Page:The rise and fall of the Emperor Maximilian.djvu/263

Rh been aforetime witness of his triumphs. If necessary, immediately after the bands in the north were put to rout, the victorious forces of the monarchy might turn round against the rebels of Oajaca, whom they would soon bring to reason. As to the millions which were necessary, the president of the council confined himself to saying that they would be provided: this was the secret of his party.

This plan looked very seductive upon paper, and Maximilian fully adopted it. In order to put an end to the state of uncertainty in which the country had now been for more than a month, the emperor completely altered his course of action, and issued a telegraphic despatch, which contradicted all the events which had taken place. The visit to Orizaba of Mr. Scarlett, the English diplomatist, then on his way to Europe, did not a little contribute to hurry the adoption of this sudden measure by the young emperor, whom he advised not to abandon the throne.

Our head-quarters authorities received immediate communication from the imperial cabinet of the telegraphic despatch which left Orizaba, November 20, 1866.

None of the steps which I have taken authorise the belief that it is my intention to abdicate in favour of any party whatever. The appeal made to me by the council of state and the ministers was simply this, that, in conjunction with them, when the time to abdicate shall arrive, the ad interim power should be made over to those to whom it is due, and that, in the meantime, the vote of the nation shall settle the rest. The appeal made to Marshal Bazaine had no other aim than that these points should be arranged in conjunction with the commander-in-chief of the army.

The assertion that a provisional government will be recognised by the United States is more than doubtful. Why should it be so? Who guarantees this recognition? Who will go to solicit it? I think that it is right to remit the