Page:The rise and fall of the Emperor Maximilian.djvu/196

180 in the appointment of such tribunals, because it was altogether contrary both to his instructions and his intentions.

The administration, too, sought to get off any culprits in whom the clergy were interested. No other proofs of this are needed than the following telegraphic despatch from a general of the expeditionary corps. 'A telegram from the imperial secretary directs that the sentence on Rosada should be reprieved. The bishop is interested in him. It is wished that he should make his escape. In spite of all I have written, in spite of a refusal by the emperor, Rosada will escape well-deserved punishment. I am distressed to see numbers of poor wretches shot, and the greatest culprits get off. This sort of thing produces a very bad effect for the imperial cause.' Thus it was that the emperor found himself disobeyed in the provinces in which Father Fischer was beginning to make his influence directly felt.