The rise and fall of the Emperor Maximilian/Appendix
APPENDIX.
DOCUMENTARY PROOFS AND ILLUSTRATIONS.
Page 12.
It will not be without interest to add this letter written by General Prim; it needs no comment.
To M. José Gonzalez Echavarria, Mexico.
My most esteemed Uncle and Friend,—I have received your letter of January, and am thinking over the state of things in your country, deplorable enough no doubt, but yet tending to acquaint the world that Mexico is still a nation, and its sons are not the objectless and degraded race that some try to make them out. You are certainly the worthy sons of those who have astonished the universe by their exploits. What will that humbug M. Billault say to justify his words:—'that the perjured government of Juarez will fall before the breath of France?' In France, there is an unutterable anxiety and uneasiness caused by the war in Mexico, and to those who ask me anything about it, I reply, that the war in Mexico will become a catastrophe for France; and it is nothing but the truth. Only imagine, if Forey's army should break down before Puebla! Ave Maria Sanctissima! God only knows what would happen then.
We are impatiently waiting for the couriers, to get news of you and of the country. I see that Mr. Wyke, the English minister, has left for Europe, and I am afraid he went away before the courier arrived by whom, through his medium, I wrote to you as well as to my uncle Michel, and sent to you and others some copies of my speech in the Senate. This speech will be approved of, I have no doubt, not only in your country, but over all the continent of America.
Here there has been a change in the cabinet. O'Donell has fallen, and we were on the point of seeing the progressive party get the upper hand. In the end, Miraflores and Concha have come into power; both of them taking the French side in the Mexican question. But wherever and whenever you hear it said that the Spanish are coming back to Mexico to help the French, deny it at once. That which is done is done, and no one can undo it.Prim
The following despatch, dated in July, and addressed to President Juarez by Ramon Diaz, a Mexican, and agent to his government at Havannah, may throw a certain light on General Prim's letter.
Despatch from Ramon Diaz to Benito Juarez, President of the Republic at Mexico.
Very dear Sir and Friend,—Being still impressed with the repulses which we have just met with, at a time when we least expected them, and our success seemed almost beyond doubt, I write these lines to inform you that I am forming a subscription in this island, which affords satisfactory results, for the purpose of buying a portion of the arms which I mentioned to you in my last letter. For I suppose that you are unable at present to send me the funds necessary for this purchase.
I am working with great activity, and it is probable that, about the middle of next month, I shall have finished the business I am so occupied with. I therefore hope that you will give me the order to send you this parcel of arms as soon as possible. I can easily send it to Tunpan by steam with tolerable security. Tell me, therefore, if this point will suit you, or acquaint me with some other safe place for landing them. As this is a rather delicate business, I shall entrust it to no one, and shall myself accompany the arms in question. If you do not make any other arrangements, I hope that you will send me the necessary license for entering the republic.
It is probable that Napoleon will withdraw his troops as soon as the trumpery government is formed in the capital of the republic. Events in Poland are becoming more complicated, and the Confederates have just experienced some terrible reverses.
In Spain, things are much in the same state as they were. It is said now that O'Donell is going to join the ministry; but this is not credible. There is no news in this island. I have nothing more to add to-day, and I repeat that I am your devoted friendRamon S. Diaz.
The Juarist agent was playing his part. But how are we to understand the attitude of the authorities at Havannah, a Spanish colony, with respect to this Juarist subscription which was intended to arm the republican troops? What a sudden contrast! From this very port, only a few months before, the Spanish squadron had set sail for Vera Cruz, to raise the flag of her Catholic Majesty by the side of the banner of France. Would not the baffled ambition of General Prim (who had perhaps dreamt of a Mexican crown for his own head) explain this violation of neutrality to which the captain-general of the colony must have been privy? Yet we were their allies but a short time before!
Page 29.
Looking at the following document, which derives its importance from the name of the signer, no doubt can be entertained as to the active part taken by the cabinet of the Tuileries in the creation of the Mexican throne. This transoceanic enterprise was intended to act on European politics, as we may notice that this letter, addressed to an English member of Parliament, alludes to the Venetian question, which was being discussed both at Paris and at Vienna.
To an English Member of Parliament.
My dear Sir,—. . . . Although it may be said that the archduke has neither altered nor rescinded any of his intentions, this is very far from being the case. You may consider it as certain that he will leave next March, the date when the result of the general (but not universal) vote of the nation will become known in Europe; this is the only condition which he now imposes, and his departure is considered by us as an assured fact.
It must be remarked (and this tends to set our minds at rest), that the Mexican question is a matter altogether apart from the general political movements in Europe. It is an affair exclusively confined to the Emperor Napoleon and the archduke, with the approbation of the emperor, his brother, as head of the family, but without the slightest interference on the part of the Austrian government.
This state of things is favourable to Austria, inasmuch as it puts Venetia or any other compensation out of the question; it is also favourable to the Mexican question, by leaving it isolated and standing alone on its own special ground. France is already in Mexico, and has no other solution before her but the throne of the archduke, whether there is a war in Europe or not.
The Austrian vessel which will convey the Prince to Mexico will not be detained by England (who will probably be Austria's ally in the complications foreseen) or by France, who is conducting him thither.
It appears to me that illusion has no share in these thoroughly practical considerations.
I beg that you will always believe me your affectionate and faithful J. M. Gutierrez de Estrada.
Page 84.
We had considered that it would not be very generous to give publicity to the following document, emanating from the military cabinet of the Emperor Maximilian and referring to the decree of October the 3rd. But we no longer hesitate to do it, looking at the absolute necessity of giving to this history its real character. The following imperial order, sent to Marshal Bazaine, clearly proves that the decree of October the 3rd was not wrung from the Emperor Maximilian by the French commander-in-chief. The emperor, we repeat it, generous as he was by nature and ordinarily most merciful, had nothing else in view but the punishment of brigands.
Monsieur le Maréchal,—His Majesty directs me to acquaint your excellency that, in case Vicente Riva Palacios should be captured, he wishes that he should be brought to Mexico. This exception is for special reasons, and is the only one the emperor intends to make to the decree of the 3rd of October, and he desires that your Excellency will give positive instructions that, if he is taken, Riva Palacios should not be put to death.
Page 252.
End of Maximilian's reply:—
My sole duty consists in nominating a provisional regency until the nation can be appealed to, and in taking the proper proceedings for convoking it; and, finally, in seeking protection for the imperialists, but without mixing myself up with anything beyond.Maximilian.LONDON
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