Page:Speeches, correspondence and political papers of Carl Schurz, Volume 1.djvu/235

Rh life he is magnificent in the extreme, princely in his expenditures, careless in the administration of his affairs, apt to run recklessly into debt and almost always sadly in want of money. A few years ago he married a Mexican lady of great wealth, spent her available means in a marvellously short time and is now overburdened with enormous pecuniary liabilities. These are his elements of strength and of weakness. I have been thus minute in the description of the man, because his character may determine the nature of his operations in Mexico.

His appointment to the leadership of the expedition is differently explained. I had a conversation with the Chief of the Progressista party, Mr. Olozaga, who thought that England had made certain concessions to Spain in stipulating the program of action of the three powers on the express condition that General Prim be placed at the head of the enterprise—because Prim had made a very strong speech in the Spanish Senate against the Clerical rule in Mexico some two years ago and would now be likely not to favor the intrigues of the party he then had so emphatically denounced. This, however, plausible as it may seem, was not confirmed by what Sir John Crampton subsequently told me. The latter professes to be entirely ignorant of such an arrangement and thinks that Lord John Russell knows probably very little of General Prim and his political opinions. It is likely that French influence has had more to do with General Prim's appointment. He is known to be a great favorite at the Tuileries and in intimate relations with the French Ambassador here.

Another explanation of this event was given me by one of the principal leaders of the Moderado party. Prim, he said, was so overwhelmed with financial embarrassments that something had to be done for him or he would do something for himself. The Government feared that