Second Mexican Empire

"In a very short time, the monarchy will be so firmly established in Mexico, that one will only be surprised not to have tried it sooner."

"If the Mexicans second the lofty views of their new ruler, soon Mexico will have recovered its former splendor and soon also order will resume its empire where anarchy and evil passions have exercised their disastrous influence."

"Will make good soldiers, very devoted to the government of Emperor Maximilian."

"The enterprise that Archduke Maximilian will attempt remains what it was on the first day, an adventure where, besides a lot of energy, tact and resources, we must add a lot of happiness to succeed."

"Will you believe that I am not convinced that all the Mexican debt holders will be paid, that the Archduke will obtain from the Holy Father a concordat which satisfies the faith of the bishops and the population, that the silver mines will pay floods of this precious metal in the coffers of the emperor, that the Mexicans will become good and placid bourgeois like the Tyroleans of Brixen or Botrena."

"but we must still expect long local resistance on distant points, struggles with bodies of supporters much more numerous and dangerous than the insurrectionary bands whose clerical and legitimist newspapers have made so much noise on the occasion of the difficult establishment of the new Italian monarchy in the kingdom of Naples."

"It remains to be seen how far Mexico spontaneously and voluntarily rallied to the new empire and whether the republic of Juarez was not, despite all its vices, the true national government, the one that had, at the time of its establishment, the sympathies of the majority of the population."

"Congress declares that it cannot recognize the founding of a monarchy on the ruins of a Mexican republic with the help of a European power."

"The day when the conflict of the two belligerent Americans is ended by the defeat of one or the other, or by the reconciliation of both, that day French troops will be needed more than ever to defend the new empire. of an aggressive interpretation of the doctrine of Monroë."

"Certainly, in such conditions there is enough to seduce those of our young officers whom Belgian neutrality condemns to a rest of which they are somewhat impatient. The honor of carrying with dignity abroad the name of the fatherland and that of defending the august daughter of a beloved sovereign will soon, we have no doubt, fill the ranks of the Belgian-Mexican legion."

"Whatever opinion one forms of the enterprise to which Archduke Maximilian has just devoted his life, it is not possible for us Belgians to forget that the princess who shares the destinies of the new emperor is also the beloved daughter of our king, that she grew up among us, that our homeland is her own, and that she has the right to count on the sympathies and the wishes of her compatriots ."

"It is understandable that a colonial establishment organized under such conditions cannot fail to prosper. We are also convinced that the example of the Empress' s guards will be followed by a large number of our compatriots who, trusting with reason in the new situation in Mexico, will take advantage of all this set of circumstances so exceptionally advantageous, to to go bring the contribution of their arms and their intelligence to the beautiful work of civilization undertaken by the emperor Maximilian and the empress Charlotte, his august companion."

"This is no proof that our Belgian people are not as foolish as some think, and that there are few in Belgium who voluntarily play soldier."

"Between the imperial government and the clergy, which is the highest expression of the conservative party in Mexico, there is only one possible occasion for conflict: it is the question of ecclesiastical property."

"The most enthusiastic members of the Liberal Party are seduced, but the clergy and their party have for some time shown a kind of mistrust, which is explained moreover, for the moment is approaching when the question of the property of the clergy will have to be resolved, and the 'we are anxiously awaiting the decision that must be made to settle this big affair."

"It is not likely that such an important and energetic step could be taken without great results for his rule and his popularity. At the moment we are hardly in a position to judge the success and extent of it, but it certainly contains within itself the means to regenerate Mexico. The first problem that the new emperor will now have to solve will be that of satisfying the Liberal Party without alienating the affection of the Church."

"This is how the Mexican Empire will perish, a creation based on the assumption of a southern triumph and which today finds itself singularly compromised by the opposite result. Even with a president less democratic than Mr. Johnson, the United States would never have tolerated the establishment at its gates of an absolute monarchy under the rule of a foreign dynasty. The misfortunes of the civil war did not allow them to oppose it when the facts were unfolding. Perhaps in order to avoid a war with France they will not attack the new order of things directly, but certainly they would do nothing to support it, and the disbandment of their armies will provide them with all the desirable means to overthrow it indirectly."

"The latest news from Mexico presents an encouraging picture of the consolidation of the Mexican Empire. The Emperor and Empress are tireless in their charitable work, and they are supported by the elite of the people."