Page:The Fall of Maximilan's Empire.djvu/28

20 had invoked, making the cost of the Intervention, in money and blood, greater than France could apparently afford to bear. But afterwards Prince Maximilian, to whose service were pledged his devotion and support, became the object of his bitter reproaches. He was evidently far from divining how directly the change in the French emperor's course was due to the decided action of the President of the United States. His ignorance of the true state of affairs was betrayed in a verbal message with which he charged General Magruder, of the late Confederate service, as that gentleman was about to leave Mexico for the United States. On learning that he expected to see Mr. Johnson, the Marshal said to him: "If you do, deliver this verbal message for me:

"The moral influence wielded by the government of the United States has destroyed this Empire. Upon it therefore rests the obligation to see that some government be established and sustained here that shall secure the protection of life and property and the tranquillity of this people. This, in my opinion, can only be accomplished by furnishing physical aid. The interests of foreigners in this country cannot be left without some protection. Of non-combatants engaged in peaceful pursuits, the larger proportion of whom are French subjects, there are at least thirty thousand; there should be an armed force properly distributed in