it seems -reasonable to assume that he was ignorant of such conduct on the part of -Bazaine or he would have recalled him and sent some one else in his -place. - -On the third of October, 1865, a report having been generally circulated -that Juarez had fled from Mexico and taken refuge in Texas, the Emperor -issued a decree for which he has been severely criticised. It ran in -substance as follows: All persons belonging to armed bands or companies, -political or otherwise, not lawfully authorized, under whatever -appellation or for whatever purpose, shall be tried by court-martial, -and if found guilty shall be condemned to death and executed within -twenty-four hours from the date of sentence. - -Bazaine is believed by some to have been the real author of this edict, -which was aimed at the destruction of the robber bands that infested the -country, but by authority of which Maximilian himself was afterward -sentenced to death by Juarez. As, however, it was signed by all -Maximilian’s liberal ministers it seems more probable that they were -responsible for a decree so little in accordance with his kindly nature. - -Whether or no Bazaine had any share in the framing of this edict, he -certainly did all in his power to further its execution, as appears from -a confidential message to his generals sent with a copy of the decree. -He concludes, “You are hereby commanded to notify the troops under your -orders that no more prisoners are to be taken. All individuals found -under arms, irrespective of person, are to be shot on sight. In future -there will be no more exchange of prisoners; on both sides, it is kill -or be killed.” - -By these cruel means he hoped to prejudice the people against their -sovereign, thereby furthering his own ambitious schemes for becoming -President of Mexico himself, schemes which were destined never to be -realized, however. - - - - - Chapter VIII - Fruits of the New Government - - -We have seen from the preceding chapters what the state of affairs in -Mexico was when Maximilian assumed the government. By the beginning of -the second year of the Empire matters had already materially changed. -Most of the country folk had returned to their farms, and city merchants -who dealt in agricultural implements soon saw their stock disappear, and -were forced to order fresh supplies. This led to a steady commercial -intercourse with the United States which greatly increased after the -close of the Civil War. In the Spring of 1865 the duties to Mexico from -New York alone amounted to 1,700,000 pesos in a single week. Trade with -the West Indies, South America, and Europe was also extensive. Merchants -who at first had been obliged to purchase on credit, owing to the -prevailing lack of funds, were by this time able to pay cash for goods. -This was certainly one good result of the new government, as must have -been recognized by all public-minded Mexicans. - -With the prospect of profit and an assured market, trades and crafts -also revived. Hundreds of youths, who had been torn from their peaceful -occupations and forced to join the revolutionist bands, returned to -their apprenticeships. Channels of trade were improved. A regular line -of mail steamships was established in the Gulf of Mexico, and -intercourse was resumed with all Pacific ports. Fine steamers made -monthly trips from San Francisco to La Paz, Guaymas, and Mazatlan, and -twice a month from Guaymas to Acapulco. Construction was begun on the -railroad between Vera Cruz and the capital, though it was afterward -suspended. A telegraph line was built from Mexico to San Luis Potosi. -The national finances were also much improved. Customs receipts steadily -increased and the mints coined more dollars than ever before, though -still bearing the stamp of the Republic. - -These were some of the happy results of the new administration. That -they were of but brief duration was not the fault of the government nor -yet of the Emperor, but of Juarez who, still passing as President, -succeeded only too well in his schemes for undermining the Empire. - -With increasing prosperity came a revival of various sports and -amusements, of which the Mexican people are naturally so fond. Early in -the year 1865 most of the European ambassadors arrived with their -suites, and a series of splendid entertainments followed at the imperial -court. Later the marriage of Marshal Bazaine to the seventeen-year-old -niece of General Lopez furnished occasion for more festivities. These -diversions, however, did not cause the Emperor to slacken his labors for -the improvement of the country. On the third of March, 1865, he had the -Empire divided into fifty departments and revived the so-called “Indian -Council,” which had existed in the days of Spanish sovereignty, placing -at its head the advocate, Faustin Chimalpopoca, a pure Aztec. The -Indians still formed the larger part of the population of Mexico in -spite of the efforts of the Republic to enslave and crush them. -Realizing the importance of this class of people, Maximilian took the -greatest interest in their protection and welfare, while they in turn -remained loyal to him to the last. - -On the tenth of April, 1865, the anniversary of his acceptance of the -crown, Maximilian published an imperial statute declaring that, as a -number of provinces still remained hostile to the Empire, he did not -deem it wise as yet to introduce popular representation, but promised to -do so as soon as the national disturbances were settled. Besides the -Guadeloupe order, revived in 1863, and the order of the Mexican Eagle, -founded in January, 1865, a special order for women, that of San Carlos, -was instituted, April tenth, by the joint sovereigns. Another important -task was the reorganization of the army. Most of the Mexican officers at -that time were quite useless and must be got rid of. To replace these -and furnish a supply of efficient native officers, Maximilian opened the -military school at Chapultepec. - - - - - Chapter IX - Louis Napoleon’s Attitude - - -When Maximilian ascended the throne of Mexico, the Civil War was still -raging in the United States, and the White House had no time to care for -the affairs of its southern neighbor. Although from the first the United -States had refused to recognize the Empire, its attitude had been -neutral rather than actually hostile, and Napoleon was counting on an -indefinite continuation of the war for the furtherance of his plans. The -end came sooner than was expected, however. After a bitter struggle the -Southern States yielded to the North, and this materially changed the -situation in Mexico. Juarez was now not only regarded as President, but -furnished with active support, without which he would doubtless have -been forced to give up the struggle. He hovered on the border, now on -one side of the line, now on the other, escaping into Texas when the -enemy was close at his heels, and remaining there in safety until the -danger was passed, then crossing back into Mexico again, where, -reinforced by volunteers from the north, he won frequent victories over -the imperial troops and constantly gained ground. - -Napoleon’s position was likewise changed. In a speech delivered from the -throne on the twenty-second of January, 1866, he declared: - -“In Mexico the government founded by the people continues to thrive. The -rebels, overpowered and dispersed, have no longer any leaders. The -national troops have proved their valor and the country has furnished -security for order and safety in the development of resources which have -made its commerce worth millions with France alone. Our enterprise -therefore is progressing most successfully, as I last year expressed the -hope that it would. As to the recall of our troops I have come to an -understanding with Emperor Maximilian, whereby their withdrawal may be -accomplished without danger to the interests of France, for the -protection of which in that distant country we have pledged ourselves. -Any objections raised by the United States to the continued presence of -our troops in Mexico will be removed, I feel sure, by the justice of our -explanations. The American people will perceive that an enterprise in -which we sought their aid cannot be contrary to their interests. Two -nations, equally jealous of their rights, must naturally resent any step -that might jeopardize their honor or their dignity.” - -Plausible and reassuring as this sounds, it nevertheless betrays two -facts: France’s fear of being drawn into war with the United States if -she continued to maintain an army on American soil, and Napoleon’s -desire to conciliate that country even at the cost of violating the -Treaty of Miramar. True, there may have been something in the secret -articles added to this document which justified Napoleon’s methods, -while on the other hand it is evident that Maximilian was far from -opposing the recall of Bazaine, nor did he object to the gradual -withdrawal of the French troops, as may be seen from the following -announcement that appeared in the _Monitor_: - -“In pursuance to an agreement between M. Dano, the French ambassador, -His Excellency Marshal Bazaine, and the Mexican government, the Emperor -has ordered that the French troops shall leave Mexico in three -detachments: the first to go in November, 1866, the second in March, -1867, the third in the following November. Negotiations between the two -governments have also begun to substitute those articles of the Treaty -of Miramar relating to finance, new stipulations whereby France’s -indebtedness and the interest of the loan guaranteed by her to Mexico -shall be assured.” - -The United States declared itself satisfied with these assurances and -continued to assist Juarez in his attempts to undermine the government. - -The year 1866, which thus began so peacefully on paper at a time when -there was little peace in the air, either in Europe or America, was to -prove an eventful one for Maximilian, and hastened with giant strides -the downfall of the Mexican Empire. - - - - - Chapter X - The Empress’ Journey to Europe - - -On the seventh of July, 1866, the following unexpected announcement -appeared in one of the Mexican journals: “Her Majesty, the Empress, -leaves to-morrow for Europe, where she is to arrange the settlement of -various matters of Mexican as well as international import. No greater -proof of patriotism and self-denial could be furnished on the part of -our sovereign than the assumption of this mission, the more so as the -Empress sails from Vera Cruz, where yellow fever is so prevalent at this -season. We publish this in order that the people may know the real -purpose of Her Majesty’s journey.” - -The Empress Carlotta’s sudden departure aroused great excitement. It was -generally felt, and not without reason, that such a step must have been -due to weighty causes, the issue of which it was at that time impossible -to foresee. For Maximilian it marked a turning-point in his career. It -was as if with the departure of his guardian angel, Fortune too had -forsaken him and abandoned him to his fate. - - [Illustration: _EMPRESS CARLOTTA_] - -Unexpectedly and most uncomfortably for Napoleon, Carlotta arrived at -St. Nazaire on the eighth of August by the packet-boat, _Empress -Eugénie_. She was met by the Mexican ambassador, Almonte, and his wife, -who travelled with her to Paris without delay. Metternich, the Austrian -ambassador, was awaiting her at the Grand Hotel, and on the eleventh of -August she had a long interview with Napoleon at St. Cloud. Accounts -vary as to what actually transpired on this memorable occasion, but -according to Hellwald, who seems a reliable authority, three points were -discussed. The first related to the postponement of the withdrawal of -the first detachment of French troops from November, 1866, to April, -1867, by which time Maximilian hoped to have his own army so -strengthened that he could better spare the French. Juarez had been -making such headway in the north that the Emperor did not dare as yet to -dispense with his allies. Next the Empress desired that Bazaine