Índice Geral das Seções Índice da Seção Atual Índice da Obra Atual Anterior: Capítulo 26 Seguinte: Capítulo 28

CAPÍTULO 27.

IT was the middle of February, 1862, when Edmund Noel arrived in the city of Mexico, escorted by a large and formidable-looking body of cavaliers collected from the neighbourhood of Dolóres, whose noisy conduct and swaggering demeanour made him fancy himself back in those days of chivalry when retainers demonstrated and upheld the importance of their masters by the assumption of offensive and ludicrous airs.

The whose arrangement was distasteful to him, loving, as his natural disposition led him, to exhibit power by results only, and to magnify those results by their contrast with the apparent insignificance of the means whereby they have been attained. To him all show and noise were waste, and therefore ungraceful, and artistically a mistake, and he would gladly have dispensed with them. But he could not dispute the representation that, being in a barbaric country, it was necessary to adapt himself to its circumstances. He determined, however, rather to exaggerate than otherwise the simplicity and confidence

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with which he would accost the various chiefs whom he expected to meet; and this, the more that he could not divest himself of a certain consciousness that the part was enacting might possibly appear to some of them a huge piece of impertinence.

As he approached the capital the air was thronged with conflicting reports about the conduct of the invaders; how that they had declared war upon the government, and were marching straight upon Mexico; how that they had quarrelled among themselves, and were about to return home, baffled; and how that the fatal climate of the tierra caliente was making short work with the whole expedition. Noel’s principal fear was that in the enormous press of business it would be impossible for him to obtain audience of the President. A private note from Maynard, however, prepared the way for him, and two days after his arrival he was sent for by Juarez to his official residence. In the interval he had ascertained the actual position of affairs. The Mexicans of the capital were in their first access of anger at what they deemed the unworthy concessions of the Convention of La Soledád.

As Noel entered the apartment he found himself keenly eyed by a middle-aged man of medium height and firm figure, just risen from a seat before a table which was covered with papers. The high cheek-bones, broad flat nostrils, swarthy complexion, straight black hair, and cold dark eye, indicated his pure Indian blood; while the black cloth morning dress, and black satin stock, indicated a republican simplicity borrowed from his neighbours of the United States.

A secretary was writing in the adjoining room, the door of which, after a momentary scrutiny of his visitor, was closed by the President; and Noel and Juarez were alone together.

‘You come from my good friend, and are welcome. I hope you do not require me to speak English to you.’

He said this in Spanish, with slow and distinct utterance, so that Noel, who by this time had, under Margaret’s tuition, become a very fair Spanish scholar, understood him perfectly. He intimated as much, and Juarez continued: –

‘Your friend, Señor Maynardo, as he told me to call him, he is a noble in his own country, I understand?’

‘He is a noble,’ answered Noel, ‘and yet more noble by nature, through his genius, and his wide sympathies with all that is good and true, than even by birth.’

The President then inquired concerning the mine and its

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success, and expressed a hope that it had escaped molestation by the wandering bands of robbers. Whereupon Noel told him of the attempt to capture James, and the good fortune which had enabled him to effect his rescue. When he had finished by relating how Maynard, finding his assailants were of Indian blood, had refrained from giving them up to the authorities, and released them with food and an admonition, Juarez was deeply moved, and said,

‘Tell Señor Maynardo that I am most grateful for his thought of my people. He writes that you propose to urge his views upon the plenipotentiaries from Europe, in case they meet with my approbation. Have the goodness to explain them to me.’

Unfolding Maynard’s Spanish letter, and spreading it upon the table, Noel described its purport, and revealed the bold but simple scheme whereby Maynard sought to make the foreign powers a party to the regeneration of Mexico. The cold eye of Juarez lit up as Noel proceeded from stage to stage of his statements, and referred to the document in support of them. And Noel himself warmed with eagerness as he felt more and more that in the proposals he was making lay the best, and probably the only, hope of regeneration for a noble old country. His Spanish came without an effort; he forgot the augustness of his auditor’s presence; and he concluded by urgently and familiarly, as equal to equal, pressing him to read the paper carefully through after he was gone, and to let him know his opinion of the chances of its reception by the foreign envoys.

If all men were as true as those of your nation; said Juarez, when Noel had finished, the government of the world would be an easy task. I coincide with every sentiment you have so admirably expressed, and thank you and Señor Maynardo for the interest you take in the welfare of my unhappy country. The sole ambition of my life is to carry out that identical policy. I have reason to think that some progress was being made towards it. At any rate I have done my best to preserve faith with the foreigners settled in Mexico; and I hope to act with dignity and consideration towards the allied forces. If the real intention of the Powers corresponded with their professions, there would be no reason why all should not go well. To support me against both the Clericals and Liberals would be to contribute towards the maintenance of a stable government, because I should thereby be enabled to rely on the sympathy of the vast bulk of the population. Your country, Señor, alone means

