THE SKETCHER.

Otago Witness, Issue 1880, 2 December 1887, Page 31

THE SKETCHER.

THE STORY OF MAXIMILIAN AKD CAKLOTTA.

Ferdinand Maximilian Joseph, Archduke of Austria, younger brother of Francis Joseph I, the present Emperor of AustriaHungary, and now generally referred tc as the Emperor Maximilian I of Mexico, was born in 1832.

He was liberally educated, with a mind enriched by extensive reading, wide travel, and intercourse with many of the leading spirits of Europe. In 1857, on July 27, he married the sister of the present King of the Belgians, Charlotte Marie Amelie, born June 7, 1840.

This amiable, beautiful, and highly intellectual lady was brought up by her father, Leopold I of Belgium, the most progressive of European sovereigns, with the greatest care, until she adorned every court she moved in.

In 1861, taking advantage of the troubled condition of Mexico and the Civil War in the United States, France, Spain, and Great Britain commenced hostilities against Mexico, ostensibly to enforce certain pecuniary claims. But in 1862, when the real purpose of the French manifested itself, the British and Spanish forces withdrew, and the French declared war, proclaiming the intention to liberate the Mexican people from the tyranny of their President, Benito Juarez.

They over-ran the eastern and central part of Mexico, captured the capital— receiving more or less support from the clerical party among the natives — and finally set up a Provisional Government, headed nominally by General Almonde, but really under dictation of the invaders.

An "Assembly of Notables," so called, convened in Mexico July 10, 1863, decided by a vote of 281 to 19 in favour of a "limited hereditary monarchy," with a Catholic prince for sovereign, under the title of emperor.

At the instigation of Napoleon, who had already begun to realise the folly of his undertaking to subdue the whole of Mexico and hold it in subjection to his own will, seeing that the Republicans of Mexico were still organised and were continually harassing the usurpers, the sceptre of this new Government was proffered to Maximilian.

Not until all but the four northern provinces were in the possession of the French forces and their Mexican recruits, did he accept this uneasy crown. On May 29, 1864, the Emperor and Empress landed at Vera Cruz, and on June 12 they made their public entry into the capital amid a brilliant military and civic display, accompanied by many signs of popular welcome.

Before winter the Imperialists had gained possession of all the chief places in every State in the so-called empire. However, the fugitive President of the desperate Republic still maintained a species of guerilla warfare in various places, and the sympathies of the people of the United States were^with them.

No sooner was the great Civil War in that country ended than this sympathy began to make itself felt very sensibly. On November 0, 1865, Secretary Seward directed the American Minister in Paris to represent to Napoleon 111 that the presence of the French army in Mexico was a " caupe of grave reflection to the Government of the United States," and that the latter could on no account allow the establishment of an Imperial Government, based on foreign aid, in that country, or recognise there any other than Republican institutions. This increased the unpopularity of the war in France. Napoleon took warning, and in the summer of 1866 withdrew his forces.

Deserted by his European allies, Maximilian's empire hastened to a most melancholy end, so far as himself and the Empress were concerned. Charlotte' went to Europe to enlist aid, but in vain. Her husband's perilous position, added to tho bitter disappointment and mortification of her failure, at last dethroned her reason. Maximilian refused to leave witli the last French detachment, though urged to do so. At the head of 10,000 men he made a brave defence of Queretaro against the Republicans under General Escobedo. On the night of May 14, 1867, the stronghold of his position was betrayed into the hands of his foes by the Emperor's most trusted friend, General Lopez. Even then he refused the opportunity proffered him by his immediate captor to escape in civilian's dress. Together with Generals Miramon and Mejia he was tried by court-martial, and on the 19th of July the three were shot. "Poor Carlotta," as she is sorrowfully called, has never fully recovered her reason, although cared for with the greatest tenderness by her royal brother.