should -be immediately recalled and General Donay sent out in his place, a -request not difficult to understand considering the many differences -that had occurred between Maximilian and the Marshal. The third point -concerned Mexico’s ever empty exchequer. By the Treaty of Miramar Mexico -had agreed to repay her financial obligations to France; but, as we have -seen, she was by no means able to pay her debts or even the interest on -them. - -In her first interview the Empress accomplished nothing. Napoleon was -unwilling to defer the withdrawal of his troops for some months, for -fear of giving offence to the government at Washington. As to the second -point no agreement was arrived at, for Bazaine was not recalled. When he -did leave Mexico at last, he not only took the entire army with him, but -also induced the volunteers from Austria and Belgium to resign. As to a -settlement of the Mexican debt, however, a separate treaty was -concluded. - -On the twenty-second of August Empress Eugénie and Emperor Napoleon made -a final visit to Empress Carlotta, who left Paris on the following day -for Brussels. From there she went to Italy, and on the twenty-ninth -arrived once more at Miramar where she had spent so many happy days. -Another task now awaited her. As the negotiations between Maximilian’s -ministry and the papal nuncio concerning the religious situation in -Mexico had been unsuccessful, Carlotta determined to try and settle the -affair herself. On the twenty-fifth of September, therefore, she arrived -again in Rome with her suite and two days later had a long audience with -the Pope. Soon after this she was suddenly taken ill. At first her -attack was said to be only the result of the fatigues of her long -journey and the change of climate, an explanation which seemed -sufficiently plausible. The real nature of the illness could not be long -concealed, however. The Empress’ mind had become totally deranged, and -her malady was later pronounced incurable. Shocked as all Europe was by -this dreadful news, what must have been its effect upon Maximilian! How -he received it, is told as follows by his own physician, Dr. Basch: - -“The Emperor at this time was living entirely secluded in the palace, -only Herzfeld, the Minister of State, Father Fischer, the court -chaplain, and myself being present at his table. There were no invited -guests till the eighteenth of August, for the afternoon of which a large -dinner was planned. That morning the Emperor held a council of state, at -the close of which I entered the imperial cabinet. While I was present, -two cable despatches arrived from Europe, at sight of which His Majesty -was visibly alarmed. His forebodings were well founded. The first was -sent by Castello from Rome on the fifth of October, and read: - -“‘Her Majesty, the Empress, has succumbed to the fatigues and -difficulties of her mission, and must be taken to Miramar without delay, -accompanied by her physicians.’ - -“The other, dated the twelfth, was from Count Bombelles at Miramar, and -contained the further information that all hope was not yet abandoned. -Her Majesty, with her entire suite, was at Miramar, and a member of the -household would follow at once with advices. Herzfeld opened the -despatches and, unwilling to break their contents too suddenly to the -Emperor, pretended that he was unable to decipher them exactly, but -reassured His Majesty by asserting that the news apparently referred to -the illness of some one at Miramar, probably one of the Empress’ -ladies-in-waiting, Madame Bario, who was a Mexican. - -“The facts could not long be concealed, however, for the Emperor, -suspecting that something was being withheld from him, insisted upon -knowing the truth. - -“‘I feel that something terrible has happened,’ he declared. ‘Tell me -what it is, for I am consumed with anxiety.’ - -“While Herzfeld was seemingly studying the despatches more closely, I -retired to my apartment, but was soon summoned again by His Majesty. As -I entered, he turned to me, tears streaming down his cheeks, and asked, - -“‘Do you know who Dr. Riedel is in Vienna?’ - -“At the mention of this name, the truth flashed upon me. Herzfeld had -disclosed the news, and much as I longed to spare the Emperor, I could -not lie to him. - -“‘He is the director of the Insane Asylum,’ I was reluctantly forced to -reply.” - -These melancholy tidings only served to hasten the impending crisis. -Already disheartened by repeated trials and disappointments, Maximilian -now saw his last hope vanish, and felt himself deserted by Providence. -Indifferent to all that passed, his only thought seemed to be of -hastening to his beloved wife and leaving behind him this ill-fated -country to which she had been so cruelly sacrificed. - - - - - Chapter XI - Events in Mexico after the Departure of the Empress - - -Two persons have already been mentioned who played an important part in -the events of this history, Herzfeld, the Minister of State, and Father -Fischer. Herzfeld was a German and devoted to the Emperor. Unfortunately -Maximilian sent him back to Europe soon after this, thereby depriving -himself of a valuable friend and adviser in his days of misfortune. -Father Fischer was born in Würtemberg, of Protestant parents, and seems -to have had rather an adventurous career. He came to America with a band -of emigrants who settled in Texas, and went from there to California as -a gold miner. Becoming a convert to Catholicism, he entered the Jesuit -order, from which he was subsequently dismissed, for good and sufficient -reasons, no doubt. The description of this man given by the Emperor’s -physician is far from flattering, but it is manifestly unjust to lay his -faults at the door of the much-abused order of Jesuits. A whole society -cannot be held responsible for the deeds or misdeeds of a single member, -still less when that member has ceased to be one. At all events Father -Fischer belonged to the Emperor’s closest circle of friends, another -member of which was Professor Bilimek, whose acquaintance we shall make -in the next chapter. This man was a scholar, absorbed in the study of -the flowers and butterflies of Mexico and troubling himself little with -political affairs. - -After the departure of the Empress matters went rapidly from bad to -worse. In the north the followers of Juarez had inflicted a series of -defeats on the imperial troops and were steadily gaining ground, while -in the capital the outlook was far from encouraging. Maximilian had -replaced two of his Mexican ministers with Frenchmen, Generals Osmont -and Friant, but their attempts to remedy the situation were frustrated -by the pride and jealousy of the Mexicans who bitterly resented the -appointment of foreigners to these high positions. The United States, -moreover, took exceptions to these appointments as a violation of French -neutrality and made a formal complaint to Napoleon, whereupon the -following announcement appeared in the _Monitor_: - -“On the twenty-sixth of July His Majesty, the Emperor of Mexico, issued -a decree entrusting the portfolio of war to General Osmont, Chief of -Staff of the Expedition Corps, and that of finance to Friant, -intendant-general of the army. As, however, the military duties of these -gentlemen, both holding important posts in an army still in the field, -are irreconcilable with the responsibilities of their new positions, -they have received no authorization to accept these appointments.” - -This plainly shows France’s fear of the United States and her -indifference to her engagements with Maximilian. A new ministry, -therefore, had to be formed, in the selection of which Father Fischer’s -influence is said to have been largely responsible. - -As the prospects for a restoration of the Republic grew brighter, Juarez -did not remain the only candidate for the presidential chair, a certain -Ortega and the former ex-President Santa Anna also appearing as -aspirants to the honor. The position of the imperial forces on the -border soon became so unsafe that Maximilian was forced to abandon those -districts to the revolutionists and withdraw his troops more into the -interior. Even his attempt to keep the way to the coast open was not -successful, for the city of Xalapa, on the road to Vera Cruz, was -besieged and captured by the rebels, thus cutting off communication -between the capital and the coast, while many of the native soldiers -deserted and went over to the enemy with their leaders. Even among the -revolutionists, however, there were dissensions, the greater part of -them supporting Juarez, others Ortega or Santa Anna. On one point only -were they united, the downfall of the Empire and restoration of the -Republic. - -Another incident occurred at this time which was well calculated to make -Maximilian, already suffering from an intermittent fever, caused by the -climate, still more averse to remaining in Mexico. This was a conspiracy -against his life, discovered by one of the town prefects. The plot, -hatched by some of Santa Anna’s guerilla followers, was to include the -murder of the prefect himself by his secretary, a man from the lower -classes whom he had befriended, to be followed by that of several other -prominent personages. A closer investigation revealed that the Emperor’s -life also had been aimed at. - -Such were the people by whom Maximilian was surrounded, and such the -treachery which he had constantly to deal with in his adopted country. - -On the afternoon of the day on which the two fatal despatches arrived in -Mexico Maximilian was taking his usual stroll on the flat roof of the -palace with his physician, when he suddenly announced his intention of -abandoning the country where he had met with such ingratitude, and asked -his friend’s advice as to the matter. - -“I do not see how it will be possible for Your Majesty to remain here,” -replied the doctor frankly. - -“Will it be attributed to the Empress’ illness if I should leave?” he -then inquired. - -“That certainly is reason enough,” returned the other. “Besides, Europe -must recognize that Your Majesty is no longer bound to remain in Mexico -after France’s violation of her contracts.” - -“What do you suppose Herzfeld and Fischer will think of it?” continued -Maximilian, after a pause. - -“I am sure that Herzfeld will share my views,” declared the physician. -“As to Father Fischer, to tell the truth, I have not much confidence in -his opinions.” - -They then discussed the advisability of leaving at once or whether it -would be better to wait for a time, but as there seemed no good reason -at present for a sudden departure, Dr. Basch advised deferring it for a -week in order that suitable preparations might be made. - -That evening Maximilian summoned his Minister of State and Professor -Bilimek, director of the museum, and laid the matter before them. To -both, the Emperor’s safety was of far more concern than the fate of a -half-civilized country whose indifference had caused the downfall of all -his hopes and schemes. The recent plot against the Emperor’s life also -may well have been an argument in favor of the plan. At all events they -heartily coincided with it and Herzfeld urged preparations for departure -with such energy that in three days’ time it was possible to leave -Chapultepec, a summer palace near the city of Mexico, which Maximilian -had had newly restored and fitted up at great cost and where he was -staying at this time. - -The rumor of the Emperor’s proposed departure caused general -consternation. The new ministry was stunned and tried every means to -dissuade him from this step. But Maximilian remained deaf to all -arguments and, lest his resolution should be weakened, Dr. Basch had -orders to permit no one to enter the royal apartments. All who came were -dismissed with the information that His Majesty was ill and could -receive no visitors. Even the Princess Iturbide, aunt of little Prince -Iturbide, a descendant of August the First, the first Emperor of Mexico, -whom Maximilian, having no children of his own, had named as Crown -Prince, was unable to gain access