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us well, but it does not mean enough. England is honest in asking for fair treatment, but England will not interpose to revolutionise Mexico. She believes only in existing governments, and thinks it is not her business to replace them by others. As a rule she is right. Meddlers do more harm than good. Spain is Spain. Mexico hates her, and she hates Mexico. She sufficiently shows that hatred by supporting the Pope and the priests. She covets, at the same time; but, alone, she is impotent to gratify her covetousness. France remains. France is neither our enemy nor our friend. I mean the Emperor. He is France in one sense, as I am Mexico in another. He is France triumphant, as I am Mexico dormant. Do you go hence to the ministers of those Powers, and speak to them as you have spoken to me: – in only one will you excite the smallest interest, – your own, the English minister. He will not show his interest; but he will tell you that, however true it may be that the only stable government will be one resting on a popular basis, he would exceed his instructions were he to take any part in promoting it; and that such things must be left to the people of the country. The Spanish minister will say that he comes in the interest of religion, meaning the Romish priesthood who’ – and here the speaker’s eyes gleamed with a dangerous light – ‘have substituted for the sacrifices of human hearts wherewith our ancient priesthood defiled Mexico, their own crueller sacrifice, not of the human heart only, but of the intellect, the liberties, the affections, and of all that constitutes human excellence and happiness. And the French minister will state, in the civilest terms, that his Emperor is fully aware of what Mexico requires, and intends bestowing it upon her.

‘But he will not tell you what that is. It is even probable that he does not know the Emperor’s intention. Don Maynardo’s correspondent has discovered that there is a mystery. I have discovered what that mystery is. Mark what I say: and when you see the English and the Spanish withdraw their forces, and leave the French here alone, remember that, though I have treated them so well as to excite the anger of the people, knew at the same time that all concession would be useless that I knew that the allies came here with totally different intentions; that I knew that France had deceived her allies, deceived Mexico, and sought only her own political advantage.

‘This letter mentions Austria. I believe in Señor Maynardo. I believe in you. I will trust you with the solution of

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that mystery, on your engaging to tell it to none but your friend, until public events prove me right.’

‘Well,’ he continued, when Noel had given him the required assurance, ‘France has, ever since last summer, been urging the Archduke Maximilian of Austria, to allow himself to be made Emperor of Mexico! – and the proposal has been accepted by him on one condition, the condition that he be supported by both England and France, with force or otherwise as may be necessary. France has come here secretly pledged to make this archduke Emperor, but openly disclaiming all intention of interfering in the domestic affairs of the country. France has tricked England into coming here by a false pretence; and England will retire and leave France in the lurch when she finds it out. France has tricked the Austrian into believing that he has the support of England and of Spain. The question is, will he, too, have the good sense to retire when he learns that he is dependent solely on a power that has proved so false and undependable. He does not come of a wise race; and Emperors of Mexico have been unlucky. Now you can judge how far it is likely to be of use your going to the foreign ministers with suggestions for the regeneration of Mexico founded on a popular basis.’

Noel did not immediately reply. He was thinking of the course that Maynard would take under the altered circumstances. Presently Juarez continued, –

‘I grant you one thing. By placing your views, in the clear and powerful manner of this paper, before the French minister, you may put into his hands an engine whereby an enthusiasm may be aroused on behalf of the Austrian, provided he comes. That is, you will be suggesting a popular cry in his favour. But you will also be judging between him and me, as to who has the best right to govern Mexico, and who is the most likely to succeed in governing it well. I am a full-blooded Indian, of a race older in this country than that of Montezuma himself,’ he said, drawing himself up proudly: ‘and if you honestly believe that this Retrogrado, this Fanatico, this Austrian archduke, will come here with truer sympathies for popular advancement than those which animate me, – go; go, and say so to the French minister, and put into his possession the means of accomplishing my downfall. For they will use your information, and use it against me. I, the patriot savage, Juarez, and my race, are of no account in European councils.’

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‘That France should entertain such a fantastic idea as that of making an Austrian archduke Emperor of any country in America, and should dare to hoodwink England in such fashion, are alike incredible to me,’ responded Noel.

‘Events will prove it, notwithstanding,’ returned the President. ‘But you are right on one point. France has obtained England’s apparent consent by representing that the negotiations with Maximilian are the acts of the Mexicans themselves, by the agency of refugees from this country in Paris. It is only one falsehood more.’

‘But I cannot see that the Emperor has sufficient motive for running such a risk, in mere wish to please Austria,’ persisted Noel.

‘He is a man, and has a fanatic wife, who is subservient to the priests,’ responded Juarez, shrugging his shoulders.

Noel had heard enough to convince him that it was impossible for him to prosecute his journey to Vera Cruz without further consultation with Maynard, and he wished earnestly that Maynard could be present to advise him.

Determining to write fully to him and await his answer in the capital, he rose to take his leave, announcing at the same time to the President the conclusion to which he had come. Juarez bade him a cordial farewell, expressed a hope of seeing him again, and added, –

‘You alone have the light whereby to read my conduct under future events. The hope that animates me comes, not from the other side of the ocean, or from the rival parties here, but from the example and sympathies of the United States. Their government is friendly to me, and by its aid I shall finally triumph, if I ever do triumph. Their civil war but delays the end. That over, European interference with Mexico will be impossible. Adios!’

Índice Geral das Seções Índice da Seção Atual Índice da Obra Atual Anterior: Capítulo 26 Seguinte: Capítulo 28