Anna continued to intrigue, issuing a stirring manifesto;[1] and the archbishop pursued his agitation, joined by a large number of prominent persons, including members of the cabinet. Encouraged by the dissatisfaction in the army, and the weakness of a government now to be deserted by its main supporters, they resolved to act decisively upon the French desire for Maximilian's removal, with the hope of uniting parties in support of a more popular government. The emperor had due warning, and sought to defeat the plot by conciliatory measures. These failing, he caused the arrest, July 15th and 17th, of threescore conspirators, and had the greater number deported for safe-keeping to Yucatan,[2] ordering also the confiscation of Santa Anna's vast estates. This schemer received about the same time a decided snub from the Juarists, with whom he sought to ingratiate himself.[3]
The preceding fiasco convinced Maximilian how little reliance was to be placed in liberals who had chosen to pocket their republican sympathies for the sake of imperial offices. Nor had his long effort to court and conciliate the Juarists and constitutionalists produced any marked benefits. A few needful and severe measures had served to counteract the good impression at one time produced, and wherever military authority declined, there rose at once anti-imperial sentiments. Moreover, in the futile attempt to win over the main party, he had lost his hold upon the
- ↑ Of June 5th from Elizabeth Port. Santa Anna had mingled freely with U. S. naval officers, and had even been visited by Seward at St Thomas. Diario Imp., July 10, 1866, etc.; and the most was made of it. See also Elizaga, Corte de Roma y Max., 1-93.
- ↑ Including generals José Rojo, Zires, Parra, and Partearroyo, also Ignacio Ramirez, J. M. Arroyo, and others. See Diario Imp., July 16, 1866, etc.; Arrangoiz, Méj., iv. 109-11. A few arrests were also made in the departments and several changes in official positions. The most active agent of Santa Anna was Padre Ordoñez, his natural son. Lefèvre, Doc., ii. 335; Le Saint, Guerre Mex., 174.
- ↑ He wrote in May to Minister Romero: 'Es mi propósito cooperar á la reinstalacion del Gobierno constitucional republicano;' but his services were declined. See correspondence in Méx., Col. Leyes, 1863-67, iii. 59-70, and Iglesias, Revistas, iii. 654–62. He could not be trusted. The Juarists decried him as a traitor. Legac. Mex., ii. 218-41; Estrella Occid., Sept. 28, 1866, Jan. 25, Feb. 1, 1867.