to him. The physician admits he had -rather a violent scene with the high-spirited Princess. She would take -no denial and ended by roundly abusing those friends of the Emperor’s -who had persuaded him to leave Mexico. - -As a last resort the ministry threatened to resign in a body if the plan -were persisted in, but even this was of no avail. Maximilian quietly -declared that if these gentlemen resigned their offices he would leave -the country at once, and he would certainly have kept his word. It is -greatly to be regretted, therefore, that they did not do so and thus -spare Mexico the everlasting stain of treachery and murder. Finding it -the only means of at least deferring the Emperor’s abdication, however, -they remained at their posts and sent a message to him agreeing to carry -on the business of government during his absence in accordance with his -wishes. - -Maximilian had already received a letter from Bazaine approving the plan -of changing his residence to Orizaba, which was only a day’s journey -from the seaport of Vera Cruz, and promising to maintain law and order -in the capital. The Emperor’s abdication would suit his own plans very -well, by bringing him a step nearer to the realization of his secret -ambitions. - -Thanks to Herzfeld’s energy and activity, all was ready at the appointed -time, and at four o’clock on the morning of the twenty-first of October, -the Emperor, escorted by a troop of three hundred hussars under the -command of Colonel Kodolitsch, set out from Chapultepec, little thinking -ever to see that place again. Councillor Herzfeld remained in the -capital to arrange some business matters, expecting to join the Emperor -later on. - -The journey to Orizaba must not be passed over in silence, as it was -marked by the occurrence of an important event. On the afternoon of the -first day, the imperial party reached the Hacienda Socyapan, where they -were to spend the night. The Emperor seemed abstracted, and walked up -and down before the _hacienda_ in silence with his physician and -Professor Bilimek. At length he broke out suddenly: - -“I cannot have any more bloodshed in this unhappy country on my account. -What am I to do?” - -The professor advised him to abdicate and sail for Europe at once, but -Dr. Basch opposed this, representing that an unnecessarily sudden -departure would only precipitate matters and bring about exactly what -the Emperor wished to avoid, namely, more bloodshed in Mexico. At the -same time he urged a revocation of the decree of the third of October, -1865, a suggestion which Maximilian cordially approved, and in regard to -which he expressed himself in strong terms on this occasion. - -Father Fischer and Colonel Kodolitsch, who were also in the Emperor’s -confidence, added their influence to the doctor’s, urging that a -_hacienda_ was not a suitable place from which to abdicate a throne, as -Maximilian himself was forced to acknowledge. He contented himself, -therefore, with issuing two orders. Father Fischer was to write personal -letters at once to Bazaine and to Minister Lares, ordering the repeal of -the law of the third of October and the cessation of all hostilities -until further notice. These two important despatches were entrusted to -Count Lamotte, an officer in the Austrian Hussars, to carry back to the -city of Mexico, and on the following morning the Emperor left the -_hacienda_ apparently much relieved. At noon of the second day, while -resting at Rio-Frio, he sent the following telegram to Captain Pierron: - -“You, with Messieurs Pino, Trouchot, and Mangino, are hereby appointed a -commission which, under your direction and with the assistance of some -trustworthy official from the ministry of finance, will examine the -Civil List accounts, mine as well as that of the Empress, to prove -whether we owe the State or the State us. I desire from the commission a -detailed and authenticated statement in regard to this, in which shall -be included the sum taken by the Empress for her voyage to Europe, and -that received by my secretary on the Civil List account, together with -those employed by Minister Arroyo after the reduction of the Civil List, -in works on the palace and at Chapultepec.” - -Herzfeld was also commissioned to issue, in the name of the Emperor, the -necessary written orders to the prefect and treasurer at Miramar. - -“The Emperor wishes the utmost publicity to be given these matters,” so -Herzfeld was notified, “and holds you responsible therefor on your honor -and your friendship. Amid the political shipwreck he desires to keep his -name and honor untarnished and would rather suffer personal loss than -touch any part of the property of the Mexican nation.” - -At the stations of Actzingo and Canada, Maximilian spent the night in -the house of the priests, a fact which furnished his enemies an -opportunity for accusing him of too close affiliation with the clergy. -His arrival was everywhere hailed with rejoicings, and he was -overwhelmed with expressions of sympathy for the illness of the Empress. -On the twenty-seventh of October the imperial party reached the city of -Orizaba, which they entered at five o’clock in the afternoon, greeted -with booming of cannon and the enthusiastic acclamations of the -populace. - - - - - Chapter XII - The Emperor at Orizaba - - -Herzfeld’s knowledge of the real state of affairs and anxiety for his -master’s safety soon caused him to lay aside all other considerations -and follow the Emperor to Orizaba, where he urged preparations for -departure with all possible despatch. In the midst of those, however, he -was ordered to Europe by Maximilian to prepare for his arrival there. -Thus this loyal friend was spared being a witness of the Emperor’s -tragic fate. - -During his stay in Orizaba Maximilian led a simple, secluded life in his -palace, seeing only his intimate associates, but occupied with -arrangements for departure, and the settling of his private affairs. -Much to his satisfaction, his Civil List showed a balance in his favor -of $180,000. All his servants but two were paid and dismissed. Colonel -Kodolitsch was sent to Mexico to arrange with Bazaine concerning the -Austrian and Belgian volunteers, who had followed Maximilian to Mexico -and for whose future he felt it his duty to provide. One question much -discussed confidentially, and which Maximilian seemed quite unable to -decide, was as to whether the abdication should take place before his -departure or in Europe, where he had accepted the crown. His plans for -the future were already made. It was not his intention to return at once -to Austria, but to travel for two years, meeting the Empress at Corfu, -if her condition should permit. Meanwhile his own health had greatly -improved. With his two countrymen, Dr. Basch and Professor Bilimek, he -made frequent excursions about the neighborhood, enjoying the wonderful -scenery or searching for rare specimens of plants and insects. Suddenly, -however, events occurred which changed the aspect of affairs and -effectually put an end to the Emperor’s plans of travel. - -Two old comrades-in-arms in the Mexican army, Generals Marquez and -Miramon, returned from Europe and, seeking an immediate audience with -the Emperor, urged him to return to the capital, holding out promises of -support and encouraging prospects for the imperial cause. While -Maximilian was hesitating, a letter arrived from Bazaine, which turned -the scale. In this the Marshal was so imprudent as to tell tales out of -school, betraying the fact that Napoleon III had made other plans for -Mexico without consulting Maximilian, who, as he had not yet abdicated, -was still sovereign of the country. This arbitrary conduct on the part -of his ally roused Maximilian to action. Indignant at the slight cast -upon him and anxious to prove that he was not slinking away at the -bidding of France like a disgraced servant, he was in a proper frame of -mind to respond to the appeal made by his conservative advisers, that it -was his duty to remain and not desert his party in the hour of danger. -Although outwardly preparations for departure continued as before, the -Emperor’s resolution was weakened, and toward the end of November he -summoned his council to Orizaba to consult with them as to the -advisability of his abdication, giving in an address to that body his -reasons for such a step, _viz._, the spread of the revolution with its -attendant evils, the hostility of the United States toward Mexico, and -the withdrawal of the support of France. - -A vote was taken, twenty-three members of the council being present, of -whom two were for immediate abdication, ten of the opposite opinion, -while eleven were in favor of abdication, but held that the present was -not the time for such a step. Maximilian yielded to the majority and -agreed to remain on condition that funds should be raised for the proper -defence of the government and the organization of a permanent national -army, and that measures should be taken toward the settlement of -questions pending with France and the United States. The Mexicans, -proverbially lavish with promises, readily agreed to all these points, -and on the first of December the Emperor issued a manifesto to the -people, declaring that he had yielded to the desire of his council on -condition that a congress representing all parties should be summoned to -decide the existence of the Empire, and, if this were confirmed, he -would devote himself to the promotion of its welfare. - -On the twelfth of December, 1866, Maximilian left Orizaba to return to -Mexico, accompanied by most of the members of the council who, in the -unsettled condition of the country, were glad to avail themselves of the -imperial escort, consisting as before of Colonel Kodolitsch’s hussars. -They consumed much time on the journey, lingering for nearly three weeks -at Puebla, Maximilian residing at first in the Xonaca palace, a short -distance outside the city. Here he held an interview with Castelnan, the -French consul, which appears to have been of a most unpleasant nature -and widened still further the breach between the two Emperors. -Scientific expeditions were also attempted by the three friends, as at -Orizaba, but, finding few specimens in the region about Puebla, these -excursions were soon abandoned and Maximilian moved his residence into -the city. - -Arriving in Mexico on the fifth of January, 1867, Maximilian remained -for a time at the Hacienda de Teja, a quarter of an hour’s distance from -the capital. While there three of his former ministers, Ramirez, -Escudero, and Robles y Pezuela, made a final attempt to induce him to -abdicate and leave the country at once. But although evidently impressed -by their arguments he refused to follow their advice. The accusations of -vacillation and irresolution afterward made against Maximilian would -seem to be justified by his behavior at this time. Doubtful of himself -and of the future, he still clung to the hope of being able at least to -retire with honor, conscious of having fulfilled his duty to his -adherents. In relating to his physician the interview with his -ex-ministers, he declared that Ramirez wept at parting, expressing the -earnest wish that his evil forebodings might not be realized. He knew -but too well how deceptive were the promises of his countrymen. - -“In no case,” continued the Emperor, “will I remain here more than a few -months, only until affairs are more settled. Will it injure my health, -do you think, to stay on in Mexico? Will the fever return?” - -“I have no anxiety as to Your Majesty’s health on that score,” replied -the physician; “it is Your Majesty’s life I fear for.” - -Maximilian’s attempts to convoke an assembly of liberal representatives -from all parties to discuss measures for remedying the existing -disorders in the country met with small success, as might have been -expected. It seemed impossible to obtain any sort of peaceful fusion or -coöperation, and there was nothing left for the Junta (congress) but to -declare war on the rebels in Mexico—war to the knife. - - - - - Chapter