Page:The rise and fall of the Emperor Maximilian.djvu/104

 declaration emanating from the throne,—and took no notice of the above remonstrance. At the last moment, the commander-in-chief, whose duty it was as head of the two armies to execute the decree, asked and obtained the addition of an article fining any hacenderos convicted of having taken care of and concealed the arms and horses of the rebels.

This decree of October 3, which was about to rekindle the civil war by gratifying private malice, was the suicide of the monarchy, led away, as it was, by chivalrous illusions and by the traditions of civilised countries. Juarez, who had never abdicated his rights, repulsed any overture of reconciliation, and the ostracism directed against the 'outlawed republicans' caused a great sensation in the United States, where it stirred up anger against a prince and princess who were, in fact, generous to an extreme. For, many a time, outbursts of feeling on the part of the imperial family, whose good faith it was easy to beguile, had injuriously curbed the justice of our courts-martial. Such is the history of this fatal day's work, which must no longer continue to be a stain on the memory of the noble victim of Queretaro.

There was a moment, at the birth-time of the empire, when a part of the population, as much from weariness of disorder as from spontaneous sympathy for the new sovereigns, was inclined to make an earnest trial of a monarchy. This precious moment vanished away, ere the crown, for want of an initiative spirit, knew how to profit by it. The following letter, written by the Empress Charlotte, an intelligent and large-hearted princess, who had taken an active part in the direction both of political and military affairs, shows clearly that too little value was set upon the Indian element, and also manifests the decided feeling of the crown not to