Page:The Fall of Maximilan's Empire.djvu/108

100 powers as a consequence of whatsoever extreme decision the Mexican government may make; but at the same time Mr. Seward also thinks that a universal sentiment, favorable, conciliatory, and friendly towards the republic of Mexico and the other American republics, would be likely to follow from such an exercise of clemency and magnanimity as the United States have thought proper to recommend.

"Mr. Seward requests Mr. Romero, if compatible with his convictions of duty, to make these sentiments known in a private and confidential manner to the republic of Mexico."

Nothing could be more delicately and courteously put, and it would seem difficult to torture the correspondence, of which that is a fair sample, into any such desire as was popularly attributed to the Department of State. And yet that such was the case seemed very apparent, and by portions of the American as well as the Mexican press. The following extracts from La Centinela, published in Monterey, are of interest as an indication of the feelings of the Mexican people regarding the disposition of the Prince and the relations of the two countries:

"The interference of the government of the United States to save the life of Maximilian, and above all the terms used and the mode employed by Minister Seward in the negotiation, have imperilled the situation of Maximilian, and have made it