XIII - Departure of the French - - -Meanwhile the French were making active preparations for their return to -France. On the sixteenth of January, 1867, a letter arrived from -Napoleon Third, revoking the extraordinary powers granted to Bazaine as -commander-in-chief of the Expedition Corps and declaring the corps -itself disbanded. The embarkation of the first division of troops on the -_Empress Eugénie_ had then already begun. This was in accordance with -the secret articles already mentioned, and met with no objection on the -part of Maximilian. The recall of the foreign legion, however, included -in the order, was a direct violation of the Treaty of Miramar, which -guaranteed their remaining in the country for several years yet, if -needed. - -In February the French marched out of the capital. Before leaving they -burned as many of the army effects as could not profitably be taken with -them. A large quantity of powder was poured into the water, and -projectiles were rendered useless by being filled with sand, so that the -Mexicans should not profit by their possession. It is hard to believe -that Bazaine’s personal feeling could have gone to such lengths, but -there seems no reason to doubt the truth of these statements. During the -Russian retreat before the French, in 1812, stores of all kinds were -destroyed to prevent their falling into the enemy’s hands. Maximilian -was not yet an enemy; on the contrary, he was supposed to be an ally, -yet for days huge columns of fire and smoke testified to the friendship -of the French. - -Nor was this all. On the occasion of the Marshal’s marriage to his -Mexican wife, Maximilian had presented him with a palace, which in case -of his recall was to be redeemed by the government for 150,000 piastres -($100,000). Now that he was about to leave the country forever he -demanded the promised sum, though well aware of the state of Mexican -finances, and, finding it impossible to obtain the money from an empty -exchequer, sold enough French arms and ammunition to the revolutionists -at insignificant prices to make up the amount. - -When Bazaine, some months before, had begun the reorganization of the -Mexican army which was to replace the French, he had ordered that all -commanders must be Frenchmen, other officers and privates either French -or Mexicans; pay, equipment, etc., to be the same as in the French army, -and those of his own troops who chose were to be free to remain in the -service of the Emperor. Yet in spite of this, before the departure of -the last of the troops in February, 1867, he issued an order declaring -that all French soldiers, officers or privates, who did not return to -their own banner immediately would be regarded as deserters and forfeit -all rights as citizens. Owing to the wide area of country involved and -the difficulty of communication it was, of course, impossible for this -order to reach all the French soldiers in Mexico—a fact which was taken -advantage of later by Juarez, for all the Frenchmen serving under -Maximilian, who were unfortunate enough to be taken prisoners, were shot -as deserters. Before leaving, however, the Marshal was kind enough to -send a message to Maximilian, offering to wait for him in case he should -decide to leave the country—an offer which, needless to say, was -declined. - -With the French troops, thanks to Bazaine’s powers of persuasion, went -the greater part of the Austrian and Belgian volunteers, who had done -distinguished service under the command of Count Thun, only a few of the -Austrians remaining with their Prince. The first step now to be taken -was the formation of the new national army, a task already begun by -Bazaine. Maximilian divided it, roughly speaking, into three corps, -commanded respectively by Generals Miramon, Marquez, and Mejia. As these -three men are henceforth to play an important part in Mexican affairs, a -word concerning them may not be amiss. - -Miramon had already enjoyed the honor of occupying the presidential -chair in Mexico, at which time Marquez had served under him. One -incident will suffice to illustrate the character of these two heroes. -After the capture of Tacubaya, in 1859, they made a visit to the -hospital where a corps of seven surgeons were caring for the wounded, -friend and foe alike. That very day Miramon issued an order to Marquez, -requiring all prisoners ranking from subalterns to staff-officers to be -shot under his personal supervision—a list of the same to be delivered -to himself that evening. And Leonardo Marquez, this worthy henchman, -carried out these instructions so faithfully that not only every -prisoner was shot before sunset, but also the surgeons of whom there had -been no mention in the order. Such were the ideas of justice that -animated these two commanders of the Mexican national army, yet Marquez, -in particular, seems to have completely succeeded in concealing his real -character from Maximilian, over whom he unfortunately had great -influence. In marked contrast to these was the Indian Mejia, who, though -still young and of unprepossessing appearance, was brave and honest, a -good soldier, and loyal to the end to his imperial master, whose death -indeed he shared. - -Army corps, properly speaking, were out of the question, of course, in -the Mexican army, of which only the few remaining French troops and -foreign volunteers were trained soldiers. For the rest and for the -greater part it was composed of half-hearted Mexicans, impressed into -the service and ready to go over to the enemy at a moment’s notice -whenever it pleased them. Of the volunteers Colonel Kherenhüller had -succeeded in forming a regiment of hussars, and Baron Hammerstein, one -of infantry, while Count Wickenburg had an auxiliary force of -constabulary, and Colonel Masso the _cazadores_ or _chasseurs_, all of -whom did good service. That their blood was shed in vain, that they -never had the honor of fighting near the Emperor or defending him with -their lives, was not the fault of these brave Germans, but of the -traitorous villain Marquez. - -Maximilian next divided the country into three great military districts. -Mejia was given command in the east, with headquarters at San Luis -Potosi, Miramon was stationed in the west at Querétaro, while Marquez, -controlling the central district, remained in the capital. - -The Emperor was determined now to show that he could maintain his -position without the aid of French bayonets—a proof of confidence and -fearlessness which was hailed with acclamations by the imperialists, who -already foresaw the downfall of Juarez and the triumph of the Empire. -Before actual hostilities began, however, Maximilian made one more -effort to avert bloodshed and make peace with his enemies. But it was -all in vain. His overtures were coldly rejected and there was nothing -for it but to let fate take its course. - -The first advance was made by Miramon, who succeeded in inflicting a -severe defeat upon the republicans, Juarez and his ministers only -escaping by the swiftness of their horses. But the exultation caused by -this news soon gave place to deepest dejection. Some days later, -Escobedo, commander of the revolutionist army in the north, surprised -the imperialists at San Jacinto and put them to rout, while Miramon, -with the remnants of his scattered forces, took refuge in Querétaro. - - - - - Chapter XIV - The Siege of Querétaro - - -On the tenth of February the Emperor told his physician to prepare for a -two weeks’ expedition to Querétaro. Prompted by the urgent -representations of his ministers, Lares and Marquez, that his presence -was needed there to counteract the demoralizing effect of Miramon’s -defeat, he determined to place himself at the head of the army. After -some delay, owing to the difficulty of obtaining funds for the campaign, -in spite of the ministry’s assurances as to the satisfactory condition -of the national finances, Maximilian set out upon this fateful journey -on the thirteenth of February, with a force of sixteen hundred Mexicans. - -The matter had been arranged with so much secrecy that even Prince Salm -and Major Hammerstein had no suspicion of the plan, while the Austrian -hussars were dumbfounded when they found the Emperor starting for -Querétaro without them. Two men have been accused of persuading -Maximilian to this rash and fatal step—Father Fischer and the Prussian -ambassador, Baron Magnus. Dr. Basch, one of the few who were in the -secret, denies this, however, and places the blame entirely on the two -ministers, Lares and Marquez—the latter of whom had managed to win the -Emperor’s entire confidence by his eloquence and flattery. This seems -the more probable since it was to their interest to remove Maximilian to -a safe distance. Once already he had started for the coast. Why might he -not do so again and with the aid of his Austrians succeed in reaching it -and bidding adieu to the country forever? This must be prevented at all -cost. As for leaving these loyal troops behind and trusting himself to -the uncertain Mexicans, it must be remembered that Maximilian was -completely deceived as to the real state of affairs. From his order to -Dr. Basch it is evident he expected to return from Querétaro in a short -time. He wished also to give his Mexican subjects a proof of his -confidence in them, a noble and chivalrous idea, no doubt, but most -imprudent. - -Marquez, on the other hand, was anxious to keep the Emperor under his -own influence and away from that of his German friends, whose advice -might seriously interfere with his plans. It was also important to leave -the capital in safe hands, and no one realized more than Marquez the -difference between the Austrian troops and his ragged Mexican soldiers, -many of them wearing a uniform for the first time. - -It was doubtless for this reason that the plan was kept so secret. The -Emperor’s friends would surely have dissuaded him from taking such a -step or, at least, have insisted on accompanying him. Indeed, when -Kherenhüller and Hammerstein heard that he was about to leave for -Querétaro, they tried their best to induce him to take them with him. As -a last resort they even appealed to Father Fischer to use his influence -in their behalf, but all in vain. Having promised his friend, Marquez, -Maximilian felt he could not in honor retract his word. - -Shortly before setting out he took leave of his Austrian officers, -assuring them that his reasons for taking this journey were purely -political ones, and promising that they should soon follow. Prince Salm -indeed did follow with a few trusted men, in spite of the Emperor’s -prohibition, overtaking the imperial party before they reached -Querétaro. Of the march thither Maximilian himself gives an interesting -account in a letter to Professor Bilimek who had returned to Miramar -some time before. In it he writes: - -“As you will already have learned through the newspapers, our friends, -the French, have at last left Mexico, and, having once more obtained -liberty of action, we have exchanged the butterfly net for the sword. -Instead of bugs and beetles we now pursue other game. Bullets instead of -bees now buzz about our heads. Twice between Mexico and Querétaro we -were in action and had a number of our men killed and wounded. One of -the latter fell just in front of my horse and was immediately operated -on, under fire, by Dr. Basch, the only European who accompanied me. In -the second skirmish, where we were shot at like targets, our Hungarian -cook (you remember him?), who was riding behind us with our servant -Grill, was wounded on the lip. In every town where there were no -revolutionists we were welcomed most heartily by the people, whom we -found longing for peace and cursing the French.” - -Maximilian reached Querétaro on the nineteenth and was received with the -enthusiasm to be expected from one of the strongest imperialist cities. -The streets were thronged with curious spectators who hailed the -Emperor’s appearance with shouts of joy, while from windows and -balconies, flags and gay hangings of all sorts waved