Page:The rise and fall of the Emperor Maximilian.djvu/57

 noble sentiments. Maximilian has expiated by his blood his confidence in the assistance of our government, and his useless though sincere devotion to his adopted people. Arteaga and Salazar died like soldiers fighting against the invasion of their native soil. Juarez certainly let slip a grand opportunity of astonishing Europe by an act of clemency—the sure characteristic of a strong—which would have been the means of conciliating all the courts of Europe; but it is very certain that this act of clemency would have failed to save Maximilian's life, and would have cost Juarez his. Anyone who is acquainted with the country, and knows how its savage passions were then wrought up to a paroxysm of fury, will not for an instant doubt this.