Page:The rise and fall of the Emperor Maximilian.djvu/38

 to the authority of Juarez, was guilty of having broken open, by means of his soldiers, the official seal and treasure-coffers of the English legation, in order to take away seven millions of francs which were therein deposited; he was guilty, too, of having shot the wounded, both our countrymen and foreigners, who were lying in the hospitals at Tacubaya. His flag went before ours, and it was saluted by the country as it well deserved. Marquez had invited the invasion. Was it thus that we should have offered ourselves as liberators to the Mexicans, who were full of hatred to Marquez—an energetic soldier certainly, but who combined with his military qualities the instincts of an executioner? The late siege of Mexico, which this general was defending about three weeks ago, was marked by excesses which, as the unfortunate Maximilian himself confessed, were a dishonour to the imperial cause. But we henceforth suffered the consequences of our errors. General Marquez was naturally our indispensable ally, as it was he who, since 1861, had held in his hands the threads of the Franco-Mexican intrigue.

Mexico is like a country cursed by God; there the words 'my country' excite no vibration of sympathy. It is divided into two parties, the clerical and the liberal party, without reckoning the bands of every colour who plunder the towns and hold travellers to ransom in the name of God and liberty. There are, doubtless, in both parties honourable individuals, who groan over the civil wars and decadence of their country. Whilst five millions of Indians were working and suffering, the clerical party desired to retain the property they had acquired at the expense of the general prosperity; and the liberals wished to enrich themselves and to attain to honours. Both parties were to blame; but