a welcome. The -Spanish casino had been selected and prepared as a residence for the -Emperor, where he was received by the commandant of the city, General -Escobar, after which the whole party attended a solemn Te Deum at the -cathedral. - -In the evening there were great festivities, concluding with a -magnificent banquet, at which there was no lack of those fine speeches -wherein the Mexicans especially excel. Maximilian took no part in these -celebrations, pleading fatigue as an excuse. Marquez, however, improved -the occasion rudely to impress upon General Miramon the sense of their -altered positions, he now being commander-in-chief and Miramon his -inferior, at the same time openly displaying his satisfaction over the -latter’s recent defeat. Truly a noble soul! Although white with rage, -Miramon controlled himself, replying briefly with a toast to the army. - -For a time after his arrival in Querétaro, Maximilian found the life -very pleasant. His simple, kindly ways soon won the hearts of the -people, with whom he mingled freely and fearlessly, joining in their -amusements and conversing familiarly with all classes. His coolness -under fire also roused the admiration of his soldiers, who cheered -wildly as he rode calmly past their ranks, the enemy’s bullets whistling -about his head. - -In the capital, meanwhile, there was so little thought given to the -Emperor and his companions in Querétaro, and there was so little idea of -keeping any of the promises made to him, it would almost seem that -Marquez was not the only traitor. Soon after leaving Mexico, Maximilian -had sent back word for the Austrian troops remaining there to follow him -at once. Had this order been delivered, the expedition to Querétaro -might have had a different and less tragic ending. But, owing to -Marquez, it never reached its destination, and the Emperor’s loyal -friends, Kherenhüller and Hammerstein, were prevented from joining him -while there was still time. - -The city of Querétaro had at this time a population of some forty -thousand inhabitants. It lay in a narrow valley on the southern bank of -a small stream, called the Rio Blanco, forming a quadrangle of about -eight thousand feet in length by four thousand in breadth. To the west -extended a wide plain, called from the mountains behind it the plain of -Guadalajara, while running from south to northeast was a range of hills, -afterward utilized by the republicans with great effect. Two places -which proved of special importance to the imperialists during the siege -were the Cerro de la Campaña, a hill lying just west of the city, and -the Convent de la Cruz, almost at the opposite end. This was a large -stone edifice of great strength, dating from the days of Cortez. The -convent grounds were enclosed by heavy stone walls, and had at the -eastern end a smaller but equally strong building known as the Pantheon -or burial-place of the convent. - -Two weeks after the Emperor’s arrival (March fifth), the republican -forces, under General Escobedo, appeared before Querétaro and began to -invest the town. The garrison consisted of about four thousand infantry, -three thousand cavalry, and had forty-four cannon—a force so -insignificant, compared with the vast armies of the present day, that it -is remarkable it should have held out as long as it did against such -overwhelming superiority of numbers. General Mejia had arrived at -Querétaro shortly before this, with his troops from Potosi, among whom -were a number of German officers and soldiers, while serving under -Miramon were some six hundred Frenchmen. Immediately after the -appearance of the enemy, Maximilian held a council of war with his -generals. Miramon and Mejia were in favor of attacking the republicans -before their forces should have time to unite—an excellent plan which -was not carried out owing to the opposition of the all-influential -Marquez, who held that the defence of the city should be their first -consideration. Thus precious time was allowed to pass, and the -imperialists looked calmly on while the enemy gradually crowned the -surrounding heights with batteries. The Emperor had first established -his headquarters on the Cerro de la Campaña, but when the republicans -extended their lines eastward, they were moved to the Convent de la Cruz -(so called from a cross erected there in commemoration of the conquest). -General Miramon now occupied the former headquarters with a battery of -eight guns, while the chief defence of the town was entrusted to the -Mexican Castillo, an able general, but no longer young and almost -entirely deaf. - -The enemy’s next move was to cut off the city’s supplies, both of water -and provisions, hoping to subdue it by starvation. The only water now -obtainable was that of the Rio Blanco, while meat soon grew so scarce -that many of the cavalry horses had to be sacrificed. Juarez himself -joined the republican camp for a time, but, being unable to endure the -smell of powder, soon returned to Potosi. On the fourteenth of March the -Juarists made their first general attack on the town, assaults being -made on three sides at once, under cover of the batteries. The main -struggle, however, took place at La Cruz. After a hot fight they -succeeded in capturing the Pantheon, but were afterward driven out by a -body of Austrians. During the attack Maximilian remained in the great -square before the convent, exposed to the hottest fire, yet quite calm -and apparently unconscious of the deadly hail of bullets all about him. -Once a shell burst only a few paces in front of him, but fortunately no -one was injured, though an adjutant had his sword bent and his clothes -burned by a flying splinter. Prince Salm, always conspicuous for -bravery, made a brilliant sortie and succeeded in capturing the first -guns from the enemy. - -By evening the Juarists had been repulsed at all points and driven back, -but the victory proved barren in results. Lopez, for some reason, took -no part in the action, while Marquez either would not or did not know -how to follow up the advantage he had gained. As for Miramon, he -distinguished himself a few days later. It had been planned to surprise -the Juarists early on the morning of the sixteenth, and Miramon was -chosen to lead the attack, from which great things were hoped. But the -whole scheme fell through because—that general overslept!—a neglect of -duty difficult to understand in these days. When he did at last awake it -was broad daylight, and all thought of a surprise had to be abandoned. - -On the twenty-first of March another council was held and an important -decision arrived at. This was to send one of the generals back to the -city of Mexico with full authority from the Emperor to act as he thought -best. He was to dismiss the present ministry and form a new one, to -obtain more funds, and, in any case, to return with aid to Querétaro -without delay. Marquez, for whom the place was getting much too warm by -this time, had no difficulty in obtaining the appointment—a simple means -of escaping the trap into which he had led his sovereign. Still trusting -the traitor implicitly, Maximilian left it entirely to him whether to -bring only a part of the troops from Mexico or the whole garrison. It -was arranged that Marquez, with one thousand horsemen, was to make his -way through the hills to the south, while Miramon, to divert the enemy’s -attention, made a sortie in the opposite direction. The plan was kept so -secret that even Miramon had no suspicion of the real purpose of his -expedition. This time he did not oversleep but successfully surprised -the enemy at four in the morning, returning with twenty-two carts full -of provisions and war material, sixty oxen, and some two hundred sheep -and goats. Meanwhile Marquez and his troopers had passed through the -enemy’s lines unnoticed, leaving the imperialists the poorer by one -thousand of their best men—no small loss to a garrison already so -reduced. - -The Juarists, now swelled by reinforcements to about forty thousand men, -continued to harass the city by daily attacks from without, while their -spies kept them accurately informed of all that passed within. The -Emperor, unconscious of the treachery by which he was surrounded, still -looked confidently for relief from Marquez. Days passed in -ever-increasing suspense, while the situation of the besieged grew more -and more critical. Marquez’ enemies began openly to hint at treachery, -and at length even Maximilian lost faith. Now that it was too late his -eyes were opened to the real nature of his “friend,” and, realizing that -he had been betrayed, he determined to send Prince Salm on another -mission to the capital—to arrest Marquez, if necessary, and return at -once with reinforcements. An attempt was accordingly made on the -twenty-second of April to break through the enemy’s lines, but the city -was by this time so closely invested that it was found to be useless. -Meanwhile the republicans, fearing that the Emperor with his whole force -might succeed in escaping from the city, caused reports of Marquez’ -approach to be circulated by their spies, while false despatches, -purporting to arrive from the capital, were smuggled through the lines -in order to soothe the imperialists with vain hopes. - -But what of Marquez while all Querétaro watched so anxiously for his -return? Where was he and what was he doing? He had arrived safely at the -capital on the twenty-seventh of March with few losses, and, finding the -city of Puebla hard pressed by the Juarist, Porfirio Diaz, determined to -go to its relief. Though well aware of the urgency of the situation in -Querétaro, and the need of haste in executing his mission, he seems to -have troubled himself little concerning it, and to have taken no steps -toward sending the promised aid. The relief of Puebla he did indeed -undertake, but here as in Querétaro he made so many blunders that the -attempt ended in utter failure and involved the needless sacrifice of -many of Maximilian’s brave Austrians. - - - - - Chapter XV - Downfall of the Mexican Empire - - -Meanwhile the situation in Querétaro remained about the same from week -to week. Thanks to the reports spread by republican spies, relief was -still looked for, while frequent skirmishes enlivened the monotony in -which both Miramon and Mejia distinguished themselves. Nor were they -altogether without results, for on the twenty-seventh of April Miramon -routed twelve thousand of the besiegers, captured twenty-one guns, and -took a large number of prisoners. Yet neither of these generals seemed -able to utilize their advantages. Whenever a victory was won, precious -moments were wasted in useless celebrations, in true Mexican fashion, -leaving the enemy plenty of time to recover lost ground. - -At length, however, the Emperor was forced to abandon all hope of -Marquez’ return and as a last resort began seriously to consider the -possibility of breaking through the enemy’s siege lines to the western -plain whence they might be able to reach the mountains beyond. Once -there they would be safe—for these were the native haunts of General -Mejia, who knew every foot of the country and was certain to find -support among the sturdy mountaineers—always a loyal race. Thither, too, -the Juarists would be slow to follow. Being unwilling to leave the city -without any military protection, Maximilian’s first step was to issue a -call for volunteers, to which hundreds of the townsfolk responded and -were enrolled as recruits by Mejia, to whom their organization was -entrusted. Meanwhile Prince Salm selected a body-guard of picked men for -the Emperor. The attempt was to be made early on the morning of the -fourteenth of May,—the chief command of the expedition being intrusted -to Colonel Lopez, a proof of Maximilian’s unbounded faith in this -scoundrel. As to the sequence of events, Dr. Basch, who was an -eye-witness, writes as follows: - -“At eleven o’clock on the night of the thirteenth, a council of war was -held at which it was decided to defer our departure till the following -night. This was at Mejia’s request, the number of volunteers being so -great he had been unable properly to arm or organize them in so short a -time, and it was upon their help he largely depended for the success of -the undertaking. Preparations had all been completed. We were ready for -the march. Only such effects as could be carried with us on our horses -were to be taken. The Emperor himself was very hopeful. ‘I am glad,’ he -said to me on the afternoon of the fourteenth, ‘that the end has come at -last and feel sure we shall succeed, partly because my good fortune has -never yet failed me and also—call it superstition if you will—because -to-morrow is my mother’s name day—which is a good omen.’ - -“The Emperor’s luggage was divided among the escort—members of his suite -each taking a part of his papers among their effects. The contents of -His Majesty’s privy purse were distributed between Salm, -Lieutenant-colonel Pradillo, the Emperor’s secretary, Blasio, Colonel -Campos, commander of the body-guard, myself, and Lopez, the latter of -whom expressed dissatisfaction on being handed his share because it was -in silver and small coin instead of gold like the rest. - -“At ten o’clock that night another postponement was made till the -fifteenth, this time at the request of General Mendez, for what reason I -am unable to say. About eleven the Emperor held a conference with Lopez -concerning some details of the plan, and, made wakeful by excitement, -did not retire until one. At half-past two he had me wakened. I went at -once to his room and found him suffering with an attack of dysentery—a -disease which had been making havoc in both camps owing to bad food and -the effects of the rainy season. I stayed with him nearly an hour till -the pain was relieved, then returned to my own room and lay down with my -clothes on. The convent was then wrapped in deep stillness; not a sound -was to be heard. Just before five I was suddenly aroused by two men -bursting into my room, one of whom I recognized as Lieutenant Jablonski. -‘Where is Prince Salm?’ they shouted, ‘he must be awakened!’ and with -these words they rushed out again. I sprang up at once. Something -unusual must have occurred to bring them to headquarters at that hour. -Without stopping to think about it, however, I roused my servant, who -was sleeping in the same room, ordered him to saddle my horse as quickly -as possible, and hastened in quest of Salm, whom I found already up and -dressed. I asked him what was the matter. ‘We are surprised,’ was his -answer. ‘Make haste and tell Fürstenwärther to have the hussars mount -without delay.’ - -“I had just delivered this message when the Emperor’s Mexican -chamberlain, Severo, came and informed me that His Majesty wished to -speak with me. Returning to his room, I found him already dressed. ‘I do -not think it is anything serious,’ he declared with the utmost calmness, -‘but the enemy have forced their way into the courtyard. Get your pistol -and follow me to the square.’ - -“Grill, the steward, afterward told me during our imprisonment that the -Emperor did not lose his presence of mind for a moment. While he was -dressing he had his sword placed by the door unsheathed, to be at hand -in case of need. In obedience to His Majesty’s command I went to my room -to buckle on my revolver and there my servant met me with the news that -he had been stopped by a strange officer who had taken the saddle -blankets from him. Having myself given the order for the hussars to -mount, it was necessary for me to have my horse at once if I was to -accompany the Emperor, so I told my servant to follow me and point out -the officer who had prevented his obeying my orders. We met him in one -of the passageways, wrapped in one of the blankets and carrying the -other on his shoulder. As the Emperor had only spoken of the enemy as -having entered the courtyard, I naturally supposed, meeting this man -inside the convent, that he and the ten soldiers with him were our men -and asked if he did not recognize me as the Emperor’s physician. He -tried to evade me, pointing to a staircase leading to the roof of the -convent, and saying, ‘Your blankets are up there.’ - -“Still in the dark as to the meaning of all this, and indignant at the -unnecessary delay, I drew my revolver, whereupon the officer cried to -the soldiers, ‘_Desarme lo!_’ (Disarm him!) I saw a row of bayonets -pointed at me and heard the click of triggers and in a flash the whole -thing was clear to me. Any attempt at resistance would have been -madness, so, escorted by the officer and his squad, I mounted the steps -to the convent roof, which to my amazement I found crowded with -republican troops. ‘You are my prisoner!’ said the officer, now speaking -for the first time. ‘So I see!’ was my angry rejoinder. My revolver was -then taken away from me, and Perez, for such was the officer’s name, -began to search my pockets with a dexterity that proved him no novice in -the business. Naturally the well-filled money belt did not escape his -deft fingers, nor my watch which I had with me, and this unexpected -booty caused him to treat me with more favor. In spite of the danger of -the situation, I could not refrain from drawing out my surgical case, -which had been overlooked, and, offering it to Perez, inquiring whether -he would not like that also. This voluntary gift, however, he did not -accept nor did he take my note-book. There being no bank notes in -Mexico, paper naturally did not interest him as much as coin or -valuables, and my papers were left undisturbed in my pocket. I was then -taken to the tower where the Emperor had so often exposed himself to the -enemy’s fire, and placed under the guard of two men.” - -So much for the physician’s experiences on that eventful night. -Meanwhile, after telling Dr. Basch to get his pistol and follow him, -Maximilian, accompanied by Prince Salm, General Castillo, -Lieutenant-colonel Pradillo, and Secretary Blasio, went out into the -courtyard. At the gates they found one of the enemy’s guards stationed, -and standing near by were Colonel Lopez and Colonel José Rincon -Gallardo. The latter, to whom the Emperor was well known, said to the -guard: “Let them pass, they are civilians,” and Maximilian and his -companions walked out unmolested. From La Cruz they made their way to -Miramon’s headquarters on the Cerro de la Campaña, several other -officers joining them on the way. The lines everywhere were already in -the possession of the enemy and even the small body of cavalry they -found assembled at the foot of the hill soon melted away, going over to -the enemy little by little as their fears overcame them. Turning to -Mejia, the Emperor asked if there was no possibility of breaking through -with a few faithful followers, but Mejia sadly replied in the negative, -saying any such attempt would be useless. Resigning himself to his fate, -therefore, Maximilian ordered the white flag hoisted and a few moments -later surrendered his sword to a republican officer who galloped up. The -Emperor was a prisoner. - -That afternoon at four o’clock Escobedo sent the following telegram to -the Juarist minister of war in Potosi: - -“At three o’clock this morning our troops captured the convent La Cruz. -The garrison were taken prisoners, part of the enemy’s troops having -retreated to Cerro de la Campaña in great disorder and under fire from -our artillery. About eight this morning Maximilian with his generals -Mejia and Castillo surrendered at discretion. I beg to offer the -President my congratulations on this great triumph of the national arms. - - Mariano Escobedo.” - -A mighty triumph, indeed, for fifty thousand men to conquer a garrison -of five thousand, exhausted by famine and disease, and that only by an -act of treachery! - -As to the manner and conditions of Lopez’ betrayal, accounts vary. He is -said to have been promised as much as ten thousand piastres by Escobedo. -His accomplice in the plot was a certain Anton Jablonski, but the whole -affair was managed with such adroitness that not one of the Emperor’s -friends had a suspicion of it. Lopez afterward published an emphatic -denial of the accusation, which was supported by Escobedo and in which -he had the audacity to appeal to Prince Salm for confirmation. The -latter’s reply, written during his imprisonment and after Maximilian’s -death, leaves nothing to be desired in the way of plain speaking. It -runs in part as follows: - -“To Miguel Lopez, former imperial Mexican colonel and author of the -article entitled ‘The Capture of Querétaro’: - -“In this defence, addressed by you to your countrymen, to France, and to -the world at large, you appeal to me as witness that Querétaro did not -fall by treachery and maintain that your statements bear the stamp of -perfect truth. Although I, as you know, have been a prisoner of war for -five months, my sense of justice will no longer allow me to be silent, -for I can prove their utter falsity. You publicly declare that Querétaro -was captured by force of arms; that the Emperor commissioned you on the -night of the fourteenth of May to negotiate with the enemy, his troops -being completely demoralized and all hope of escape abandoned; and you -dare any who maintain that Querétaro fell by treachery to appear and -dispute your assertions. I accept your challenge, therefore, and before -the world proclaim you a traitor with the blood of your former sovereign -and benefactor on your hands. It is not true that the Emperor -commissioned you to negotiate with the enemy. I had the honor of -conversing with His Majesty that night, after you had left him, and he -had not then or at any other time the faintest idea of treating with the -republicans. If his army was small, it was still brave and loyal enough -to have fought a way out through the enemy’s lines for its beloved -sovereign, to whose character, as you well know, such a course as you -describe would have been utterly foreign. This being the case, permit -me, Senor Lopez, to ask you a few questions before the world. - -“Why, if you had been ordered to enter the enemy’s lines, did you return -about two o’clock with a republican officer of high rank and bring him -into La Cruz, the Emperor’s headquarters? Why did you, contrary to the -Emperor’s wishes, and without my knowledge, order the Hungarian hussars -to unsaddle, when I had already given them the Emperor’s commands to -remain saddled all night? Why, at such a dangerous time, did you remove -from the Emperor’s headquarters the guard upon whom the safety of La -Cruz depended? Why were the eight guns which stood on the square in -front of the convent turned with their muzzles toward the city? Why, at -two o’clock in the morning, did you take this republican general, -dressed as a civilian and armed with a revolver, all through our -fortifications? Why did you leave our lines before four o’clock that -morning, still with this same officer, and return in a quarter of an -hour at the head of two of the enemy’s battalions and lead them into the -inner court of La Cruz, where you were met by your accomplice, -Lieutenant Jablonski? How did it happen that you and Jablonski, both -supposedly prisoners, should have informed the Emperor of the enemy’s -presence in La Cruz? How do you explain the fact that when His Majesty, -with General Castillo and myself, were about to leave the convent, then -already surrounded by the enemy, we were allowed at a word from you to -pass as civilians, although the Emperor must have been already -recognized and General Castillo and I were in full uniform? How was it -that after our capture some of the republican officers named you as the -traitor? How did it happen that you, a prisoner, were always at liberty? -And, finally, how were you able to possess yourself of the imperial -papers and various articles belonging to His Majesty, such as his silver -toilet service, which, by the way, have never appeared again? - -“To all of this, Señor Miguel Lopez, you cannot honestly and honorably -reply; the facts speak for themselves and proclaim you both traitor and -murderer. Why did you betray your Emperor and benefactor? Because, in -the first place, you wished to be revenged on him for withholding from -you the General’s commission which he had already signed. In case you -should not know his reason for this, then learn now that it was because -a brave man, whose blood is also on your hands and whose name I will not -mention, lest you take revenge on those he has left behind, had -presented to His Majesty a private document dismissing you from the army -for infamous conduct during Santa Anna’s presidency and forbidding your -ever holding a government office again. - -“And, secondly, Señor Lopez, you were moved by fear. Seeing that -something decisive must soon occur and fearing, in case of our defeat, -for your future and for your life, you hoped by this shameful treachery -to clear your past account with the republicans, as indeed you did. Your -third attempt at treason failed, for a short time after the Emperor had -been made prisoner, finding your hopes disappointed, you sent a person -known to us both to him with offers to betray your new confederates. In -my presence this person attempted to pave the way for you to approach -the Emperor, overtures that were naturally rejected with contempt. A man -may choose his own course in life, but he must be true to his -principles. You have not only been false to yours but have also -committed the most infamous of all crimes—that of treason—and broken the -oath you took to the imperial cause. The name of Miguel Lopez may become -famous, no doubt, but it will never be mentioned in the annals of Mexico -or of the world save with deepest abhorrence and contempt.” - - - - - Chapter XVI - The Emperor’s Imprisonment - - -After Maximilian had surrendered his sword to the republican commander -on the Cerro de la Campaña he was taken back to his old quarters at the -convent, his physician and two attendants, Grill and Severo, being -allowed to join him later. - -“It was with a heavy heart,” writes Dr. Basch, “that I approached the -Emperor’s door, before which a guard was posted. I opened it and paused -a moment on the threshold to compose myself, but His Majesty came up at -once and embraced me, weeping. Quickly controlling himself, however, he -pressed my hand and turned away, sighing deeply. A mournful silence -followed. Now for the first time I perceived that Salm, Blasio, Pachta, -and Pradillo were also in the room. For a time the Emperor paced up and -down, lost in thought, but at last he spoke, this time more calmly. - -“‘I am glad,’ he said, ‘that it all happened without more bloodshed. -That much at least has been accomplished. I feared for you all.’ - -“Although he had been so ill the night before, excitement had sustained -him during the events that had since occurred. Now, however, the attack -returned and he was forced to go to bed suffering greatly. Having, in -our present situation, no remedies at hand to relieve his distress, I -was greatly surprised when the Emperor produced a small box of pills -which I had given him the night before. ‘You see,’ he declared, ‘how -important it is not to lose one’s presence of mind. This morning when we -were surprised I remembered to put this in my pocket.’” - -Maximilian’s room had been completely rifled during his absence. -Personal effects, books, clothing, and documents all had disappeared, -having been appropriated by Lopez as souvenirs of his former benefactor. -During the forenoon the Emperor was visited by several of the republican -officers, among whom was Colonel José Gallardo, who had permitted him to -leave La Cruz the preceding night—a mistaken kindness, as it proved, for -Maximilian, in consequence, had been arrested in arms and thereby made -himself liable to that fatal decree of October third, which he had tried -to revoke on his way to Orizaba. - -Most of the imperial generals who had remained loyal were confined in a -room adjoining the Emperor’s. Mendez remained in hiding, but, his plan -of concealment being betrayed a few days later, he was taken out and -shot. Miramon had been shot in the face with a revolver by one of his -own adjutants while attempting to rally his troops on the Cerro, the -morning of the surrender, and was at his own quarters. The prisoners -were treated with scant consideration. A rich merchant of the town -supplied Maximilian’s table, with the remains from which his companions -were obliged to content themselves. The Emperor soon grew so much worse -that his physician became alarmed and asked that one of the republican -army surgeons might be called in. Dr. Riva de Nejra was sent to visit -the august prisoner and advised a change of residence, declaring the -present one most unfit in his condition of health. - -On the morning of the seventeenth, therefore, Maximilian was taken to -the former convent, Santa Teresa, in a carriage, guarded by a troop of -cavalry, his companions being forced to walk. As they passed through the -city, the streets were deserted, the inhabitants considerately retiring -into their houses, the windows of which even were closed. Not a soul was -to be seen anywhere. The new quarters of the prisoners consisted of two -large rooms, absolutely bare and empty. After some trouble a bed and -chairs were procured for the Emperor’s use, while the others were left -to make themselves comfortable on the floor of the adjoining apartment. -Fortunately they managed to obtain some saddle blankets to sleep on and -the Emperor sent out and bought coverings, combs, brushes, and soap. - -“These republicans,” says Dr. Basch, “seem convinced they are treating -us with the greatest care and magnanimity, their idea of humanity being -apparently to permit us to breathe. Unless we can wait on ourselves we -must go hungry and dirty.” - -In spite of these hardships, however, the change made a perceptible -improvement in Maximilian’s health, and his painful symptoms gradually -disappeared. Juarez’ delay in taking any action in regard to the fate of -the prisoners encouraged the Emperor’s friends to expect a favorable -outcome of the affair—a hope that was rudely dispelled, however, when -the Princess Salm arrived at Querétaro on the twentieth of May and -revealed to her husband the danger in which Maximilian really stood. It -was apparent even to the republicans that Juarez was determined to have -his life. The Princess made the most heroic efforts to save him, -shrinking from no dangers and no exertion in his behalf, but all in -vain. The Emperor’s guard was not always strictly kept, and had not -treachery lurked at every turn, his escape might have been effected. -Such an attempt was finally made, indeed, but it was then too late. - -On the twenty-second of May Maximilian was again transferred, this time -to the Capuchin monastery, with Prince Salm and Generals Mejia and -Miramon. The other officers, Dr. Basch, and the Emperor’s servants were -left behind, expecting to follow shortly. As hour after hour passed, -however, and no one came, feeling that anything was possible in this -barbarous country, they were seized with the fear that Maximilian and -his companions might have been already shot without any warning. At -last, however, an officer appeared, about eight o’clock in the evening, -with the long-looked-for orders. - -“The first person I saw in the monastery,” relates Dr. Basch, “was Salm. -‘Where is the Emperor?’ I asked. - -“‘His Majesty is in the crypt,’ he replied, but quickly added, seeing my -horror at these words, ‘Calm yourself, he is alive, but really in the -crypt. I will take you to him.’ - -“As the door was opened a rush of cold air greeted me, rank with -dampness and decay. In the far corner of a huge vault, the burial-place -of the monastery, was a bed, and on it lay the Emperor reading Cæsar. A -small table beside him held a lighted candle. ‘They have not had time to -prepare a room for me,’ he remarked, smiling quietly, ‘so I am obliged -temporarily to take up my abode with the dead.’ I spent that night in -the crypt alone with the Emperor, making my bed on a large slab -apparently used as a bier, but after the hours of anxiety I had endured -that afternoon, I had no trouble in sleeping even amid those -surroundings.” - -Bitter as Juarez was against Maximilian, he was not in Querétaro at this -time, but at Potosi, and therefore cannot be held responsible for the -atrocious treatment accorded the unfortunate Emperor, whose calm and -cheerful acceptance of these indignities cannot but rouse the deepest -admiration. - -The next day he was taken from the crypt and lodged in a dark narrow -cell, similar to those assigned his companions in misfortune, all -opening on a small court so that the prisoners could be easily guarded. -It soon became evident that there was no hope of any compromise in the -Emperor’s case. Juarez insisted that it should be decided by a Mexican -court-martial—the outcome of which was a foregone conclusion. -Maximilian’s death had already been determined upon and any trial would -be merely a pretext to throw dust in the eyes of the world. - -Princess Salm, with the aid of a German merchant, named Stephen, and the -vice-consul from Hamburg, made another attempt at rescue, which might -have proved successful had not Maximilian refused to go without Miramon -and Mejia, who were to be tried with him. Miramon appears to have -revealed the plan to his wife, who, in turn, betrayed it to the enemy, -so it resulted in only stricter measures. All the prisoners were removed -from the Capuchin monastery with the exception of Maximilian and his two -generals, over whom a much stronger guard was placed. - -On the twelfth of June, 1867, General Escobedo issued an order -arraigning Ferdinand Maximilian, Archduke of Austria, and his -confederates, the “so-called” generals, Don Miguel Miramon and Don Tomas -Mejia, before a court-martial to answer for crimes against the nation -and against law and order. The charges against Maximilian were thirteen -in number, an absurd and incongruous medley, the chief of which were -that he had broken his personal guarantees; that he had served as an -instrument of the French; and that he had assumed the position of a -usurper and authorized atrocities of every description, such as the -decree of October 3, 1865. - -The trial opened at eight o’clock on the morning of June thirteenth in -the Iturbide theatre, the interior of which was brilliantly illuminated, -the galleries filled with spectators, all of whom displayed the deepest -interest in the proceedings. At the right sat the judges, consisting of -a lieutenant-colonel and six captains, all very young and selected with -little or no regard for the important questions involved. Opposite them -were placed the benches for the accused and their advocates, Generals -Mejia and Miramon arriving at the theatre about nine in a carriage under -a strong guard. - -The president opened the session, and the attorney for the government, -Manuel Aspiroz, read the charges, together with the Emperor’s protest -against this form of trial and the legality of all steps taken against -his person under the law of January 25, 1862, which was intended for -native rebels and not applicable to him as a foreigner. Lastly, medical -evidence in regard to the Emperor’s condition of health was produced, -with a petition for more healthful accommodations. - -General Mejia was first summoned to answer before this tribunal, and his -advocate, Vega, made a brilliant speech in his defence, dwelling on his -bravery and loyalty as well as the distinguished services he had -rendered to his native land. Miramon’s attorneys, Jauregui and Moreno, -employed the same line of argument. - -Maximilian did not appear in person before the court. He was defended by -two of the foremost lawyers in Mexico, Vazquez and Ortega, both -distinguished for learning and eloquence. They directed their main -arguments against the competency of such a court for the case. -Maximilian was not a usurper, as charged, declared Vazquez, for he had -come by invitation of a representative council, confirmed by popular -vote. He had refused, in fact, to accept the crown until such vote had -been assured. Whether this had been given fraudulently, he, as a -foreigner on the other side of the ocean, had no means of discovering, -nor had he any reason to regard himself as other than a legitimate -sovereign—the ovation accorded him on his arrival naturally tending to -strengthen him in this conviction. He had brought no troops but came -peaceably, accompanied only by his household. Neither had he served as a -tool for the French, for from the very first he had striven against -their interference; the constant friction between him and the French -commanders having finally led to the withdrawal of the French troops. - -Ortega protested vigorously against the imputation of Maximilian’s -cruelty. The severe decree of October 3, 1865, was issued on the advice -of his ministry and in the belief that Juarez had abandoned Mexican -territory. Its object had been chiefly to intimidate, for no man ever -sued in vain for mercy from Maximilian, whose clemency and magnanimity -were well known. He concluded with an appeal to the honor and sympathy -of the republicans, urging them not to abuse their victory and stain -their laurels with a bloody and useless execution. - -But his defenders’ brilliant eloquence was powerless to save Maximilian. -His sentence had been fixed long since. The whole trial was the merest -farce, a spectacle prepared by Juarez and his friends. It was most -fitting that a theatre should have been chosen for its performance! - -The public session of the court ended on the fourteenth of June. At -eleven o’clock that night the Emperor Maximilian and his two generals -were unanimously pronounced guilty and condemned to be shot, Escobedo -confirming the sentence on the sixteenth and ordering the execution to -take place that afternoon at three o’clock. - -Mexico was now completely in the hands of the Juarists, with the -exception of Vera Cruz and the capital, where Marquez was playing a -singular game and needlessly sacrificing the Emperor’s brave Austrians. -With the downfall of the imperial cause, however, this scoundrel passes -out of our history. Once, during his imprisonment, Maximilian said to -his physician: “If both Marquez and Lopez were given to me to deal with -as I chose, I would free the coward Lopez, but Marquez, the cold-blooded -and deliberate traitor, I would hang.” - - - - - Chapter XVII - Death of Maximilian and his Generals - - -The news that the Emperor and his two generals, Mejia and Miramon, had -been sentenced to death, aroused widespread sympathy and Juarez was -besieged with petitions for mercy, even Garibaldi, who certainly was no -friend to the house of Hapsburg, being among the pleaders. The Prussian -ambassador, Baron von Magnus, hastened to Potosi to intercede personally -in behalf of Maximilian, and used every effort to secure a pardon, but -in vain. All that he was able to obtain was a reprieve of two days, the -execution of the sentence being postponed till seven o’clock on the -morning of the nineteenth. - - [Illustration: _LAST MOMENTS OF EMPEROR MAXIMILIAN_] - -Prince Salm being still a prisoner and powerless to act, his wife made -one last desperate attempt to bring about the Emperor’s escape by -flight, but again the plan was frustrated by the fatal treachery that -seemed to pursue Maximilian at every turn in Mexico. The Princess Salm -was put into a carriage and sent out of Querétaro under a military -guard, while all the diplomatic representatives were ordered by Escobedo -to leave the city at two hours’ notice. Meanwhile the Emperor and his -companions prepared for death. They received the sacrament from Father -Soria and spent their last hours communing with the confessors who were -to accompany them on their last journey. Maximilian, calm and serene as -in happier days, conversed cheerfully with Dr. Basch and his lawyers, -Ortega and Vazquez, who had come to bid him farewell. On parting with -the physician he charged him to carry back to his friends and family in -Vienna a report of the siege and of his last days. - -“Tell my mother,” he said, “that I have done my duty as a soldier and -die a good Christian.” - -At three o’clock, the time originally set for the execution, all was -ready for the last march to the Cerro de la Campaña. The officer in -command of the firing squad begged for forgiveness with tears in his -eyes, but the Emperor calmed him, saying: “You are a soldier and must -obey your orders.” For a whole hour they waited for the summons, but -none came. At last, about four o’clock, an officer arrived with the -announcement that the execution had been postponed till the nineteenth, -the order having only just arrived by wire from Potosi an hour before. - -“This is hard,” exclaimed Maximilian, “for I had already finished with -the world.” - -He availed himself of the delay, however, to dictate several farewell -letters to his physician, among them one of thanks to his captive -officers for their loyalty and a touching appeal to his implacable -enemy, Juarez, to prevent further bloodshed and let his death serve to -promote the peace and welfare of his adopted country. Even now Baron von -Magnus made one more effort to save the Emperor’s life. On the -eighteenth of June he sent a telegram to the Juarist minister, Lerdo de -Tejada, offering to secure guarantees from all the leading sovereigns of -Europe that none of the three prisoners should ever again set foot on -Mexican soil or disturb the country in any way. But Juarez was -inexorable. In reply to the Baron’s despatch Minister Tejada stated that -the President of the Republic was convinced that the cause of justice -and the future peace of the country required the death of the prisoners. - -At last the fatal morning of Wednesday, June 19, 1867, dawned. At five -o’clock Father Soria came to celebrate mass, and at half past six the -republican officer who had charge of the execution arrived. The three -prisoners, dressed in black, entered carriages, each with his confessor, -and were driven slowly to the place of execution, which was surrounded -by a guard of four thousand men. On alighting, the Emperor embraced his -two companions, promising they should soon meet in another world, and -then walked with dignity to the spot assigned at the foot of a hill in -front of a shattered wall. Here he placed Miramon in the centre, saying, -“A brave soldier is respected by his sovereign; permit me to yield you -the place of honor.” Turning to Mejia, who had been unnerved by the -sight of his wife running through the streets frantic with grief, he -said: “General, what has not been rewarded on earth will certainly be in -heaven.” After distributing some gold pieces among the soldiers who were -to do the firing, he said in a firm voice: “May my blood be the last -shed in sacrifice for this country, and if more is required, let it be -for the good of the nation, never by treason.” - -The signal to fire was then given and the three fell simultaneously, -Maximilian’s body pierced by six bullets. The Mexican Empire had ceased -to exist, and the noble Hapsburger had laid down his life for the -welfare of an ungrateful people. - -General Escobedo had promised the Emperor before his death that his body -should be delivered to Baron von Magnus to be taken back to Europe, yet -in spite of this the ambassador had much trouble in obtaining possession -of it. He was ill himself for a time with fever and had to be taken to -Potosi. After many delays, however, the remains were finally given into -his custody on November twelfth and, attended by Vice-admiral von -Tegetthof, his two adjutants, and Doctor Basch, were taken to Vera Cruz -with a cavalry escort of one hundred men, and placed on board the -_Novara_, the same vessel which but three years before had conveyed -Maximilian to his adopted country and to his doom. On the fifteenth of -January, 1868, the _Novara_ arrived at Trieste. A special train conveyed -the coffin to Vienna, where, three days later, the body of Archduke -Ferdinand Maximilian of Austria was buried in the imperial vault in the -Capuchin church. - - - - - Chapter XVIII - Conclusion - - -As there may be some curiosity as to the later history of those who so -shamefully betrayed the Emperor Maximilian, a word as to their fate may -not be amiss. - -His murderer, Juarez, proved himself unable to restore peace and -tranquillity in the country. He attained his ambition, however, when he -was again made President, and this sufficed for him. He did not long -survive the victim of his cruelty and revenge, dying, in Mexico, July -18, 1872. His friend, Escobedo, received from General Mejia his only son -as a legacy—one that was to prove a constant reminder of his treachery. -Twice the Juarist chief had owed his life to Mejia’s generosity, yet he -had not hesitated in turn to sign the latter’s death-warrant. - -Napoleon Third’s subsequent career has passed into history. Losing -battle after battle, and finally his throne, in the war of 1870, he -surrendered his sword to King William First of Prussia on the second of -September of that year and was taken to Wilhelmshöhe at Cassel as a -prisoner of war, where he received very different treatment from that -accorded the captive Emperor in Querétaro. After the conclusion of peace -he retired to England, where he died at Chiselhurst. - -A yet more tragic fate befell Marshal François Achille Bazaine. During -the Franco-Prussian War he was besieged in Metz by Prince Friedrich Karl -and forced to surrender with about one hundred and seventy thousand men. -He was taken to Cassel, where he shared Napoleon’s imprisonment. Accused -by the French not only of cowardice and incapacity but also of treason, -he was tried by court-martial and condemned to death. There being no -bloodthirsty Juarez in France, however, the sentence was commuted to -twenty years’ imprisonment on the Island of Sainte Marguerite, near -Cannes. He succeeded in escaping, with the help of his wife, and fled to -Madrid, where he lived in poverty and obscurity and died in 1888, -forgotten by the world and deserted by his wife, who returned to her -native Mexico. - -Marquez escaped from the city of Mexico, hiding the first night, it is -said, in a coffin, and, continuing his flight at daylight toward the -north, succeeded in reaching Texas. His subsequent history is unknown. -After betraying the imperial army, Lopez prepared to enjoy the reward of -his treason, but it was flatly refused him. Despised alike by friend and -foe, and even by his own wife, he led a wretched existence, employing -himself in vain attempts to vindicate his treachery. - - * * * * * * * * - -Doubtless Maximilian made many grave mistakes, but from the foregoing -pages it is plain that both he and his wife went to Mexico with the -noblest aims and full of enthusiasm for the mission, to the difficulties -of which they finally succumbed. Yet the sacrifice was not wholly in -vain, for the last struggle has served to embalm the memory of the -Emperor Maximilian First of Mexico as a brave and chivalrous prince, -while that of his enemies is held in merited contempt. - -On the spot where Maximilian and his two generals so gallantly met their -fate on the nineteenth of June, 1867, a memorial chapel has been -erected, to which throngs of Mexicans of all classes annually make a -pilgrimage on the anniversary of that day, as indeed they did -previously, when only a simple gravestone marked the place of death. - - - - - Appendix - - -The following is a chronological statement of important events connected -with Maximilian: - - 1832 Birth of Maximilian. - 1850-57 Marine service. - 1857 Marriage to Carlotta. - 1859 Retires to Miramar. - 1863 Mexican Embassy visits Miramar. - 1864 Coronation ceremony. - 1864 Arrival in Mexico. - 1865 Revolutionary uprisings. - 1866 The Empress goes to Europe. - 1867 Departure of the French. - 1867 Downfall of the Mexican Empire. - 1867 Execution of Maximilian. - - - - - LIFE STORIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE - - _Translated from the German by_ - GEORGE P. 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